Can anyone please help?!?

[SnakeDoctor]

Ok I posted some pics here a few years back of a Eastern Garter called Cyclone. She is a WC female and has been doing great up until this year. It started a month or so back when she went into the “blue” to shed and never shed. She since then has been soaked overnight. I added spag moss as bedding and moisture.After doing all this I still have yet to get her to shed. Now she’s started looking bad as far as color goes. Her diet consists of rat pups and strips of salmon and trout. She is still feed at her current state but looks bad. I had thought about maybe it could be something internal and would try Baytril but the vets in my area know little to nothing about snakes which I find odd. What is your take or advise on this situation?

Thanks,
Doc

[Stefan-A]

That snake looks severely dehydrated, but I'm no vet. If it failed to shed, it not only needs to be soaked, it also needs help to get the shedding started.

What substrate have you been using?

[guidofatherof5]

The retained shed must be removed. This is a serious situation.
A warm shed box and if needed you have to manually remove it.

http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/husb...treatment.html

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

My gosh Jay I had no idea it was that bad!!! The picture of her looking all dry must not have loaded on FB. Still, do as I and these guys have suggested!

[BLUESIRTALIS]

I agree with everyone else. I would get that old skin off as soon as possible. I would let her soak in some water for an hour or so and then manually remove the skin just be careful around the eyes and once you get it started she will do the rest all you have to do is hold the skin and let her pull out of it. I hope you get her back to normal she is a beautiful snake and i hope she gets to reproduce.

[SnakeDoctor]

Hey thanks to all the response so far. I have tried the 24hr warm soak with no luck, the shed must really be stuck. Currently she is in a tub with minimal amount of holes for air to help hold in the moisture from the sphagnum moss substrate. I have noticed that this breeding season my ball pythons and burms seem to all have some sort humidity issue which I never had issues with before. So to combat that issue I have installed a humidifier which has also helped my breeder females start to accept the males for breeding. Back to the garter female, this morning I used the scotch tape method and had success in removing the what might be the first layer of retained shed from her face and eye cap areas. I will continue this afternoon after work with the rest of the body and also see how she is reacting now that at least one layer of eye caps was removed. I will also feed her tomorrow so that she will regain her strength as the whole time I am “tape shedding” her she is fighting back. I am sure the tape felling is very uncomfortable. I will get back with everyone possibly Sunday some time with her progress. Once again thank you all for your responses and tips.

SnakeDoctor Jay Weaver

[chris-uk]

What's the "Scotch tape method"?

I've not come across it before, but I'd never dream of putting tape of any kind near my snakes... The worst retained shed I worked on required lots of soaking and shed box time, a scalpel and tweasers and sessions over the course of a couple of days to get the shed off.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

The scotch tape method is for removing eye caps!

[guidofatherof5]

Start the sink running with lukewarm water. Hold the snake in the running water at a place you know where the old shed and new skin meet. The running water will help get under the old shed and make it easier to remove it. It can be an long process but it is very important the old shed gets off ASAP.

[i_heart_sneakie_snakes]

This is scary!! I hope you able to get that old shed off her before its too late. Good Luck.