I started lowering the temps to brumate my desert king 3 weeks ago. About 3 days into it i noticed she was beginning to get ready to shed. I didn't think much of it and assumed she would eventually shed and go on brumating. I used that shed-ease spray on her the day i noticed like i always have and then haven't messed with her since, just changing her water. It's been 2 weeks now and she still hasn't shed. The temp hasn't been lowered too signicantly yet, i've been leaving the heat bulb on overnight set to low and turning it off in the day. I think the reason she hasn't shed is because she's less active because of the colder temps. Is it better to let her shed before she's brumated or am i jsut being paranoid?
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What should i do?
desertkingsnake
Dec 16, 2005 07:41 PM
Replies (2)
Kerby...
Dec 16, 2005 08:24 PM
My snakes shed during their cooling period.
You might want to increase the humidity or take the snake out and put in a damp pillow case overnight.
Kerby...
tspuckler
Dec 17, 2005 08:53 AM
Brumating snakes take a loooooonnnnngggg time to go through a shed cycle. Sometimes over a month.
There have been times when a snake doesn't seem "quite right" while brumating and in a shed cycle, so I've warmed it up for a for days, let it shed, and then but it back into brumation. In places where desert kingsnakes live there are relatively "warm" winter days, so this procedure will not harm the snake.
If your king seems perfectly healthy, I'd let it be for a couple more weeks.
Tim
Third Eye
