Aussie Pythons and Snakes

Laa Laa · Original Poster #1 13-Mar-07, 10:20 AM

Hi, well just wondering if someone could help me with our Coastal hatchy.

She has just recently shed, but her head still has all the slough on it, and we are unsure as to the best way to dislodge it. We have put her in some tepid water and let her move over a towel to try and dislodge it to no avail.

Suggestions are very welcome.

aussie manda · #2 13-Mar-07, 10:25 AM

lol my young coastal had the same prob his notrils got suck and the only way i could get him free was to peel it off. i did try to wash it off lol but its the only way if your snake is a good handler it wont be a problem make sure you have clean hands
manda

mrsshep77 · #3 13-Mar-07, 10:31 AM

My hatchling spotted has trouble with her tail when she sheds but I've found if the tepid water doesn't work then try smearing your snake with a little vegetable oil and then gently peel it off (you don't need a great deal of oil). Make sure that all the skin has come off the head, especially the eye's as this can cause infection. If you feel after a couple of attempts that the skin over the eyes hasn't been removed you need to seek professional help.

Here is a photo of my gorgeous little spotted Sassi taking a bath after a shed. She absolutely LOVES her bath, which is soooo funny cause our diamond is so afraid of it!!!

mrsshep77 · #4 13-Mar-07, 10:38 AM

Let us know how you go!!

Laa Laa · Original Poster #5 13-Mar-07, 10:38 AM

She is a good handler, but she is quite nosy and active, so the slightest movement will make her move and dart the other way. I doubt that she would bite, but very unsure as to the best way to go with just peeling it off

Bonustokin · #6 13-Mar-07, 10:52 AM

Laa Laa, if you dont feel comfortable peeling it off, I would try soaking her a few more times.... maybe 2 or 3 times a day, for 20mins each time... may i ask how many times you have tried to soak her and for how long?
Bill.

mrsshep77 · #7 13-Mar-07, 10:53 AM

When you get her out to handle her do things with your hands in front of her so she gets used to movement in front of her and knowing that it's not going to hurt her. My spotted is a one in a million cause when she has trouble shedding I put her in my hands and she just seems to know I'm helping and she's so still while I get the skin off. Then she has a bath to soak her and she would lay in there for hours!
If it's going to be something that happens often (which it can in hatchlings, until they learn how to di it properly themselves) then start making movements etc when she's NOT shedding so she becomes aware of your hands and what they are doing isn't going to hurt. She'll eventually get used to you helping her. You'll probably find the oil will make her more aware of the skin still on her and she'll start rubbing it off. Do you have a couple of rough rocks in her enclosure or something similar?
If you're not confident in taking the next step it might be time to seek help.
Good Luck

shelby · #8 13-Mar-07, 11:01 AM

a moist cotton wool ball is good to hold on smaller spots of unsheded skin, or a damp tea towel can help as well, do you have a container of spagnum moss in with her?, my guys seem to love the extra moisture, tweezers can be useful to help remove single scales etc from small faces etc, good luck!

Laa Laa · Original Poster #9 13-Mar-07, 11:07 AM

Thnaks guys,

We soaked her for around 3-4 mins, but she really didn't seem to like it, and we also wet some paper towel and a normal towel and tried to loosen it by rubbing her against it.

Even though she really wasn't to happy in the water, should we just keep her in there to soak?

And you don't think the oil would be bad to use around her eyes etc?

Laa Laa · Original Poster #10 13-Mar-07, 11:10 AM

And where would we be able to find spagnum moss? just from a normal garden store?

Chris1 · #11 13-Mar-07, 11:10 AM

well, if the idea is just to keep her wet to soak off the old skin, why not try misting her with a spray bottle,...she probably wont really like that etiher,...but it'll be easier than getting her to stay in the bath if shes doesnt like that,...especially if its to loosen the shed on her head,...

Bonustokin · #12 13-Mar-07, 11:24 AM

ok laalaa, i would soak her for 20mins.... I have a click clack container with holes 1inch up from the bottom ( so the water can only fill up a inch high) and a heap of holes in the lid.... I place my hatchy in the dry click clack ( this way your snake wont freak out coz of the water) and put the lid on.... then i get my water in a jug, and get it to 30 degrees C. with a thermometer. Then i start to poor the water slowly into the clickclack. Keep a eye on her at all times, and if the water gets cool, poor more 30C. water in through the lid to replace to cool stuff. Keeping inmind your click clack wont fill up coz of the holes in the side....
While watching her, she will probably squirm around trying to get out, but just leave her in for the 20mins. Like i said, Watch her the whole time, incase something goes wrong.
If that doesnt remove the left over skin.... Like Chris1 said, I would start misting her cage 3 times a day to add more humidity, aswell as adding a water bowl to the warm end of the cage. (still keep her other waterbowl in the cool.)
hope that helps....
Bill.

mrsshep77 · #13 13-Mar-07, 11:28 AM

No the oil will be fine as it's a natural product and it will help her for future sheds as the oil will soften her scales.
As I said our diamond hates water but when we soak him it's a 2 person job and after a minute of trying to get out of the tub he realises that he's got no choice and he just lets us do our thing. We do it in short spurts for him but it's still getting the same affect.
I know you think you're going to stress her out but the thing is if you take her to a vet to help they are just going to hold her wether she likes it or not and get it done. It's best if she's still in her own environment with people she trusts handling her.
Just perservere is the only thing you can do. Try all the suggestions being thrown at you and you'll find something that works and you feel comfortable with doing.

Good Luck!!!

Laa Laa · Original Poster #14 13-Mar-07, 11:29 AM

Thank you, I was/am a bit worried as our 2 spotted have never had troubles shedding so i got a bit worried.
Will keep you updated.

salebrosus · #15 13-Mar-07, 11:32 AM

Bathing in Camomile Tea always works..... I got a ballot Water Python once and it was in such a bad state and had a lot of skin hanging off. Camomile Tea worked wonders for her- and she would often drink it too.

Simone.