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Hognose Shedding

Repsrok07 Mar 31, 2005 08:09 AM

Hi everyone,
I currently have a W. Hognose that is shedding. His head and bellie are completely shed, but the top part he has a "crest" where the old skin has folded up. He has a sand type substrate, a hidebox, and a water bowl big enough for him to fit in. Is there anything I can do? He has shed succesful twice and this is his third since I've had him. It was recommended to have a moss substate in another container to put him into when he shows symtoms of shedding(cloudy blue eyes). Does anyone have any suggestions?
-Aaron

P.S. Thanks for any advice.

Replies (2)

HLuterman Mar 31, 2005 10:52 AM

Try filling a container with a few centimeters of water and soak him in it (don't leave him unattended). The soaked shed should slough right off if you rub him gently with a towel afterwards. You can also put a wet towel in a container and put the snake in it - crawling through the wet textured surface will help pull the unshed skin off.

During shed cycles, I always raise the humidity in my snakes' enclosures by putting their water bowls on the warm side of the tank. My w.hog has a half screen top on his tank, so I cover up the screen side with a towel to keep in the humidity. Works great. You could also try moist moss in a container, but my hog never seems to use wet hides.
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1.0 sinaloan milksnake
1.0 western hognose
1.0 colombian boa

silver_arctic1 Apr 01, 2005 09:51 AM

I have a stone water dish that I put damp soil in...and the snakes love it! They always burrow under the soil and stay there for long periods of time. I maintain it by spraying the soil with water every day. If your snake likes to dig, this may help with the humidity problem.
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1.1 normal "dusty" phase
1.1 red "dusty" phase
0.1 yellow phase

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