Hognose shedding question

[Lori P]

For those of you with hognose, can you tell me if Harry looks ok?? He didn't want to eat this week, whereas normally he is a piggy. But as I've never seen a hognose in shed, not sure if this is normal... he has scales popping up here and there, and some wrinkles... just worried that this is not normal. He just looks... odd to me.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Hognose_maybe_in_shed_resize.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Hognose_maybe_in_shed_crop.jpg

Thank you so much!!

[reptileparadise]

Wow, Harry looks like a big boy to me!

I think its normal (don't have hogneses though)
My biggest female garter also get in such a 'worn out state' just before shedding.

[ScimitarX]

Yep, definitely looks normal to me:) weve had hognoses before and they would look like that before shedding

[drache]

same here
and then when it comes off, that shed is much thicker than the sheds from my garters

[anji1971]

I had no idea hognoses did that before a shed.............poor thing looks like something the cat dragged in!!!!:D

[jeanette]

looks normal to me , if he seems to be having a little trouble add a moss box, keep it in a warm section of the tank and he will shed fine.
dont worry he wont eat while he is shedding, the ones that do eat during a shed are the exception to the rule not the norm' .

[adamanteus]

Sorry to be the odd one out, but I don't think it's right. My experience with Heterodon is limited, but when scales slough off individually in any species, this is a failed shed. A few hours in a 'wet-bag' would assist in sloughing, and that's what I would do at this point. I would say that skin should have come off some days ago. When he does come out of it just check that the 'spectacles' (eye caps) have sloughed too.

[drache]

of course this may be my dratted eyesight again, but it doesn't look to me like any shed has come off yet - just that the skin is very dry, loose, and wrinkly
adding a damp hide and/or doing some wet-bagging is probably a good idea

[adamanteus]

If you look at the snakes' coil, at the top of the second pic, you'll see the scales sloughing individually. That's wrong.

[drache]

okay, thanks
I see it now
definitely wet-bag

[jeanette]

i didnt notice those loose scales either, had to squint (still dont know where my glasses are)
definately wet bag!!

[Lori P]

Thanks James!! Wet bag it is. Wonder if the Carefresh is too dry for them as they stay burried so much??

[adamanteus]

It's possible, Lori. It is usually too low humidity that causes this. But be careful... the opposite extreme is scale-rot... you don't want that problem! A couple of hours wet-bagging is no big issue and nothing to worry about.:)

[Lori P]

What do others here with hogs keep them on? I know Kevin had these on the Carefresh with no problem, but, maybe my house is dryer than his. Ideas for me? I want them to be able to burrow, as that's so much a part of their nature... I do have a very large water tub in there, so was assuming the evaporation would be enough. Never assume!!!!

[jeanette]

I dont keep Hognoses Lori P, but the few people i do know that keep them, keep them on various substrates. Some keep them on cocofibre (ecoearth), some on paper towels and others keep them on bark chippings.
i wasnt aware that hognoses have a problem with shedding, get him in a wet bag and then try and raise the humidity. i think the substrate is going to have to be what works best for you. if you think the substrate suits you but might be too dry then you could try a moss box. i use a moss box for my royal/ball python as they are notoriously bad shedders, when he is due to go into blue he heads for his damp moss box and stays there till hes ready to shed.
Anybody else got any ideas?

[drache]

Lori
I keep mine on carefresh and haven't had a problem
do you know how to make a damp hide?
my hognose doesn't need it, but snakes are individuals too and yours might like it

but just recently I had a garter with this dry wrinkled shed despite access to a damp hide, so who knows . . .

[Lori P]

I did make them a damp hide, out of a little tupperware container with damp moss in it, and a small hole in the lid. :-) Now, will that moss mold?? How often should it be changed out?

THANKS guys!!!

[drache]

if you wring it as out well enough, it shouldn't mold at all
it does dry out after a while and I find that I can re-dampen it once or twice
it helps to just mist it a bit every so often
my snakes rarely poop in the damp hides, so they don't get smelly
sometimes shed ends up in them
either way the moss breaks down after a while and needs to be tossed

[reptileparadise]

If you look at the snakes' coil, at the top of the second pic, you'll see the scales sloughing individually. That's wrong.

Good observation! Missed that one...Now i'm with what James said...

[Lori P]

Harry has been in the damp hide all day-- I don't know if he shed in there, I haven't wanted to bother him. But he certainly seems to be comfortable in it... it's like a snake sauna!! :-)

Thank you for all the help, will keep you posted!