Quick Shedding Question

[Ryachanira]

How long does it usually take between eyes going milky and the snake to shed? We first noticed Silv's eyes to be very opaque and milky on Monday evening (although I admit I honestly hadn't given him a good look since Sunday morning probably, other than just to check that he was in the cage and alive and all, haha). It is now Thursday morning, he still has the milky eyes but no evidence of any shedding as far as I can tell. I am sure it is different for all snakes but a kind of average time (or just an assurance that he is still normal) would help.

Along that note, is there anything I should be doing for him right now? I know to check for retained shed/eyecaps after he sheds but at this stage is there something else I should do? This is the first time he has shed since we took him in (a little over 6 weeks ago) so I just want to make sure I do it right!

[drache]

there's no set schedule, but it does tend to take longer during the dryer, colder seasons
you can help by providing a damp hide in the enclosure
the easiest way to make one is to fill an appropriately sized plastic food container with something damp (sphagnum moss, a clean rag, a sponge), and cut a hole into it so the snake can get in and out at will

[guidofatherof5]

Rhea's advice is good.
I would offer a shed box to help in the shedding process.

Cheap shed box.

[ConcinnusMan]

Piles of damp moss and/or shredded newspaper helps where maintaining high humidity is difficult. All my in-shed snakes like to snuggle down in the moist material in the few days prior to a shed. They seem to prefer this over soaking in the water dish.

Flicker's cloudy eyes cleared 4 days ago. He shed late last night. This is a typical length of time, but it can vary. I would begin to get concerned if the eyes have been clear for 7 days without shedding.

From the time the eyes go clear, there certainly is something you can do to help. Make sure there's some rough wood or rocks in there for him to rub on to get it started, and provide high humidity/misting and/or damp material to snuggle in. Don't try to assist the shedding unless he's having trouble such as coming off in pieces or shreds.

[Ryachanira]

Thanks for the advice - I had a cleaned out cream cheese tub that I had used once as a very small feeding box for him, but since he is not using it right now (darn snake still refuses to eat anything, I think he is getting a little too comfortable with this idea of tube feeding, heh..) I cut a hole it it. Went to the store and got some sphagnum moss, wet it down and stuck it in there. I put him in to start with, just so he knew it was there and all. There are a few rocks as well as some rough wood in there already so hopefully that will help him out!

I love this little guy to pieces but he does not have the best survival skills ever... missing brumination and trying to freeze to death, sitting right in my tire tracks in the garage, scraping up his head and blinding himself, and now not eating for like 5 weeks. I will not be surprised if he ends up needing a lot of help with shedding too, haha. He is lucky he found us to take care of him, otherwise he wouldn't have had a chance.

[guidofatherof5]

Glad you took the time to care.

[Charis]

On average, all of my snakes usually shed within 3 to 5 days of the eyes clearing.
Their eyes are usually cloudy for between 3 to 5 days as well, depending on the species.

[ConcinnusMan]

Sounds about right. On a side note, my northwesterns will usually continue to eat through the cloudy phase but then refuse food after they clear. They resume eating immediately after the shed. The concinnus' are a bit different. Most of the adults will refuse food as soon as they start going cloudy, and sometimes won't start eating again until a few days after they shed. This means that they don't eat for anywhere from 10-14 days. For the babies in shed, they usually only refuse food for a few days while they are very cloudy.

[Charis]

My garters will often refuse to eat for the whole 10 to 14 days they are in shed but will eat the day after they shed. They are very easy to tell when they are starting into shed, as they get very dark & dull.

[ConcinnusMan]

Yeah, even before they go cloudy, their colors just fade away. I have a couple of babies looking like that right now.