simple shedding question

92redyj · #1 (**permalink**) 11-26-2004, 04:04 AM

I'm sure you guys are getting tired of my newbie questions, but I just care too much about my new baby not to ask!

I see people saying if the snake isnt shedding well, they soak for him a few hours, when I noticed mine trying to curl up in her water bowl I looked for something larger, I found a nice big shallow bowl thats large enough for her to fit into completely wrapped up, as she was getting closer to shedding she has sat in the water for the last few days. Can she soak in the water too much? Her eyes just got very blue within about the last 3 days I would say.

python04slayer · #2 (**permalink**) 11-26-2004, 09:15 PM

No she cant soak too much (it helps her loosen up her skin and keep hydrated), she'll shed in a day or two from what you are describing.

lethargiic · #3 (**permalink**) 11-26-2004, 09:47 PM

lol there's no such thing as a water logged snake.. i think. =/

the more she soaks on her own the better.. sounds like she's on her way to a good shed! =)

Nefarion · #4 (**permalink**) 11-26-2004, 10:21 PM

Actually I believe they can "over-soak". I am almost certain I read it in my boa constrictor manual. There is some sort of problem it causes when they oversoak and I remember reading that the problem doesnt occur in rainbow boas because they have a higher level of immunity regarding excessive humidity.

If your boa is soaking often there could be a problem, most likely just too low of humidity. I know I have 11 boas currently, my humidity stays in the 60% area, and ive never once seen any of them fully soak in their waterbowls. Although when I go into reptile stores I see boas soaking all the time, then when I inspect their caging its obvious that the humidity is too low.

What are your humidity levels at?

BoidKeeper · #5 (**permalink**) 11-27-2004, 03:15 AM

If the snake is always soaking you may want to check for mites too. What I do for bad sheds is I don't soak the snake in water I wrape it in thick damp towel and place it inside a rubbermaid. That way the snake can take the skin off it's self. I put the rubbermaid back into the cage so that if the snake gets out it gets out into its own cage. The next morning I always find a dirty towel and a clean snake.lol
Cheers,
Trevor

92redyj · #6 (**permalink**) 11-27-2004, 06:27 AM

thanks a lot guys once again you save the day! I'm still in the process of getting everything I need for the snake, tomorow I'm going to get a hygrometer, I put a damp towel over the screen, the next morning the tank was completely fogged up and the snake was out of the water and over by the heat pad, so I'm thinking the humidity was just too low as well.

python04slayer · #7 (**permalink**) 11-27-2004, 09:38 AM

It sounds way too humid (if the cage was fogged up) you should get a a humidity guage and keep the humidity around 45-60.

BoidKeeper · #8 (**permalink**) 11-27-2004, 01:54 PM

Get a digital one, don't wast your money on the pet shop dial kind.
Cheers,
Trevor

sn8kluvr · #9 (**permalink**) 11-28-2004, 04:11 AM

My humidity stays around 55-60% at all times. Usually when my boa goes into shed I fill a spray with hot water and test it on my self, and just spray her once a day. Spray directly on her. This morning I found on perfect shed. That always feels good.

BoidKeeper · #10 (**permalink**) 11-30-2004, 04:00 AM

Congrats. You probably already know this put just in case, when you spray your snake only spray in the morning, never at night. It can cool the tank way too much if done at night. More natural to do it in the morning any way.
Cheers,
Trevor

Heidi · #11 (**permalink**) 11-30-2004, 06:46 PM

I actually had a question about shedding also so I thought I might hijack the thread. Sorry.

It's been years since I've cared for a boa so I am really out of practice and I don't remember much about what is normal. I've also never had a young boa as my previous was a yearling when I got him.

After eating on the 17th my baby got really inactive and has only ventured out of the corner a couple times for a brief period. Then on Thanksgiving I noticed some opaqueness to the eyes. The eyes cleared though soon after on Sunday and have been clear since. I have also noticed something I've never heard of. The skin looks very loose in the folds. He is always curled up in the corner and the skin is loose where his body curves. I've always thought the skin stays tight until shead. It may also be that he is a baby too and I've never experienced this before.

It'll be 2 weeks since he last ate tomorrow and he struck and constricted last week but then ignored it. I left it in there for 6 hours and he had no interest so of course another pinkie in the trash. (F/T). Should I attempt to feed him again tomorrow even though he is still very inactive or should I wait and how long? If he is in a shed how much longer should I wait before worrying? My temps are perfect and humidity is increased as much as possible and not going below 56.

Thanks and again sorry about the hijacked post.

Heidi · #12 (**permalink**) 12-01-2004, 03:24 AM

Well, I guess I'll try to feed tomorrow night anyhow. He decided to shed tonight. Perfect shed. He's already so much more active. Haven't seen him more this much in the two weeks since he's eaten combined. Yippeee. Hopefully he's nice and hungry for some dinner tomorrow night.

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