[Health-General] Shedding Concern

[Heart's Blood]

I have a 7 month old red-tail boa, and I'm concerned for her health.

Recently, I attended the a reptile expo to get new supplies, especially a thermometer/hygrometer and temp gun because the temperature in my dorm has been dropping with the upcoming winter months. I raised the temperatures (90-92 on hot spot and 79-81 on cool end), and have been regulating the humidity so that it stays between 50 and 60%. I fed her right after I got home from the reptile show (I got a live feeder while I was down there as there are no pet stores here with live feeders) and shortly after she displayed dull skin just like when she's about to shed.

Her eye caps never turned fully white, but they were blurred for a while. Just today, they appear to have cleared up. However, she's been acting increasingly lethargic (probably from the shed, but she's usually alert when I pick up her hide box) and her skin looks very loose (dehydration?).

If anyone has any advice, I would be highly greatful! I just want to be sure that I'm not anxious over a common shedding issue, but I also don't want to neglect a serious problem.

~K2

[clsutt29]

Re: Shedding Concern

Boas do clear up before they go into shed. They will also have the loose skin look to them. Them acting lethargic before shedding is pretty normal. They are vulnerable during shed and usually do not move much at all during this time.

[dapozer]

Re: Shedding Concern

Has she shed? if not then leave alone and do some misting with warm h2o. keep temps right and watch. pics are always good for other to see and help out.
shawn

[MLynch]

Re: Shedding Concern

As has been stated this is normal. My boas clear up a couple of days prior to shed too. No biggie. And when a snake is in shed cycle they are uncomfortable. Their old skin is tight, and I'd imagine a little itchy - the less they move the better they feel... plus add to this that they can't see very well when their eyes cloud up. ...Some snakes will refuse food during shed cycle because of all of this. So the lethargy is par for course.

I usually increase their humidity by about 10% when they are in shed cycle. It helps them feel a little better, and it aids in the shedding process.

[Heart's Blood]

Re: Shedding Concern

Thanks for the quick replies! I'll keep an eye on her. I don't have a camera aside from the one in my phone, but I'll try to get a picture to post to show her condition (with as little handling as possible). I read the thread about posting pictures with photobucket, but would I post them to this thread using those same techniques?

To Mike: When you raise the humidity to 10% more than usual, do you mean you have it at 60 versus 50%? Or do you go more towards 70%?

I haven't tried feeding her since she went into shed, but she's due for a meal. I figured I would just wait to feed her again till after this is over.

~K2

[MLynch]

Re: Shedding Concern

To Mike: When you raise the humidity to 10% more than usual, do you mean you have it at 60 versus 50%? Or do you go more towards 70%?

I haven't tried feeding her since she went into shed, but she's due for a meal. I figured I would just wait to feed her again till after this is over.

~K2

I have 2 BCIs, but one is quarantine and his temps and humidity are different than what I would normally use, so for now we'll focus on the boas that are in their standard set-ups.

My BCI (not in quarantine) stays close to 60% all the time, so when she's in shed cycle I'll mist the cage once or twice a day to keep the humidity around 70%.

My BRB is normally at 70% humidity, so when he's in shed I'll mist once or twice a day to keep him around 80%.

My BCI (not in quarantine) and my BRB both eat during their shed cycles. There is nothing that says a snake can't, or shouldn't, eat during shed - it's just that some snakes prefer not to.

I just want to add that you don't need to do this if your humidity is where it should be. This is just something I choose to do to make life easier for my boas.

As for the photos. I'd just start a new thread in the Pictures board, and yes, the same procedure applies.

[jgonzalez305]

Re: Shedding Concern

you say you just went out to get a thermometer / and humidity gage....if you were unsure of the humidity content in its encloser you should soak it for about 30min..in some luke warm water(just enough to cover half the body.

Has it been hiding allot? or more than normal

bring your humidity up to 70% - 75%

make sure you have something in the encloser to assist the shedding.

(not sure if you've dealt with shedding before)

What kind of substrate do you have...here is a video of a boa(not mine) using primarily the substrate to shed its skin...
YouTube - My Wife's 5 Foot Columbian Red Tail Boa Shedding Her Skin

[Heart's Blood]

Re: Shedding Concern

I've dealt with shed before, but only twice (I've had her since late summer) but neither time before did she seem "wrinkly." Both previous sheds went well, and weren't prolonged, nor did she seem this miserable in her shed condition. Is this a sign of dehydration? I definitely raised the humidity to 70%, and I plan on soaking her (soon as I'm home again tonight). I got a few pictures with my phone (best I could do for now) but they show my concerns.

I have shredded aspen as substrate. What should I provide to assist with the shed? The only furniture currently in the tank is her hide box (which looks like a synthetic rock) and the water dish.

She has been hiding a lot, but usually when I lift up her hide box to check on her when she hides, she's instantly aware of my presence and is curious as to why I'm invading her space. But lately, she doesn't even wake up until a few seconds after I've already lifted the rock, and even then, she's not very responsive, barely lifting her head, and hardly bothering to inquire with tongue flicks.

Again, thanks for all the help and fast replies!

~K2

Her body looks less muscular and more stringy, as this photo shows. She's never looked so "stringy."



This shows the wrinkles around her neck.



This is the first wrinkle I noticed: under both sides of her jaw, the skin is very loose.

[Heart's Blood]

Re: Shedding Concern

What kind of substrate do you have...here is a video of a boa(not mine) using primarily the substrate to shed its skin...

P.S. Thanks for the video!

[Zelica]

Re: Shedding Concern

I just went through my first shed and my RTB got the cloudy eyes and then they cleared and then i noticed the same wrinkles that yours has and panicked thinking i was not feeding her enough but nope she was just getting ready to shed i was told and sure enough the next day she shed..

[jgonzalez305]

Re: Shedding Concern

yup she's in shed...remember she pretty much has two layers of skin right now separated by fluid....just soak her a little for 20 to 30min, a couple squirts with the spray bottle daily and a damp towel over her tank...should do the trick...

don't soak for too much...she will loose essential oils in the skin...

put her hide close to the wall of the cage...just leave enough space to where she can just barely crawl between the cage wall and her hide.

oh yeah...by the way make sure you put the humidity gauge within and inch of the substrate

[Heart's Blood]

Re: Shedding Concern

yup she's in shed...remember she pretty much has two layers of skin right now separated by fluid....just soak her a little for 20 to 30min, a couple squirts with the spray bottle daily and a damp towel over her tank...should do the trick...

oh yeah...by the way make sure you put the humidity gauge within and inch of the substrate

Thank you SO much for your help! And a big thanks to everyone who replied! I'm so glad I'm just being my typical, worrisome self. ^_^

I'll be sure to soak her when I get home (still in the music building... ugh...) and I'll get the hygrometer closer to the substrate.

~K2

[Heart's Blood]

Re: Shedding Concern

She shed last night! I woke up this morning to find her curled up in her hide with the old skin sitting next to her.

Thanks again for all the advice! I'm so glad we have this awesome forum here to post questions and concerns!

~K2