Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My snake finally shed completely ! This morning he was soaking by himself in his water bowl, then his head start to "peel" the the whole body slide away like a glove It last for about an hour or so.

If i recall all that happen since last week...

Day 1, milky eyes, hot day

day 3, still no shed, hot day

day 5, skin all crackled, hot day

day 6, snake in his new set up...more space and humid place to hide. Temperate.

day 7 to 10, snake is nowhere to be seen...Hot

day 11, milky eyes again ! hot

day 13, very bad skin, soaking in lukewarm water, temperate

day 14 complete shed. temperate.

Well thats about it...the error margin is a day or so, lol,

What do you think of all this ?

Mizar

The chronology is probably correct but, if he shed a complete skin today, what scales were coming off earlier? Again it seems that a sloughing was missed due to his being too dry!
In my case, though I record all sheds, it is very common for me to miss the early stages and I'm often caught off guard when one does slough. My experience with boas and pythons was that from the first hint of blueing up, exactly 10 days later the snake shed. I could predict the month (almost always 3 months between cycles) and very nearly the day months in advance.
Now it may be that I have a great age variety in snakes that is throwing me off however the water snakes do shed much more frequently than other species I've had (best as I can recall). I'd best start paying closer attention.
Anyway, that's great news and it's good to here that both patient and doctor are doing well!
Michael

I really think that he shed twice in a short period...The first shed was incomplete, dried up and going off by scales. The second shed come off in one piece. I read somewhere that it is possible for certain species of snake. What do you think ?

Mizar

While I was off-line yesterday I reveiwed my records (on VHS) and
noted - 1st that I've lost six consequetive months of notes - and 2nd; over an eight month period these snakes shed in 2002:

Adult female erythrogaster
Jan 31, Feb 30, Jun 23, Sep 5 (lost record)

Adult male erythrogaster
Jun 10, Sep 18 (lost record) 2003> Apr 27, Jun 24

Adult female pictiventris
Jan 15, Feb 15, May 4, Jun 5, Apr 23 (lost record) 2003> Apr 4, May 27

Juvenile female pictiventris
Jan 17, Feb 17, Mar 31, May 29, Aug 24 (lost record)

Juvenile male pictiventris
Jan 25, Feb 25, Apr 6, May 26, July 22, Sep 26 (lost record) 2003> Apr 25, Jun 30

New born male Taxispilota
Jan 16, Feb 2, Mar 8, July 22, Sep 8 (lost record)

New born female Taxispilota
Feb 2, Mar 2, July 13, Sep 21 (lost record)

Please note - snake recieved with multiple festering infections
is noted below:
Young adult male pictiventris
Jun 15, July 15, July 22, Aug 16, Sep 7 (six months lost records)
2003 > Apr 4, Apr 26, Jun 30

These snakes are well fed but not excessively, maintained at near ideal temperatures and provided a 12 hour/day incandescent light plus outside ambient daylight (here about 16-17 hours/day summer). Large water dish is freshened daily in most cases, occassionally every two and all have total privacy hides.
They are not handled often. However I would like to do so, more frequently, for my own personal comfort and pleasure. This would not affect their growth, appetite or health adversely.

Does this help at all?
Michael

Ok, by your chart, the closest shed, were about 3 to 4 week apart...so twice in 2 week would be very unusual...anyway, shed is done and snake is doing great I plan to try again pinkie this week. Might be more nutricious than just trout piece with an occasional vitamin sprinkling.

You wrote that you dont handle your snake very often, when you do, do they bite or musk ? Mine is a little more active when i handle him than he use to be...he dont show any aggressivity at all, but i must be very alert cause he can jump right out of my hand. I try to handle him at least 10 min twice a week.

Mizar

I wonder if the the vitamins could "force" an early shed?? Just a thought ...

As for the snakes biting or musking, except for the little female pictiventris (she trys to eat ANYTHING) none have ever bitten or musked. My adult male erythrogaster "slapped" my hand with his mouth closed a couple of times. The adult female redbelly always pushes my hands away with her coils (quite violently actually) but does not bite nor does she try to hide!
All the others are like yours in that they are OK but are likely to leap from my hand except for Fe'. She is the adult (40" now) pictiventris. She's calm, quiet and curious. I have taken her outside to sun in my arms with no problems.
Oh, by the way ... about three weeks ago I was attempting to pick up the big redbelly. There was a loud gurgling sound coming from her bowel (I guess). This happend a few times as I touched her and I assumed that I might get musked but since I moved my hand away, nothing happend. This snake is over 50" long and pretty hefty. I figured if she let loose I'd be bathing for a month! Water snakes are good communicators. If we listen, everything is OK. A young snake however that LOVES it's food and assumes that anything you offer is edible, well, they can be nippy. And I'm not sure how to break this habit.
Michael