Bad Shed

[africancichlidau]

One of my little Maccies, (about 40cm), has just had the worst shed I have ever seen About half the body didn't come of, front half, including the head. I have just managed to assist shed most of it but the head and eyes are proving to be very stubborn to remove and this has raised two questions for you guys to answer for me

1/. How can I safely remove the skin from head and eyes on such a small snake, he/she is like a bl**dy bootlace!!

2/. Does this way of shedding mean that I am perhaps overfeeding? Meaning that the body skin is splitting and coming off easily while the head skin is not?

Thanks in advance guys and gals cos I just know you'll have the answers for me

[NoOne]

Once snakes are actually ready to shed if the skin gets wet and the cage is a bit hot it will dry the skin out and it sticks and becomes brittle therefore they have a bad shed. Thats only one possibility. Over feeding wouldn't do it, if anything they would shed better as they are growing faster, i don't think you can over feed a grow snake (within reason).

[NoOne]

Forgot to say even if the cage isn't hot the skin will still dry out and become brittle.

[Hawkeye]

Suggest that you soak the little one in warm water and then let it run through a paper towel while holding it lightly may help (try warm water).

Cheers Hawkeye

[Brodie]

Just to add STP once told me, a little bit a glycerine (about 1 part glycerine to 15-20 parts water) helps when soaking the snake as well....Havnet tried it yet tho (no need to).

[Fangs]

Hi Phil,
We had the same problem with out juvie maccies a while ago for about 3 sheds in a row.
Never did figure out what was causing it though.Didnt seem to be a drying problem to me as the humidity was between 65 and 70% on each occasion.Last few sheds have been perfect.
Back to your problem,I used a warm,damp flannel and wrapped it loosely around the snake.Had to keep warming it up though.After about half an hour or so the rest of the skin just came off.
Just in case you dont know if you decide to assist with the shed just make sure you help it along in the same direction as it would come off normally if ya know what I mean.

cheers M.........

[Greebo]

I have had this happen only a couple of times.
The method I used was to soak the snake is a container of warm water with a drop of washing detergent. Soak the snake for about two hours and then the old skin becomes very easy to peel off, even on the head.

[Gregory]

Whatever method you use Phil you will need to get the skin off the eyes quickly. My BHP ended up with an eye infection and subsequant blindness from a retained spectacle and it was only on for a relatively short period of time.

[almaron]

Same as the others for me. I soak them in a tub for 30 to 60min. Then I wet a washcloth, and just keep rubbing down the problem area (like fangs said, head to tail direction).

[Slateman]

Afro when that happened to me i wet smal bag and put snake in it keep for 1 hour in 30 C temperiture and after is easier to remove skin. Must be curefull arownd the eyes. if you have larger bit arownd the eye wich is not shad not only the eye you should take this out in one pc easy. good luck.

[pythonss]

hi phil.

everyones given you good advice on the soaking etc...slatmans bag trick works very well.

but my opinion is dont touch the retained specktacal. this can be a harmful move by trying to get it off. the rest of the body is easy to deal with and can be done safly. if the spec is retained a python will usally have another shed in a short period of time and the old spectacal will come off naturally with the next shed.
cheers paul.

[Simon_Archibald]

*^*

[Artie]

*I have to go along with Paul as far as spectacles go.
If they don’t come off easy and you force them, you could expose the cornea and the snake could loose its eye.
Try a wet ear bud gently for a while and if no good try again in a few days, if no good, wait for the next shed or see a vet.
Good luck

[python_guy44]

The exact thing happened to me afric and she still has a bit left on her and i have soaked her many times and i dont think it is working as good as ppl say (yes the water is warm

[NoOne]

Definately leave the eys alone unless they come off easily. Just because a cage is humid it doesn't always mean a good shed, the oil that comes out of a snakes skin will dry out if water is sprayed directly on the snake. This can happen regardless of cage humidity.
All my snakes shed perfectly in one peice with the humidity at around 35-40%.