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Shedding issues with my carpet. Is there anything more I can do?

Posted By:

Nilloke

In Relation To:

Cocoa [DP-IJS-M1]

So Cocoa, my jag sib carpet python, looked like he was going to shed when I got him. His eyes were blue and he was all opaque-looking. He started shedding last Friday, but only the skin on his tail end came off - about the lower third of the snake. Gradually more has come off, but the last bit along his back and on his head seems to be stuck and is not coming off. I mist him every night, and I've given him two baths. I'm about to go buy Shed-Aid from the pet store. Maybe that would help. But is there anything else I can do? He's been refusing food, and I think it's because one of his eyes still has skin on it and the whole shedding thing is keeping him from eating. Or it could just be that he's still getting used to everything from the move. What do you guys think? I might take a picture tonight so you can see what I mean.


Points:	150
Topics:	Skin
Tags:	Feeding, Shedding
Species:	Pythons > Morelia > Morelia spilota variegata
Administrative:	Show/Hide

Accepted Answer

4/1/2009 12:47:23 PM

dalvers63

First off, shedding only takes about an hour after the snake starts to slough their skin. Anything after that is retained shed.

I'd suggest putting him in a small container like a plastic shoe box along with a damp/wet washcloth or towel. Leave him in there for at least 30 minutes and then check to see if the shed has come off. If it hasn't, put him back for another 30 minutes. If he still has retained shed after that time, take him out and let him run through the washcloth/towel as you're holding him. That should take off any leftover shed.

Give him at least a week to settle in before you try to feed him. Make sure that his temps and humidity are spot on and then feed him whatever he was getting before you got him. He should take right off with no issues.

Assisted Answer

4/1/2009 12:51:48 PM

Mongrel Kitty

make a humidity box.
for one that works in a pet store, i can tell you the shed aid is crap. at least, thats my OPINION.
what i recommend, and have done before with some species, is get a small (if your snake is small - there can be enough room for your snake to move around but you dont get a tall one to where he can perch above all the moist stuff) rubbermaid or sterelite container and put some moist moss, sphagnum type, or ive also used carefresh bedding. Make it moist and close container with snake in it overnight. Usually does the trick, on even the most stuck eye caps. Sometimes you dont even have to do it overnight, you can just leave them in there for a few hours.
does that make sense?
good luck!

Member Comment

4/1/2009 3:25:09 PM

JohnJohn

also, keep your eyes on whether he is drinking water. Internal hydration is important too and can effect their shedding.

Assisted Answer

4/1/2009 3:45:58 PM

xanaxez

IVE ONLY HAD ONE THAT RETAINED SHED A COUPLE OF TIMES. I TRIED THE MOSS,HUMIDITY JUMP,EVERYTHING AND IT DIDNT WORK WELL ENOUGH. I THEN BEGAN READING A THREAD ON 8BALL PYTHONS SITE. IT SAID TO TAKE A CONTAINER AND FILL IT UP ABOUT 3 QUARTERS OF THE WAY WITH WARM WATER, PUT YOUR SNAKE IN IT AND PUT A LID ON IT TIGHTLY. NO AIR HOLES IN IT. LEAVE IN FOR 30 MINS TO AN HOUR THEN REMOVE THE REPTILE. IF IT DOESNT GET ALL OF THE SKIN OFF DO IT AGAIN THE NEXT DAY. I DONE EVERYTHING EXACTLY TO A T AS ADAM ADVISED AND MY SNAKE LOST ALL OF ITS RETAINED SHED WITHIN 3 DAYS.

HERES THE ARTICLE FOR ANY MEMBERS WANTING TO READ UP ON IT.

http://www.8ballpythons.com/journal/stucksheds.htm

Author Comment

4/1/2009 4:27:33 PM

Nilloke

I think I might try some of these tonight instead of getting the Shed-Aid stuff. Hopefully something will do the trick. *crosses fingers*

Thanks guys! =)

Member Comment

4/1/2009 6:27:55 PM

ajard

If you do decide to get the shed aid. I would go with shed ease. Let the snake soak in a solution of that and warm water for 20 or so minutes and the retained skin should slide right off. And if the snake is friendly use your thumbs to rub the skin, just dont peel they wont like that.

Member Comment

4/1/2009 7:22:48 PM

aaron

if the tub methods don't work, just let it go until next shed... i've done that with a number of chondros, with no lasting effects.

Member Comment

4/1/2009 11:14:24 PM

gfx

I just had a really tiny pale milksnake decide not to shed its skin. I didnt realize it (I was out of town for awhile) and went to feed it. The food got stuck just behind the jaw because the old shed is entirely inflexible. That was a first for me! Shed-Aid is a waste of money. A damp washcloth in an appropriately sized container left on the cool side of the snake's enclosure for a few hours will be all you need. If the eye caps dont come off, leave them until the next shed if they're not obviously lifting up.

Member Comment

4/2/2009 2:04:55 PM

JohnJohn

I would agree with Aaron. I've had some skin bits stuck on some of my Ball pythons and just left them till the next shed. Was no problem.

Member Comment

4/2/2009 8:57:39 PM

drphibes

Be careful when soaking. If the water is too deep your snake will get exhausted trying to keep it's head above water level and could drown. Try putting some wet terry towels in a pillow case and put your snake in there and tie off the end so he can't escape and put the pillow case in a tub in case he does get out of the pillow case. Him moving around the wet towels will help moisten and remove the old skin. Do it a couple of times. What doesn't come off, should come off next shed. You want to make sure his eyecaps are shed. You need to make sure your humidity levels are where they need to be. Provide some damp moss in his hide.

Member Comment

4/3/2009 9:53:50 AM

vonnick52

I usually use wide, short containers depending on the size of the snake. For the snakes ranging up until about 2.5 ft I use a Glad cookie container. It has a black bottom and a clear lid, and is about the size of a cake pan. I put a few wet paper towels in it and about an inch of water...they usually move around a lot while in there, helping loosen up the skin and the paper towels add friction.

Assisted Answer

4/3/2009 7:12:16 PM

Sparkle

There was a previous post about this in Q&A and Aaron and several others mentioned to NEVER USE PILLOWCASES. Wet pillowcases can bind around and suffocate the snake.

Member Comment

4/4/2009 12:48:46 AM

cheryl Todd

For my pythons, I keep a humidity box in their enclosures all the time. I find a container their size and line it with warm, moist paper towels. I check it daily and clean it weekly. I put the lid on it and cut an appropriately sized hole in the lid. I usually use a can of vegetables as the outline for where I will cut (for larger ones). I sand the rough edges down. My snakes spend a lot of time in their humidity boxes.

Member Comment

1/17/2011 12:42:18 AM

abi21491

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