Weight Loss and shedding

Danis-delectables · #1 (**permalink**) 03-05-2004, 03:51 PM

[b]Our Columbian Redtail Boa is having a hard time shedding. We got some shed ease and she is alot softer (she was feeling really dry) she soaked twice yesterday and I rubbed the shed ease on her this am. We took her to the petstore we got her from and they said she is all wrinkles because she is having a hard time shedding and is loosing weight. Any suggestions to get her to shed so she can eat again? Thanks in advance
Dani

Ace · #2 (**permalink**) 03-05-2004, 04:01 PM

soak her in the tub in lik warm water for 30 min or so. Twice a day. if you have a pic post it so we can take a look at how bad the shed is. also what is the humidity in the tank, and does she have a water bowl she can lay in inside her cage?

east_stingray · #3 (**permalink**) 03-05-2004, 04:30 PM

I've heard but never tried that if you leave the snake overnight in a wet pillowcase that has been wrung out it helps. Make sure to put her over the UTH.
-East

eddie · #4 (**permalink**) 03-05-2004, 05:00 PM

Pillow case over a UTH isnt such a good idea.. when the bag drys out, it will keep the snake on a hot area..

What do you mean by losing weight?
Was it eating for them, is it eating for you or has it yet to eat for you?

Typically, a shed will look like its all wrinkles when the humidity is low and it's having a hard time getting the shed off, so that is pretty normal in this case.
A good soak overnight may be needed this time, in a tote with enough water to cover about 1/2 her body, with the tote 1/2 on a heat pad and something to rest her head on in the tote.

Work on the humidity in her cage also, either by spraying a few times a day or putting a water bowl under a basking light or over the uth, most likely have to do both

Danis-delectables · #5 (**permalink**) 03-05-2004, 05:01 PM

She has a water bowl. I am not sure of the humidity in the tank they didnt have a thermometer in the store when we got her. not to sound stupid but what is the UTH? I dont know how to send pics on here yet but if ya email me I will send them to ya.. danis_delectables@hotmail.com Thanks
Dani

Danis-delectables · #6 (**permalink**) 03-05-2004, 05:05 PM

We have a overhead light with 150 watts bulb and a under the tank heat pad. Both are on the same side of her 55 gallon tank. She ate the first week we had her with no troubles. Then she ate another mouse but regurged it that night. 2 days later we offered another mouse she ate it and 2 days later it was out. she has not eaten a real meal in 2 weeks. She has had her first poop since we get her 3 days ago. I hear that could be a factor in her not eating too. Thanks for all help.
Dani

Kent K25 · #7 (**permalink**) 03-05-2004, 05:14 PM

UTH = Under Tank Heater/Heat Pad, don't worry about not knowing that, there a quite a few abbreviations you'll pick up on over time. As for your snake issues. It's important to know the temperatures in your snakes cage, on the hot side and the cool side. The hot side is recommended to keep around 86-88 and the cool side from 78-80. The humidity should be kept around 50-60%, and an increase in humidity during shed isn't a bad idea to ease the process. If you don't have a rheostat or thermostat hooked to control the temps in your cage you may have temps that are too high or possibly too low. This can contribute to feeding issues. As for the regurge, Once a snake has regurged a meal you need to give them a good time period to recover before offering another meal. The first time when you offered it 2 days later was too early, but now that two weeks have passed, if your temps etc... are right then she should be ready to eat.

Kent K25 · #8 (**permalink**) 03-05-2004, 05:15 PM

Check out this on-site link to a boa caresheet for some good info...
http://redtailboa.net/index.php?modu...age&pageid=104

eddie · #9 (**permalink**) 03-05-2004, 05:16 PM

Quote:

what is the UTH?

Under Tank Heater

, you answered yourself too

If it has been regurging, then it may have an internal parasite issue that needs to be dealt with, or you have been handling it after eating, but I am inclined to think internal issues.

Is it, or has it been eating live, pre-killed or frozen?
Have the food items been about the thickness of the thickest part of the snakes belly, or larger? smaller?
Too big of a food item can sometimes cause a regurge too.
Handlimg too soon after a meal is another big cause of regurges.
Another major cause of regurges is environmental issues, such as heat too low, or too hot for the species at hand.

I don't recall seeing your temps posted, so can you tell us what they are?

Danis-delectables · #10 (**permalink**) 03-05-2004, 05:35 PM

I realized what it was after I reread my post LOL...
I dont know the humidity but the temp is kept at about 85-90 tops.
She has been eating live mice right now. (highly supervised) The pet store sold us feeder mice then when we took her there yesterday they said they were to big that why she regurged. (I hope so!) I told my hubby we are not to touch her for a while after she eats so thats not the issue. Would the cats getting on top of the cage at night scare her enough to regurge?
Thanks all

Dani

Kent K25 · #11 (**permalink**) 03-05-2004, 05:41 PM

Here are the pictures of Danis snake. What do ya all think....? Looks pretty dehydrated to me. That can't just be a shedding issue can it?

eddie · #12 (**permalink**) 03-05-2004, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Would the cats getting on top of the cage at night scare her enough to regurge?

It very well could as cats are predators and may be adding stress to the snake.

Since it is and has been eating live, don't rule out internal parasites.
Get a fecal done asap.
If its clean, then it is a big issue to be done away with and you can move on to other issues to determne what is causing the regurges to happen. (stress, food too big etc)

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