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EmJade616
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
4 Posts |
 Posted - 02/02/2012 : 23:11:33
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Hi All,
I recently re-homed a python as she was extremely stressed in her old home.
But she's had difficulty shedding and her skin is only shedding in small patches, it looks awful, I cant see any mites and don't want to stress her out by putting her in the bath (which her previous owner did often)
Her tank is now warm as previously it did not have a bulb in and a very poor heat mat. I'm not sure how humid it should be (its about 40 at the moment)
She has finally eaten today as I was told she had not fed in the last 9 months and I knew she was hungry as she tried to eat me a couple of times but was fussy about the first couple of mice I gave her.
Any hints and tips of how I can have a happy snake?
Thanks! |
Royal Python - Henri
Cats - Asuka, Rinoa, Splodge
Rats - Odin, Hansel, Gretal, Yoshi, Azumi, Munch, Shiva |
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n/a
deleted
7384 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2012 : 23:26:30
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Wow ...good for you! She's lucky to have found you.
First of all, a good idea is to read the caresheet on this forum, as it will give you a starting point for setup, temperatures etc. If she's an adult in a viv, the best heat source is a ceramic or infra red bulb, guarded and with a thermostat - heat mats even when statted, can overheat if an adult royal basks on them, and cause burns.
If her eyecaps and tailtip are clear, don't worry too much about the stuck shed at present; the main thing is to help her to settle in. A good tip for stuck shed is to put the snake into a damp pillowcase, tie the pillowcase at the top, and put into a ventilated and lidded plastic container, supervised, for 20 minutes. The friction of the damp material will help the stuck shed off, and the snake feels much more secure in a small container and the dimness of the pillowcase.
But that can come later - most of all she needs peace and quiet, no unnecessary handling until she's had three consecutive feeds, just let her do her own thing (which may include hiding away) and she will start to feel secure with you.
It's really good that she's eating with you already. Hope this helps and congrats on rescuing her.
Sorry if I overlapped with anyone else by the way. |
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Edited by - n/a on 02/02/2012 23:30:29 |
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Lotabob
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
5008 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2012 : 01:11:30
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| Congratulations on your new snake and well done for rescuing her too. I think BATS has covered the bases about where to start and as she says any shedding issues other than eyecap and tail tip issues can wait, she may look tatty but it wont have any negative health effects to give her time to settle in before the fuss of the pillowcase trick. I would think that the bad shed is due to low humidity rather than mites etc, 40% is on the low side for a Royal, specially a shedding one. Good luck and any more questions, just ask away its no secret we love answering them. |
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EmJade616
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
4 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2012 : 19:31:58
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Her tail is clear (it was one of the only bits to shed when I first got her) her eyes look clear today, so phew! Once shes had a few feeds I will try the pillowcase trick if she is still struggling.
Any tips on how to keep/get her viv more humid? |
Royal Python - Henri
Cats - Asuka, Rinoa, Splodge
Rats - Odin, Hansel, Gretal, Yoshi, Azumi, Munch, Shiva |
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Lotabob
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
5008 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2012 : 19:53:23
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Water usually  You can use damp moss or my trick and a less messy approach is a damp face cloth draped over a hide. You dont want the floor to be damp though as it can cause issues with scale rot which is nasty. My vivs dry out quite quickly so I spray the foliage when I notice the first signs of a shed and then just use damp cloths to maintain the higher humidity. |
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EmJade616
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
4 Posts |
Posted - 06/02/2012 : 13:46:15
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| Didnt think of a damp face cloth, I spray the logs which helps but I will get a face cloth on the way home, hopefully this will solve the problem and she will be able to shed properly :D thanks :D |
Royal Python - Henri
Cats - Asuka, Rinoa, Splodge
Rats - Odin, Hansel, Gretal, Yoshi, Azumi, Munch, Shiva |
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BlueDragon
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
876 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2012 : 08:50:11
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For Tig I started using special drops in his water. The stuff is made from plant extract and the idea is to boost their ability to produce the oil needed to shed right. It worked great for Tig (he was a shocking shedder as a baby) and he even started to sit in his water sometimes to loosen his skin even more. He seemed to to be thankfull for it. You could maybe try the same? For Tig it was a shed or two later that there was any sort of real improvment, but once it started he was fine. Exelent stuff I think.
Congrats on your new friend by the way : )
(sorry I dissapeared for a while again peeps, been having laptop problems) |
Just me and my zoo. |
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n/a
deleted
7384 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2012 : 14:36:26
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Hi, Blue - glad you're back!
What's the name of this stuff? It sounds good.
Hope your royal's going on ok, Em, fingers crossed. |
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EmJade616
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
4 Posts |
Posted - 14/02/2012 : 13:48:55
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Blue - What is the special water drops called? I may give it a shot, however she is shedding slowly again now.
2 successful feeds down and she already looks ready for a third! She's much happier when I stroke her now, still sticking to minimal handling though until she's completely shed and still feeding well. Will put a couple of pics of her up soon :) |
Royal Python - Henri
Cats - Asuka, Rinoa, Splodge
Rats - Odin, Hansel, Gretal, Yoshi, Azumi, Munch, Shiva |
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n/a
deleted
7384 Posts |
Posted - 14/02/2012 : 17:15:56
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| Glad she's doing so well and congrats on rehabilitating her - look forward to pics of her. |
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jbarlow91
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
897 Posts |
Posted - 14/02/2012 : 18:26:09
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| Sounds like she is lucky to of found u well done for giving her a better life |
0.1.0 snow corn Ruby 1.0.0 ghost corn-Oreo
1.0.0 bearded dragon- kato
0.1.0 bearded dragon- keita
1.0.0 cali king-Taz
0.1.0 royal-Clio
1.0.0 yellowbelly royal- Moose
0.1.0 hognose jinxx |
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stuart619
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
27 Posts |
Posted - 16/02/2012 : 14:18:50
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Hi,
You seem to be doing really well. I bet you will feel a lot better after a few more feeds.
Follow all the advice on here and you can't go wrong. One thing I'd add though is that you said she is eating mice. Perhaps you should try to get her on to rats as soon as, I think they are more nutritional for a royal. If I am wrong please someone feel free to correct me
Good luck and keep us updated |
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Lorraine
Yearling
United Kingdom
480 Posts |
Posted - 16/02/2012 : 21:11:45
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| Sounds like you're doing a great job with her Em. Well done. |
1.0.0 CB11 Normal Royal, Oscar.
1.0.0 German Shepherd, Bailey.
Still lots to learn. |
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BlueDragon
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
876 Posts |
Posted - 18/02/2012 : 07:44:08
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Sorry peoples. I keep dissapearing. Full of busy is all...
The stuff I used was Exo Terra Aquatize Conditioner. It comes in a little bottle, black, and it has a Frog on the front. It's made so you can easily just drop whatever it needed into the water ( a tiny amount really, you wouldn't think it would be enough to do anything). Totally harmless, doesn't smell either. But you do have to remember to clean the water 'cause otherwise the 'slime' in the plant extract will stick to your bowl and get a bit... pondy.
I used it in his mister bottle too to mist the viv with. It means that it'll be in the humidity as well.
Hope that helps : ) |
Just me and my zoo. |
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Topic |
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Stressed out Python
