more stories of my problem child

[hex a holik]

soo... i have another issue w/ my baby blood. she has stuck shed all over her face. ive soaked her, sprayed her w/ vitaspray which helps induce sheds (i did this when she started to shed because it was stuck everywhere, but now its just on her face.). ive tried to pull little pieces off but its stuck all over her "lips" and nose and chin. it really bugs her, she's always "yawning" trying to loosen it up, but it wont break up. and she has double stuck eyecaps(she had stuck eyecaps before she shed, and now they look super thick.), im posting up some pics of her stuck shed around her face. they're kinda blurry but i think you'll get the picture. if anyone has an idea what i can do to help her, it would be greatly appreciated.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k169/krookedklown/snakes/hex56.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k169/krookedklown/snakes/hex57.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k169/krookedklown/snakes/hex58.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k169/krookedklown/snakes/hex59.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k169/krookedklown/snakes/hex60.jpg

and here are some pics of her after we forced fed her a small fuzzie. i think the shed is making her not want to eat. it had been 2 weeks since she ate. after we got it in her mouth, she welcomed it and swallowed it in record time.
she is doing much better since the MITE incident, except the shed.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k169/krookedklown/snakes/hex61.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k169/krookedklown/snakes/hex62.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k169/krookedklown/snakes/hex63.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k169/krookedklown/snakes/hex64.jpg

[The Snake Guru]

If you have a rubbermaid shoe-box or other plastic container. Fill it with water till it's about 1/4 to 1/2 way up her sides, then throw some paper towels, or an old wash cloth or something in there with her.

And leave her soak.....eventually it will come off, sometimes it can take quite awhile for really stuck on sheds, I've had to let some soak for around 6 hours depending on the situation. At anyrate if after 6 hours she still can't get it off, you may have to restrain her behind the head. Then wrap a piece of scotch tape around your finger (sticky side out) and start by dabbing the sticky tape on her nose until you get a piece of shed loose that you can grab onto....then start peeling....but remember always work the shed from Nose to Tail....shed should be removed in the same direction as it would be if she were shedding naturally.

Just keep soaking her until it comes loose....it will come loose eventually just with water.

~B~

[danthony428]

hopefully you get that all worked out, thats a cool little blood you got there

[kahunadog]

I have had this problem with one of my burms. Brad couldnt have said it better. Soak and patience is the key. Good luck

[Meli]

soak her over night and see what happens. I would go with 15 minute sessions after that daily until you get some progess. I am BIG on humid hides with STPs. Grab a container with a lid, cut a hole in the side just big enough for her to crawl in and out of. Throw some damp spagnum moss in there or some damp paper towels and leave it in the warmer side of the cage 24/7. This will help avoid future problems and stps love humid hides. Be sure to let Spag moss get completely dry before rewetting it.

What I have found for badly stuck eyecaps that worked real well was mineral oil. Just dab a dot on the eye and let it sit. When you go back, or better yet soak the snake in a humid hide and go back, that eye cap will slip right off.

If the snake has mites and you have alot of layers of stuck shed, you might try a drop or two of dawn dishwashing liquid in the soaking water to kill off the mites. Any dishwashing liquid will do. The soap helps drown those nasty creatures faster.

[Robilyn]

I second Meli on the humid hide for the bloods and short-tails...it's been recommended to me by vets as well as herpers. Both the bloods I've had love the hides and had great sheds!

[hex a holik]

thanx everyone for your help! she is doing much better. still has a stuck eyecap, but it doesnt seem as bad as it did before. she is loving her humid hide. we put a wet towel inside her hide and she's in there 24/7. best part. NO MORE MITES!!! and she ate her last fuzzie all by herself. maybe she won't be our problem child after all.
once again thank you everyone.

[The Snake Guru]

Glad to hear she's on the trun around....keep an eye on that cap and make sure it comes off next shed.

~B~