Some pics of Zeph's outside outing

[tempest]

Hey guys,

Had Zeph outside on Sunday for the first time and thought I'd share some pics.

I have a question while I'm posting too, I think he's coming up for his first shed since I got him... I had him out last night and he was a little skittish (not tagging just very active) then I noticed his eyes looked a little cloudy and he was darker and felt slightly different to what he did on Sunday.

What I want to know is do their mannerisms change much when they're coming in to a shed? I'm actually a little worried because normally he spends most of his time in his (fake) tree entwined around the branches, but since going back in his vivarium, he's taken to basking on the ground in the corner which is entirely out in the open. He has a hide in the cool end and a hollow in some wood in the hot end, along with lots of greenery to hide in and the tree just near the heat source and yet he chooses to remain exposed in the corner. Is this unusual?

I've read lots of posts on shedding but I'm still a little uncertain as to his behaviour and am wondering whether it's worth taking him to a vet to get checked out in case something is up. There's a close up photo of his head and it looks like around the scales on his head are dry, if you can see what I mean (it looks whitish). His skin was also looking a little "baggy" today but again, not sure if that's because he might be ready to shed.

Ok, now for the photos...

[JEZ]

Great photo's tempest...he's gonna get better and better.

I can't wait until I get some diamonds.... :mrgreen:

I don't think it's anthing to be worried about they always seem to get a little skitish when they're coming up for a shed..see what others think though.

[RevDaniel]

Always great to see herps outside sunning themselvs. Nice photos.

[scotchbo]

very nice looking snake and i wish i had grass to let them play on lol we live in a concrete jungle (units)

[mertle]

Lovely snake, I would say he is about to shed too, mine gets a bit skittish because they can't see very well for a day or so coming up to a shed.

[raist]

Hi Tempest,

my coastal used to have exactly the same as Zeph's behaviour you are describing, just before a shed. Plus she'd have what looked like 'dry' skin on parts of her too, including head. I'd keep the humidity a little higher when i noticed it happening (misting, etc). Never had a bad shed. Cute little bugger you got there!

[Miffy]

My Diamond which looks about the same age as yours is also going through its first shed too I think,.

Her eyes have gone milky, and skin a bit baggy. She has still been her pacid self, and usually likes to spend most of her time in her hide.

When was yours born tempst and how long have you owned it?

Wil be an exciting time for us both watching there first shed.

[Lurk]

It is best to leave our herps alone when shedding is happening unless we have to disturbe them...Of course there attitude changes they feel very vunareble,,there skin feels a bit itchy there eye sight is not that great...They just want to be left alone untill its over..

[serpenttongue]

Tempest, Zeph's right eye looks a little suspisious to me, like he may have a retained eye cap from a previous shed. Just check to make sure both eye caps come off with the next shed .

[tempest]

Thanks for the comments guys... he seemed to really enjoy his time out on the lawn, I took a few videos and a tonne of photos... lol.

He wasn't really showing any visible signs of shedding on Sunday, hence why I took him out yesterday. He was more active than normal as I got him out and as soon as I noticed his eyes looking a little milky I put him straight back in his viv as I didn't want to stress the little guy out. The thing that made me worry was that I was expecting him to hide, knowing he'd be feeling vulnerable but instead he's just chilling out in the open with nothing around him, quite away from the rest of the "cage furniture" or any protection when he mostly spends his time camped out in his tree.

Miffy - I have seen photos of Daisy, she's gorgeous! Reminds me a lot in colouring of Zeph from the photos you've posted. I got him at the beginning of June and he was a February hatchy. I've been hanging out for his first shed ever since I got him. I'm really looking forward to seeing how he colours up over time - I was told he was going to be yellow, but I got him from a reptile shop, so I can only take their word for it as I never saw his parents. We will see in time!

Serpenttongue - thank you for the advice, I'll check and make sure both eye caps come off with the next shed.