| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| CSJ |
Posted - 31/05/2010 : 14:02:31
Hi all.
I collected a new (to me) corn snake on Saturday. He's about 4 feet. He had already started shedding but in pieces. I have increased the humidity in his viv with a large flat water bowl and a damp towel over the mesh lid. He's shed some more but there's still a lot on, most worryingly to me a complete piece about 12 inches on his tail end.
I've had another corn from 8 weeks old for a year now but would not consider myself 'experienced'. I know I could give him a bath but also wanted to give him the seven day settling-in period.
How long should I give him to do it himself? Should I just bath him now (how do I do this)? Is there anything else I can do?
Thank you in advance. |
| 4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| CSJ |
Posted - 01/06/2010 : 20:04:11
Well, I've just given him a bath and I'm so impressed with him. He went easily into the RUB and laid his belly flat in the water (he hadn't used the large water dish for this). While I was soaking I checked his hide and the moss had worked well. I let him soak for 10 then when I put him in the towel it was like he knew exactly what I was doing! He removed most of his skin, only tiny bits left on which I'm sure will come off soon enough. A couple of times I held the loose skin and he pulled in the necessary direction to take it off. Billy Rocks! Thank you again for your advice. |
| CSJ |
Posted - 31/05/2010 : 21:07:36
Thank you both for your advice. I didn't specify, but I completely covered the mesh lid with a damp bath towel and this has increased the humidity. I popped out earlier and bought some moss and put it in his favorite hide.
He was absolutely fine with handling, even after traveling from the sellers home in a pillow case.
I like the idea of using a RUB for bathing and all considered will give this a go first thing in the morning if the tail piece is still in-tact. |
| Sta~ple |
Posted - 31/05/2010 : 15:38:15
I'd go with what Danny said. If he's 4ft he's not that young people he should be quite used to people not that that nervous. It will also make you worry less as you will see the pieces coming off rather than waiting and hoping.
To give mine baths I normally use a large RUB, fill it so it's not that deep. You don't want him to swim you just want it so his head can be above water and he can slither around in the RUB and then I put a lid on but I make sure the RUB has some air holes. I use RUB's as they have lids so snakey doesn't try and get out all the time and I don't then have to clean the bath before and after : |
| DannyBrown91 |
Posted - 31/05/2010 : 15:23:51
With a really bad shed like that i would probably bathe him then leave him to settle but obviously the route you take is down to you.
If you want to give him a bath all you have to do is put some luke warm water in the bath, measure it with a digital thermometer, it needs to be around 27c. Make it deep enough that he can lay with his belly on the bottom.
Let him have a soak for about 10 mins or untill the water temp drops below 24c-ish.
Then let him run through a damp towel. It may take a few attempts.
Alternatively you could give him a damp hide. for a day or so, let him soak in that and then see how much he gets off on his own. You say you have a mesh lid? If so then it will be very hard to up the humidity so the water bowl on the warm end won't make much difference. |
