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Poor shedding update

mizar 21 Jul 11, 2003 06:10 PM

My snake still have a lot of problem shedding...he shed like...scale by scale...he stop eating. Today, i had him to soak for an hour and i give him a small rub. A lot of scale have fall off. I plan to have him soak every day now until all his old scale are gone. I put him in lukewarm water in an old rag. He seem to love it ! But the water go room temp quite fast. I'm affraid that he catch a "snake cold"...lol... The scale of the head worries me a bit...any hint ? By the way, how long can a water snake stay underwater ?

Mizar

Replies (4)

michael56 Jul 11, 2003 11:17 PM

First, is this the most very recent shed or the last one. Is he in a new shed cycle now? If so, I would STOP rubbing him now!!

michael56 Jul 12, 2003 12:10 AM

OK, now that we're calm ... do you know that he did not shed the eye caps during his most recent (latest shed)? If you're not sure, this can be tough because you don't want to traumatize the eyes unnecessarily.
If he is in a shed cycle now (I thought you felt he was earlier) then he should be handled very gently if at all. If he's in a shed it's OK to put a container of moist, almost wet(preferably sterile potting) soil into his terrarium. Offer a shelter in this so he'll feel comfy. Damp aspen chips or similar is fine as well, maybe even better. This material will allow him to cool a bit more than usual, which he wants to do if shedding and it provides some friction when he sheds. It supplies moisture that he would seek out in the wild for this time as well. Then just let him be quiet for a while - he'll be fine. By the way, this (new shed) would explain loss of appetite.
If he has not entered a shed cycle and the eye cap(s) are retained, then either: mist his tank 'til good and damp, put a piece of cardboard or something over half the lid and his heat lamp on the other side. Keep an eye on the temperature but it actually should not rise much. This will create a very humid enviroment! Leave him. Leave him until HE'S good and damp. Four hours, eight no problem. Following this, use a Q-tip to gently free up the loose skin near his eye and continue 'til the eye cap releases. Don't force anything!!! If they come off, great. If not - prepare for the next shed providing adequate moisture, etc.
OR
Try the bag technique again. I took my "bagged" snake outside into the sun where he remained warm/steamy wet until I could assist with removing the retained eye cap.
OR
Try to buy some "Shed-Ease" from your local pet store. This product is designed for just this sort of thing (it says). I was given some from my nephew, have it in my basement, never used it so, I can't offer a critique.
OR
Pray. This technique often works for me when I'm sincere.
Michael
ps Water snakes can remained submerged for several minutes but only by choice and only if they have acces to air immediately. The real question is ... how much air do they have in their lungs before going under, how warm/cold, stressed or active are they at the time? Early studies were done (I have the references downstairs somewhere) but a lot of snakes were drowned I'm sure, to find out.

mizar 21 Jul 12, 2003 11:25 AM

Ok, Thanks for all your help !

First, its still the first shed that was never complete, his skin instead of going all in one piece, seem to broke and now it goes of "scale by scale". After the "bath" i give him yesterday, he seem to be a bit better this morning. I plan to give him another bath this afternoon.

In his enclose he have a big live plant with a lot of damp earth...today he's staying under the plant on the humid earth. I think it will do him good.

As for the eyecap, i dont think he lose them already. I'll see with the next bath.

What i think cause all this, was the very warm weather of the last few days, now we go from 32 a day to 23 the next...It's very tough to control his enclosure temp.

Mizar

michael56 Jul 12, 2003 12:37 PM

I can appreciate your position, our weather here on the west coast is doing the same thing. But since my guys are in the basement they don't experience the severe temp swings. It does mean though that I have to provide heat all year round. This electric heat tends to dry things out and that's why I ran into the same problem as you have now. Sounds however that you're doing fine as you're proceeding as the rest of us would - and you will be successful!
Bon fortune,
Michael

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