Wacky shed

[Qwerty3159]

So today when I came home I saw my little checkered chilling in the water bowl. This was odd for the little guy since usually it does a garden eel impression where he/she hangs his head out of a burrow then shoots back in if I go near. Anyways it seems he finally shed. He had the skin rolled up kind of like a sleeve about a half an inch behind his head, and I expect it looked a lot worse than it was due to the skin getting all soggy. I more or less helped him get the rest of the shed off pretty well, but I was worried about the shed itself. Some pics of the skin attached below, the longest piece would be after I removed him from the water and he shed relatively cleanly. Afterwards I found a weird "double-sided" piece that I believe is the top of the head split laterally. Then finally is a perfect piece of skin from the bottom of the jaw and about an inch of skin after that. After the whole ordeal, he sat around for about thirty minutes, recuperating I assume, and then he went underground.

Does anyone have any advice? Do you guys think it could have just been that the shed got messy when he got it soggy? And today was feeding day. Should I hold off giving him some tilapia until tomorrow?

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[guidofatherof5]

Sounds like an ugly shed. Happens to the best of them. How's your humidity?

[Qwerty3159]

It's been fluctuating mildly between about 30 and 40 percent, and a few days ago when I tried I couldnt get it higher than that even with plexiglass covering almost all of the tank lid save for a few inches near the light.

If that is too low, would my snake like a humid hide? My gecko loves his :p

[guidofatherof5]

It's been fluctuating mildly between about 30 and 40 percent, and a few days ago when I tried I couldnt get it higher than that even with plexiglass covering almost all of the tank lid save for a few inches near the light.

If that is too low, would my snake like a humid hide? My gecko loves his :p

As long as it's kept clean, garters use them as toilets. Can you put a larger water bowl in? 50%-60% humidity would be good.

[Qwerty3159]

Yeah sure. I'll try going out tomorrow, and if I cant ill just give it something from the kitchen.

[snipstedy]

Whats a humid hide?

[guidofatherof5]

Whats a humid hide?

Usually a small container(Ziploc type) with a lid. You cut a hole in the lid or side. Inside you can put some damp bedding or paper towel, etc.

The snakes use it before a shed to hydrate the old skin just before shedding. It has to be cleaned often as they use it as bathroom.

[Qwerty3159]

Well I've stabilized the humidity. A lot of it had to do with the fact that I was using a cheap analog hygrometer which, after being knocked to the floor of the tank several times lol, was probably not that accurate. I bought a digital hygrometer and it seems to be working fine and the humidity is set.

Thanks for your help!

[guidofatherof5]

Well I've stabilized the humidity. A lot of it had to do with the fact that I was using a cheap analog hygrometer which, after being knocked to the floor of the tank several times lol, was probably not that accurate. I bought a digital hygrometer and it seems to be working fine and the humidity is set.

Thanks for your help!

Sounds good. Your snakes are lucky to have a good care giver.;)

[Qwerty3159]

I just thought I'd update that my snake, exactly 15 days after his last shed, shed again. This time it was a lot more complete.
(I ripped it by accident though :D)
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[guidofatherof5]

I've seen plenty of rapid sheds in young snakes but it is also something to keep track of. Log the dates, circumstances and condition of the shed. Opaque time is also important.

[Qwerty3159]

Thanks for the reply, I'll make a spreadsheet on Excel or something :p

[guidofatherof5]

OneNote is a great program also.

[Qwerty3159]

So the first "blue" date was the 11th, and then he shed on the 14th.
I dont remember exactly when he blued up this time but I've noticed his eyes only get a tiny bit of a blue tint before shedding. It was probably around the 26th, so I think he has a 3 day period between the first time his eyes go opaque.