After Shed(what then?)

[guidofatherof5]

I thought it might be good to post a couple photos of a shed skin and what to look for to be sure the shed was complete.
An incomplete shed can cause eye infection(retained eye cap/s) and a retained tail shed can cause the loss of the affected tail section.
The first photo clearly shows that this snake did shed the two eye caps.
The second photo shows a complete tail shed. At first glance it may look like the tail tip didn't shed but it is there. It just didn't turn inside out.
This seems to happen to my adults more than my young snakes. If you are in doubt you can cut the shed to see if the tip is really there.
Most of the time you can see it though.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/shed7.jpghttp://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/tail3.jpg

[ConcinusMan]

Good post. Even if your snake's shed is mangled, in pieces, etc. you can usually find the head part and check for eye caps and you can usually find enough of the tail to check for tail tip.

If you're not sure, then examine your snake's tail. There will usually be a stark difference between the part that did shed, and the part that didn't. One will be fairly reflective, (shiny) the other dull. Same goes for the eyes. They should look very clear and as shiny as glass.

If not, a gentle rub with an eraser or a dab with a piece of slightly sticky (you may have to touch it some to wear some of the sticky off) cellophane tape will pull it off.

[kibakiba]

Squirt always missed the very tip of her tail, and you really couldn't tell that she didn't get it off, until that tip fell off.

[ConcinusMan]

Well, I can tell. Sometimes there isn't much you can do about it because the skin gets fused solid to the tail. It only causes tail loss if it fails to shed several times in a row. Truth be known, this is probably the main cause of snakes in the wild having stubby tails. Most people assume injury from a predator but I don't think that's the case. Most predators would go for the head, and if they did get the tail, the snake should be able to escape that easily.

[kibakiba]

Well, yeah. The bone would make it difficult... And hungry animals wouldn't let go of prey so easily, I'm sure.

[guidofatherof5]

Checking Onespot's shed I saw there was a possible problem.
Checking her face and it was clear to see this wasn't a clean shed.
A little time in a shed box should take care of this problem.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/nose_shed1.jpg

[EasternGirl]

Good catch Steve!

[guidofatherof5]

Thanks
She a big girl. It would have been hard to miss.:D

[kueluck]

Shed box?
Checking Onespot's shed I saw there was a possible problem.
Checking her face and it was clear to see this wasn't a clean shed.
A little time in a shed box should take care of this problem.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/nose_shed1.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Cs0Vqm2pP18

[Selkielass]

Gorgeous photos. (As usual, I'm envious.)

[kueluck]

So it's okay to use tap water? I don't have to worry about chlorine?

[kibakiba]

I use tap, but mine is from a well. I'd never give a snake, or any other animal, chlorinated water

[EasternGirl]

I use filtered water or spring water from a bottle. If I use tap water, I put a special water conditioner in it to clean out the chlorine...made especially for reptiles.

[kueluck]

Okay, I was just checking since the video doesn't specify. I only use rain water for my frogs & toads, I'm assuming it's okay for snakes as well?

[EasternGirl]

I don't know anything about that...but I suppose they drink it outside.