Hi all,
So my Diamond python has had shed troubles in the past, but nothing like this. He is covered in small and medium patches of retained shed, which is persistent on not coming off.
I left him completely alone during his cycle, and did try to maintain the humidity as high as I could, although it kept dropping down to 55% or so.
I soaked him twice today, one time for 20 minutes, the other time for 1hr and 20 minutes, I then used a towel and a gentle back and forth rubbing motion to try and get the skin off. Some (a small amount) did come off so that confirms that it is stuck shed.
Also mixed small amounts of some of the commercial "shed ease" stuff in the water per instructions, as well as some betadine.
Problem is that a large part of it will not come off, and I am not sure how rough to be with it, I don't want to force it off as i'm guessing that'll just damage his skin.
He isn't keen on being touched too much if at all, and he hates 'bathing', so I am worried about stressing him out too much by all this repeatedly.
Should I just keep soaking and try to get as much off as I can until its all off? Or just wait untill the next shed? He sheds quite often so i'm sure it wouldn't be more than a month or so.
Also I read on a 'reptiles magazine' (I think that's the name) article, that vitamin A deficiency can cause skin and shedding problems, was considering getting a multivitamin into his food somehow, is this overkill?
It's gotten to the point where these problems are very frequent, and this time is probably the worst, I can't figure out what's causing it and what to do next.
Any advice is appreciated,
thanks!
So my Diamond python has had shed troubles in the past, but nothing like this. He is covered in small and medium patches of retained shed, which is persistent on not coming off.
I left him completely alone during his cycle, and did try to maintain the humidity as high as I could, although it kept dropping down to 55% or so.
I soaked him twice today, one time for 20 minutes, the other time for 1hr and 20 minutes, I then used a towel and a gentle back and forth rubbing motion to try and get the skin off. Some (a small amount) did come off so that confirms that it is stuck shed.
Also mixed small amounts of some of the commercial "shed ease" stuff in the water per instructions, as well as some betadine.
Problem is that a large part of it will not come off, and I am not sure how rough to be with it, I don't want to force it off as i'm guessing that'll just damage his skin.
He isn't keen on being touched too much if at all, and he hates 'bathing', so I am worried about stressing him out too much by all this repeatedly.
Should I just keep soaking and try to get as much off as I can until its all off? Or just wait untill the next shed? He sheds quite often so i'm sure it wouldn't be more than a month or so.
Also I read on a 'reptiles magazine' (I think that's the name) article, that vitamin A deficiency can cause skin and shedding problems, was considering getting a multivitamin into his food somehow, is this overkill?
It's gotten to the point where these problems are very frequent, and this time is probably the worst, I can't figure out what's causing it and what to do next.
Any advice is appreciated,
thanks!