Snake Update

[abcat1993]

OK, pics are on the way, right after my camera finishes looking through the 400 pics on my memory card for the recent ones (It's kinda messed up).

[abcat1993]

OK here we go: tada!

[adamanteus]

Did you try the wet-bag thing?

[abcat1993]

I'm about to put the snake in right now, just checking if I did it right to be sure.

[abcat1993]

Haha, I just realized it says "third shed, a success" under abcat1993, but really, my snakes third shed was NOT a success. Hahahahahahahahaha

[Cazador]

Hey Matt,

That's a lot of skin hanging off the left spectacle. I think you could easily wet it and pull it off with your fingers or with tweezers. If you decide to do this, wet the snake's head twice and give it at least 30 seconds for the water to be absorbed by the old skin. Then put the snake in a pillowcase (or similar) with only its head extending. Hold the snake firm enough that its head can't wiggle around, and brace your snake hand against your leg, a table top, or something steady. Then grab the extra skin in your fingers if possible, or with tweezers and slowly pull it off. I'm sure the old, opaque skin is stressing your snake. If you're not comfortable doing this, get it in the wet bag right away. If the spectacle rips and leaves you without a good "handle," don't try to get too close to the eye with the tweezers. Just be real careful and make sure you have good lighting.

James' method has the advantage that the snake may simply rub the moist spectacle off itself as it's moving around inside the wet bag.
Rick


P.S. Is the right spectacle still on its eye, too?

[abcat1993]

I couldn't get a good picture, but no, I don't think it is on his other eye. How much longer can he go without feeding though? And, how long should he be in the bag? Overnight?

[ClosedCasket88]

ive done that few tiem in my bathtub . but most the time ill give my snake a nice warm soak for about an hour in a sweater box and i give him stuff like rocks to keep him outa the water if he dont like it at the moment, i will put a heat pad under to create lots of humidity , its like a steam room for a snake.i will mist his head here n there through the hour to keep wet. after about 30mins to an hour ill take him/her out and eye caps usualy come off easy

Matt,

The spectacles are not likely to come off by themselves and could lead to blindness if they're not removed. The key point is that you have to thoroughly moisten the retained skin and spectacles before trying to remove anything. I've had good luck holding their head under slowly flowing water for a few seconds, then giving them a minute or two to regroup; then wetting them again. Then I'll remove the retained skin.

I.

[Cazador]

He's looking a little skinny, Matt. I know he hasn't eaten in about three weeks; look at his ventral side (belly) and see if he has a concave appearance with ribs showing on both sides. If so, and if he doesn't decide to eat on his own a few days to a week after you get the spectacle off, you should consider force feeding him. You'll have to use fresh fish or a pinkie, though. I think he's a little too skinny to put into a short hibernation, but others may have a different opinion. Let us know about that poop, okay? Is his tank clean, and does he still have plenty of hides?

Rick

[abcat1993]

No, his ribs are not showing, but he still has about one sixth of his eye covered with the spectacle.