Tail care ?

[GarterGuy17]

I'm am so worried at the moment because ever since i got jade it looked like there was a little extension to her tail like a tiny all brown twig.very very small though looked as if it was a part of her tail before , When I first saw it I thought she had a dead piece of tail and it would eventually come off and so I just picked her up a few minutes ago and noticed it wasn't there and the tip of her tail was bleeding not a lot as in the blood was flowing out just like enough so you can see the blood. Her tail is still to small so I cant get any pictures but what should be my course of action if this isn't normal ?:(

[guidofatherof5]

Sounds like Jade retained some shed on the tip. Retained shed will strangulate that section of tail, it will die and fall off.
The brown twig comparison was a good description of this situation.
A small amount of blood is normal and this shouldn't be a major concern. The tail section will not grow back and will always be a small stub.

[GarterGuy17]

Phew good to hear and I mean it was really really small it was about the size of a baby's pinky nail. So as long as everything is fine im happy stub or no stub she is still jade :)

[guidofatherof5]

Watching for complete sheds is important. I have a few babies with the same stub tail.
I also have a couple (w/c & c/b) female adults with stub tails.
There is some debate as to whether males that lose a larger section of tail have a more difficult time breeding.
Just losing the tip shouldn't cause a problem.

[Light of Dae]

Just pay close attention when she sheds. Examine her old skin n make sure it's all there. With my Babs when her eyes go blue I will give her a nice luke warm bath just to help her moisten up. Now with her tail being a little stubby now it may be a problem spot for her sheds especially if there is a scab over the tip when she does shed. Just maybe before and after she sheds give her warm baths n after her shed a warm bath with a clean wet n warm face cloth rub. I don't want you to stress n worry about it, just know ahead of time what to expect n what to do.
She may not enjoy you rubbing her hiney but you don't want anymore of her tail to... uh go twiggy :)

As for my Babs' baths I just use a little container n hold her as normal n dip my hands in with her. But I would use the bath tub however I don't use my well water for any of my animals, they all get bottled water lol
I use the same little clear container as a 'shed box' Just warm wet towel Put her in n fold the towel over her.

[GarterGuy17]

Well i think she still has a lot of time before because she color is dulling but everything else is normal same eyes and the front half of her body is still almost the same color. Should I give her a bath now ?

[Light of Dae]

lol you can give her a bath as often as you like. Just round shed time it helps. It's all up to you, she may enjoy going for a swim, she may not, lol she could also be indifferent to whether or not she gets a bath or not. :)

[GarterGuy17]

She hate swimming and I know hate is a strong word but she hates it. :(

[EasternGirl]

Some garters don't like it...Cee Cee gets all freaked out if I try to put her in a bowl for a swim...Seeley too, now that I think about it. Hermes loves it. Well, then don't make her swim on a regular basis....but after her eyes cloud over and then clear up...just dip her in some warm (not too warm) water each day until she sheds...then after she sheds...take a warm wet cloth and gently rub over her tail area just to make sure there is no retained shed there. If you can show us a pic of that area...I'd like to see it. Also, after she sheds if you can post some close-up pics, we can make sure she hasn't retained her shed anywhere.

[Light of Dae]

lol well that's ok then, just give her a bath or even just a warm wet towel in a sealed container, folded over her for a little while. My Babs doesn't like swimming either, but seems to love it when I'm holding her and dip my hands in the warm water, she will stop squirming n just sit n soak in my hands.

Just note as well, don't have the water warm to your standards, just luke warm, just above room temp is perfect.

I might give Babs a bath later, I'll take some pictures just to give you an idea of how I do it.

[Light of Dae]

lol well that's ok then, just give her a bath or even just a warm wet towel in a sealed container, folded over her for a little while.

Edit lol I meant to say when her eyes go bluey, and after she sheds of course.