Hermes' Diary...

[guidofatherof5]

It's different for each snake. Some shed often some don't.
You'll have to just keep an eye on Hermes and watch for the signs of a shed.

[EasternGirl]

Okay....thanks...I just know that people said that he may not show signs of a shed because he is albino...I've been watching closely...we'll see!

[EasternGirl]

Hermes decided to give me a Christmas present...and left me a perfect shed in his enclosure this morning! I was just saying last night that I was a bit worried that he hadn't shed yet. Right after my family finished opening presents this morning, I went to check on him, and found his shed stuck on his little cardboard box hide. All one piece, eye caps down to bottom of tail...unfortunately I broke it in two when I pulled it off the box...but I will post a pic later today. Like everyone said...I had no idea he was going to shed...he showed no signs other than maybe he felt a little rough and stiff. He seems softer now. He also ate before he shed. The shed was a translucent white.

[guidofatherof5]

Albino sheds are awesome. The blue phase that albinos go into is easily missed.
Stiffness is a good thing to watch for.
Glad it all went well. Little Hermes is growing and before long won't be little Hermes.

[EasternGirl]

He is getting bigger and braver...he sat on my stomach yesterday and slinked around my hand happily for a while very calmly...a much different experience than that with my skiddish W/C easterns.

[EasternGirl]

Here is a pic of Hermes chillin on his favorite bush. Now I also took a pic of his cloaca...it's the best pic I could get because my son had to take it while I held Hermes. I don't know if it is just because of his age...I have never had a snake this young before...but he has a very odd looking cloaca...it is very defined...and has a very distinct narrowing...it has kind of a bulge and then it narrows after it....I know it isn't infected or anything...it has been like that since I got him...but it looks like "he' could be a "she" to me...or does the cloaca just look like that when they are young? I also noticed that it looked like it was open when I was holding him...is that just because he musks me a lot when I hold him?

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[chris-uk]

I wouldn't guess from that photo Marnie, best I would say is that to my eye Hermes could be either.

[EasternGirl]

Hmmm....I wonder if I should try to pop him. I will try to get a better pic. I really need to make sure of the sex before I get a radix from Steve in the spring. Hermes' sex will determine what gender of radix I get because I will be getting a cagemate for Cee Cee or Seeley and if Hermes is a male, he will be rooming with Seeley, if he/she is female, rooming with Cee Cee. I do not want another accidental baby situation.

[chris-uk]

Personally I don't like the idea of popping a snake. You have plenty of time before you need to know, so I'd let him grow bigger for a few months and get a better photo nearer the time. One thing you can be fairly sure of is hat whether you need a male or female, Steve isn't going to be short of a radix for you.

[EasternGirl]

Right? Lol....