First Shed

[acovert]

Cuddles is definitely about to shed for the first time. His eyes are that blue, cloudy color. He's also been hiding for almost two days straight and he's refusing food.

I don't really know what to do and what to watch for, and I'm worried because I'm leaving in a few hours and I will be gone the rest of today, all night, and then part of tomorrow, and I definitely can't take him with me. Will he be alright until tomorrow?
(He had to choose now for his first shed! Ugh.)

What should I watch for that would be indicative of something wrong? How long should it take for him to shed?

[EasternGirl]

Just make sure he has water to soak in and maybe something to rub against...a log or a hide that is rough. If his eyes are still cloudy he has a few more days to go and he will be fine...he just wants to be left alone now...garters are vunerable to prey when they are about to shed, so they hide and get defensive. His eyes should clear up and then a couple of days after that he will shed. When he sheds you hope for the shed to come off in all one piece. As soon as you get back, start misting his tank frequently. You may want to put an extra water dish in there now and cover his tank lid about 3/4 with a towel...this will help to increase humidity but leave air. Make sure the water dishes give him room to swim...but are easy for him to get out of.

[acovert]

I think humidity-wise he'll be fine. It's been raining non-stop here and my room gets so warm that I leave my window open most of the time. His tank has been at 75 degrees without a heating lamp (the light bulb in the lamp burned out) and right now the humidity is staying at 65 degrees just on it's own.

I feel like a mother worrying over her child.

[EasternGirl]

I am like that all the time with my snakes. yes...your humidity is great for a shed. The temp is good...sometimes they like it a little warmer, and they do like to bask...so get a new bulb when you can...but he will be good at that temp. He should be fine while you are gone...he should have a few days before he sheds and he wants to be alone anyway. Worst case scenario, he can't get his shed off on his own and you have to help him pull it off so he doesn't retain it...but you will be back by then anyway.

[GarterGuy17]

This shedding is pretty freaky if you think about it i'm going to go crazy when my snake does his first .

[EasternGirl]

At least you guys will be prepared...I had no idea what was going on and thought my snake was dying. I came on here and told everyone that something was terribly wrong with my snake...that he was funny colored and his eyes were cloudy and I thought he was dying! The members told me what was happening. Then I found a shed in his tank and that was that. It is when they have problem sheds that it gets tricky. I had to help Cee Cee get her last shed off and she was not happy. I have an albino baby now and they can have problem sheds and you can't tell when they are going to shed...they don't show the signs that other garters do...so it is very odd. But he just had his first shed and it was perfect!

[GarterGuy17]

Be proud of your little trooper then doing it all on his own. Then again your right I can come on here and ask questions if anything is going wrong.

[EasternGirl]

Yep...this forum is awesome. If I hadn't found this place...my first snake never would have made it til today..that is for sure. But snakes do it in the wild all the time I guess...but then again they don't have people who don't know what they are doing taking them in and doing the wrong things...so it's good that people come on here and ask questions if they are going to try to care for snakes. There is so much incorrect info out there...

[GarterGuy17]

I have noticed , this forum has to be the only one I actually pay attention to I never really post on other forums except this one. Its an amazing one , hopefully next year we get higher in the top 40. I haven't been here to take credit for it but it sure is nice to know things like that and to help out now that I am here.

[EasternGirl]

Yeah...I go on another forum for snakes but this is my favorite...this is my garter family. The people here are awesome.

[GarterGuy17]

Well said Marnie , well said.

[acovert]

Cuddles shed sometime today. He ate as well. From the look of the shed, it came off in one whole piece and there doesn't appear to be anything left on him, including around the tail and eyes. Of course, he was extremely angry at me for picking him up to check, but I'm certain that everything went well.

[guidofatherof5]

Cuddles shed sometime today. He ate as well. From the look of the shed, it came off in one whole piece and there doesn't appear to be anything left on him, including around the tail and eyes. Of course, he was extremely angry at me for picking him up to check, but I'm certain that everything went well.

Glad to hear all went well. I'm with Cuddles on this one.
He had a right to be mad. He gave you a perfect shed to look at, why bother him? :D

[EasternGirl]

That's awesome news Ashley! I'm so glad that Cuddles had a successful first shed. I knew he would do well. You have been taking great care of him. Give him a little treat! Good job Cuddles!

[acovert]

Haha I wouldn't have picked him up, except that I really wanted to make sure since I'm new to all of this. I also had to disturb him anyways in order to take the shed out of his tank and give him something to eat.

[EasternGirl]

I'm sure he appreciated you giving him something to eat anyway. How is he doing with his feeding these days?

[acovert]

He's refusing everything but worms at this point.