Dry scales

[inkgirl]

Hi everyone

I've noticed my spotted (Herman) has some scales on him that are looking a little white at the edges & feel drier than others. It seems mostly in the towards the end of him, starting just past the middle.

He was fed 4 days ago & today is the first day I've had him out since his feed. I noticed some small scales on my fingers when I was handling in the days before his feed but I thought it may have been fom stress of new enclosure/surounds & was told it could have been fom a previous shed.

I'm not sure if he is preparing to shed, as the scales no longer seem to be appearing on my hand after handling. I haven't seen a skin in his enclosure & haven't seen him drink at all.

HELP!!

 

[Khagan]

Sounds like some retained shed from a bad shed. Regarding drinking, you will probably not actually witness him drinking, as they don't drink often and instead have a big drink when they do so chances are when he is having a drink you would not be around to witness specially if he is a shy snake.

 

[Reptile_Boy]

what substrate is he being housed on?

 

[inkgirl]

I have repti sand down. It was suggested to me to put repti bark down instead.

 

[mis-devious]

if it is from a previous shed and it is retaining, theres great stuff that you can spray on your herp to help the skin come off (not sure of the brand soz) but pretty sure it is blue in colour. if he is about to shed, my oppinion would be not to handle him and give him a mist every now and then and make sure he has a solid rock or log to rub on.

 

[mis-devious]

oh and usually if they are about to shed they get a blue sheen and you may have noticed milky eyes, and if they have already shed he will be a nice fresh looking colour, even soft if it was recent. correct if wrong guys, this is from personal experience. good luck with herman

 

[Reptile_Boy]

i had the same problem with my spotteds when on sand the scaled dry out and it looks like there going to shed but it is just from the sand chang him to aspen bedding

 

[inkgirl]

thanks guys. I think I know the spray you mean. I might get some. He hasn't shed since I've had him so I'll leave him alone for few days & see if he is abou to shed. thanks

 

[JAS101]

are you able to take pics of the snake ?

 

[briiiziii]

save your money on the spray and jsut get a cotton tip or your finger, dip it in warm water and run it along the dry areas. my jungle had a length about 2 cm on her side of retained shed, i used my finger to put warm water on it and as i was handling her it lifted and came off.
make sure its nice and humid when he sheds too so maybe put his waterbowl closer to the heat source.

i got told most of this stuff im not a genius and still new to it too! goodluck!

 

[Fantazmic]

soemthing my breeder told me to do is as the snake is coming into shed is to give a light mist morning and night with a sprayer of water. My baby has only had one shed but the skin came off in a lovely long perfect piece !!

So we will do it again next time and hopefully it will work again

Regards

Elizabeth