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I've had my Green Tree for about 5 months and everything has been going well so far. However for about the last month, i've noticed a lot of wrinkled skin around him, and am starting to get concerned about dehydration or kidney problems. He eats great, and the temperature and humidity in the enclosure seem fine. I mist him 2x a day during the afternoon and early evening, and i can see him drinking while i spray him everytime. I've also seen him drinking from the waterbowl that i have in with him. Anyway, i was wondering if anyone could help me figure out whats causing this wrinkled skin. He has shed fine on his own, but lately i've had to help him get it off, but even after that he remains wrinkled. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,

-Justin

>>I've had my Green Tree for about 5 months and everything has been going well so far. However for about the last month, i've noticed a lot of wrinkled skin around him, and am starting to get concerned about dehydration or kidney problems. He eats great, and the temperature and humidity in the enclosure seem fine. I mist him 2x a day during the afternoon and early evening, and i can see him drinking while i spray him everytime. I've also seen him drinking from the waterbowl that i have in with him. Anyway, i was wondering if anyone could help me figure out whats causing this wrinkled skin. He has shed fine on his own, but lately i've had to help him get it off, but even after that he remains wrinkled. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,
>>
>>-Justin

I have seen this with animals offered for sale in the classifieds. It will be informative to see what others more experienced then myself have to say. Clint
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0.1 Colombian Boa
1.0 Hogg Isle Boa
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
0.1 Argentine Boa
0.0.2 Green Tree Python (Biak & Sorong type)

Are you referring to where the scales seem to be partially pulling off? I have a nearly 3 yr old aru, and he has the same thing. I asked the breeder and he told me that these generaly occur where the snake has the bends to coil up. Being that they spend so much more time coiled up in their cage than they ever would out in the wild, this causes the scales to seperate a little from the skin.

Just what i've been told... not even sure if this is your problem.
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-Chris

The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

A fool doesn't learn. A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Which one are you?

My Website
N. American Rat/Corn snake care sheet I wrote
Information on substrates

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Black Rat (Frankie)
0.1 Texas Bairdi (Rosa)
0.1 Blue Beauty (Brunhilde)
1.0 Green Tree Python (Monty)

I have heard of there being wrinkles around the areas where they coil before, but i don't think that is the case with mine. It just seems like there are a lot of wrinkles everywhere on him, even though he is eating great and i see him drinking when i mist him. I've heard that sometimes this can be a result of kidney problems, but i don't see how that could have developed in him. I bought this electrolyte formula today which i thought might help the dehydration. Does anybody advise against this? Also i've heard that if a snake has kidney problems to not feed them to rest the kidneys. If anyone has any information on any other signs of kidney problems, or suggestions about this scenario, please let me know. Thanks,

Justin

What kind of enclosure are you using? Wood or plastic perches? Any more info such a substrate, material of the cage, etc. It could be some sort of chemical reaction. I've seen it before with some snakes. Let's hope it's just nothing.

Brandon Osborne

Hi Justin,

You didn't mention whether this was an import animal or CB. I would take it to a vet and treat it for parasites if it is an import. If it looks unusual to you after keeping it for a few months it would be wise to have it checked by a vet anyway. It is cheap insurance.

Mark Twigg
www.arborealplus.com

You speak of one of the issues that helped drive the Barkers at VPI away from breeding Chondros. That is, that people often take fallacious information from stangers, or way overestimate the environmental conditions that little Chondros should be subjected to and ultimately take the wrong action to correct a bad situation when their little GTP exhibits a problem. A matter of fact, they described to me exactly what you are talking about-a pruning of the GTP's skin. Here is the answer they gave me when people would confront them with this issue: lower the humidity! Apparently, a lot of GTP keepers often over saturate their little snakes, though my GTPs have not had this problem, and when their skin starts to wrinkle, keepers figure that the snake is being kept too dry and then add more water/humidity until they manage to kill their GTP. They gave me the best explanation for their argument that Chondros don't need so much humidity-they are just carpet pythons that prefer to sit on a branch. I am not saying that this is your problem, but if you are misting your snake twice a day, the wrinkled skin is unlikely due to desiccation. The barkers actually told me that the best way to keep little GTPs is like that of a baby spotted python, or some other "lesser" python species, and not like a delicate flower petal. It has worked excellent for mine. Hope this helps.