Shedding tips

[-MARWOLAETH-]

My checkered is going into shed (i guess that means he's growing rite?)I want to make sure it's a complete shed.What do you guys do to make sure your snakes shed well?

[Light of Dae]

I have a damp sphagnum moss hide in the tank at all times, they use it as needed. Had perfect sheds ever time since putting it in there.

[guidofatherof5]

Be sure he has access the a nice water supply in case he wants to soak before the shed.
Much of this process is the snakes. Once the shed arrives be sure you see two eye caps and a complete, to-the-tip tail shed.
You could also provide a moist container for the snake to crawl in if it chooses. Damp paper towel works well.
I sometimes use a small Rubbermaid or Ziploc container with the lid on. I cut a hole in the side so the snake can enter.
Hope this helps. Keeps us posted about this situation.

[mark cope]

When Neo was about to shed I went to pets ata home and got some sphagnum moss
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u453/copey1975/Neo/2012_05100001.jpg
.
and a Herp-haven
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u453/copey1975/Neo/2012_05100002.jpg
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u453/copey1975/Neo/2012_05100003.jpg
.
Neo shed 8/9 days ago and he still likes using it.
Mark

[mark cope]

When Neo was about to shed I went to Pets at Home and got some sphagnum mosshttp://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u453/copey1975/Neo/2012_05100001.jpgand a Herp-havenhttp://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u453/copey1975/Neo/2012_05100002.jpghttp://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u453/copey1975/Neo/2012_05100003.jpgNeo shed 8/9 days ago and he still likes using it.
Mark

[mark cope]

Sorry, should of added the whole lot come to £20....
But is a worth while investment because it will be used for many sheds to come.
Mark

[-MARWOLAETH-]

I never knew that pets at home sells reptile things...you learn new things everyday on this forum :D

[Thamnophis]

My experience is that healthy garter snakes shed their skin without a problem in a dry terrarium. I never have problems with it and my terrariums are very dry. There is always a waterbowl in each terrarium in which they can soak, but I almost never see them do it.

A hidingbox with some moist material is ok when you are insecure...

[Steveo]

My experience is that healthy garter snakes shed their skin without a problem in a dry terrarium. I never have problems with it and my terrariums are very dry. There is always a waterbowl in each terrarium in which they can soak, but I almost never see them do it.

A hidingbox with some moist material is ok when you are insecure...

That depends on what you mean by "dry" terrarium, though. The typical relative humidity where I live is 20-30%. Two of my snakes shed just fine (their geographic range is not far from here), while the other two cannot shed without some extra moisture.

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Living in Wales (the land of sheep and rain)the humidity is quite high anyway but it can't hurt to give him a little help with shedding so i cut a hole in a Chinese food box and put some damp kitchen roll in it.

[guidofatherof5]

Sounds like a good plan.
Only one problem. 30 minutes after the shed he'll feel like he needs to shed again :D

[-MARWOLAETH-]

I can assure you the chinese boxes former contents are gone:D

[mark cope]

I never knew that pets at home sells reptile things...you learn new things everyday on this forum :D
They sell loads of reptile stuff,which is handy as there one 5 mins up the road from me, they sell Beardies , leopard gekkos, corn, king and milk snakes.
Plus they sell pinkies, fluffs etc.

[chris-uk]

Likewise, I have a P@H a short drive away. I wouldn't buy livestock from them, but they aren't badly priced for equipment and things. Our store has started selling snakes (no garters) and has been selling beardies for a year or so. They don't have a huge range of stuff for snakes (eg. they didn't have the hide you got Mark).
When I move house we will be a 2 minute walk from the aquatic shop where our garter experience started, they're a little more expensive but will no doubt get a bit more custom from us out of convenience (and to support local business rather than a big corporate).

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Sound good...I'll have to visit it,its across the rode from a big Tesco so quite convenient.

[-MARWOLAETH-]

He just shed both eye caps shed also he looks great (i cant take good pics with my old camera because it makes him look like an elongated slug and the bloody thing wont focus:().I just got him to eat the back end of a pinky today which is also great,he shed 3 days after i noticed his eyes where milking over.How long does the process usually take?

[chris-uk]

.....he shed 3 days after i noticed his eyes where milking over.How long does the process usually take?

I "start a clock" from when their eyes clear. That normally takes 3-5 days for all of my guys, normally closer to 3, but there's variation between individuals and even some variation from one shed to the next.

[EasternGirl]

My snakes usually shed a few days after the eyes clear...like Chris said, about 3 days later. I make sure that there is something that the snake can rub against in the tank...a nice log hide or coconut hide...something to help get the shed started. I also mist frequently to keep the humidity up in the tank. For my babies and problem shedders...I keep a moist moss hide in the tank at all times.

[-MARWOLAETH-]

That's odd because I noticed his eyes where clear yesterday and he then shed shed this morning

[chris-uk]

That's odd because I noticed his eyes where clear yesterday and he then shed shed this morning
They all shed to their own timetable. For each shed I note when I noticed the same blue eyes, when they clear, and when I find the shed. Over The course of a few sheds you build up a picture for each snake which helps you pick up if there might be something wrong. Your chap has been quick from clear to shed, I'd wager that there's several others who have seen similar times though. :)

[chris-uk]

I spotted my parietalis having trouble with her shed earlier this evening. She had got started on her lower jaw, but was struggling to get the top of her head loose. I watched her for 10-15 minutes to be sure that I wasn't jumping in too soon before helping her. But it was clear that she couldn't get the shed started on her top lip and was starting to shred the rest of her shed. She had nearly 10cm of the bottom of her shed free but the top of her head and a 5mm strip down her dorsal was still in place.
She knew I was watching and kept looking at me (Nobby is most happy when she is out being handled), it would be a hard call to suggest that she wanted help but she did approach my hand when I put it in which seems odd for a snake actively shedding.
She didn't need a lot of help. When she was in on hand I just had to get a grip on the strip of skin that wasn't coming away on her dorsal, once she realised that I was holding it she used me as an anchor point and removed the skin from her head in reverse. When her whole head was free she switched to shedding the rest of her body. Both eyecaps and a full shed in the end.

It didn't justify a thread of its own, but an example of how you occasionally need to help.

[guidofatherof5]

Glad you were there to lend some assistance. I on occasion need to help some of mine out.
They do seem to understand what's going on once you get a good grip on the shed.

[-MARWOLAETH-]

It just shows how intelligent they are..when i try to help my gecko get stuck shed off he thinks im going to kill him and squeals like a pig lol