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cheyanne
04-16-2013, 11:14 AM
Hey guys, so I just got my first snake. He was born September 10th so he is about seven months.
I got him from a friend who has been breeding them for some time, so she walking me through the shedding process but I have not been able to get a hold of her. I had an observation that seems strange to me and I wanted to check in to see if it was normal/okay.

His head had separated from the rest of his body. It did not take him long to shed the rest of his body, but his head has not shed.
Is this normal?
is there something I should be doing to help him?
Stefan-A
04-16-2013, 01:21 PM
That shed needs to come off completely. Normally, it would come off in one piece.

Everybody has a favorite method of doing it, but the old skin needs to be moistened and taken off. Personally, I prefer bathing the snake in warm water, grabbing the edge of the old skin and holding on while the snake pulls itself out of it.

Others prefer using a shed box:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs0Vqm2pP18
Steveo
04-16-2013, 01:32 PM
An hour or so in a shed box like in the video above should do the trick. Sometimes I have to close the damp towel around their head, and then it comes off when they back out. If neither of those work, you might need to hold him down and pull it off with forceps.
chris-uk
04-16-2013, 03:41 PM
A bit of time in a shed box, then if it's not come off I go with Stefan's method of holding the edge of the shed and letting the snake pull itself free.

Your first shed and it's a problem one, talk about baptism by fire. :) There's no reason to think that the next shed won't be completely normal. It does drum home the importance of checking each and every shed to make sure they are complete.
guidofatherof5
04-16-2013, 04:49 PM
Good eye seeing the problem. You've been given sound advice from the others.
cheyanne
04-16-2013, 04:55 PM
Thanks guys, Ive got him in a shed box now and hopefully that works. I will keep you posted.
chris-uk
04-17-2013, 10:24 AM
How did you get on with the head?
cheyanne
04-19-2013, 08:41 PM
So, The shed box did not work for him. I did have the breeder over to help me out and we bathed him and with a little bit of stress managed to keep him calm and peel what was left on his head off. He is shed-free and happier then I have seen him in a long time :)
guidofatherof5
04-19-2013, 08:53 PM
So, The shed box did not work for him. I did have the breeder over to help me out and we bathed him and with a little bit of stress managed to keep him calm and peel what was left on his head off. He is shed-free and happier then I have seen him in a long time :)

That's great.