shedding & appetite

[Stefan-A]

Speaking of this...

Last Sun Ripley had an incomplete shed. On his back, down from his head a bit. I mentioned to Dave we needed to soak him and get that off. Dave said this had happened before, it was no big deal and Ripley had been soaking in his water dish. So, I kept my mouth shut.

Dave's on vacation today and when I got to the park, Ripley looked HORRIBLE! The incomplete shed was worse and he was just laying there, lethargic. It was Sun and he wasn't snooping around for his bunny! Not good.

I told one of the interns I wanted her to soak Ripley, since he's not that fond of me and I think she's more of a snake charmer, at least with Ripley, than I am. I filled Ripley's betatine tub full of cool water - hotter'un hell today, in the 90's and the AC hadn't been turned on yet. I was thinking being too hot was also contributing.

So, I filled the tub while she tried to get Ripley out of his tank - he was at the other end. He did something he's NEVER done - went whacko and was hissing as though he was going to kill someone. I told her to be careful, I was not going to give in to Ripley, and she eventually got him out.

You would NOT believe the skin we got off that poor snake! And how quick he calmed in the water; Jo's excellent with him - very slow and deliberate. He hunkered down in the water, one time going under!, and let her rub and rub and rub. Even rub his chin and his nose! I'd told her I'd read about the bath on here and that we would have our old Ripley back as soon as that dead skin came off. That that was why he was grumpy, plus prolly being hot.

She must have worked on him almost an hour, rubbing, pulling, rubbing, pulling - always being careful to not pull too hard or too much.

And his head? We got a complete 'cap' off the top! Complete with the skin off the eyes! No wonder Ripley was unhappy!

Once all the skin was off him, that was it. He wanted NOTHING more to do with his bath. She dried him and cuddled him, never putting him back in his tank until after the presentation and it was time to feed him. We'd gotten him a really small rabbit

..and that's the precise moment when I finally realized you weren't talking about a garter.

[Lori P]

Great job Gertie!!!! That's a great story. Good for you for seeing the signs and sticking to what you knew you needed to do. Ripley thanks you.

LOL Stefan... they grow them garters BIG where Gertie lives...

[adamanteus]

I feed some of mine during the blue phase... those that are willing to eat. I can't see why it should be a problem. Also no problem if they refuse food at this time.

[crzy_kevo]

ok i have another question in regards to shedding
is it possible for the snakes to rub the eye part off without removing the rest of the skin as you can see in these pictures
yesterday-


And today


it apears as if she has rubbed off the eye part i know she hasn't shed yet because there are parts on her where she rubbed and the skin has started to seperate(not much but is visible)

any1 ever see this b4?

[beaniesmommy]

Well, I am new to this but my snakes eyes were blue and then it went back to "normal" and then it shed a couple of days later. I would say she will shed in a couple of days. Just from my little bit of garter experience. He did an almost complete shed. I just had to soak him in warm water for fifteen minutes and then I pulled off just a couple little pieces on his tail.

Good luck, keep us posted.

[crzy_kevo]

thnx andrea

[Lori P]

In my experience, Andrea is correct-- they go blue, then back to clear, and then shed.

[crzy_kevo]

thank you guys i didn't know that im still new

[Lori P]

I don't think I'll ever get over feeling new. :-) I think I learn something new on here every single day!!!

[crzy_kevo]

i just wanna be there for the shedding process luckily i have most of wednesday off and all thursday off