Lazy Shedder?

[rachelintx]

Hey everyone,

My little Pixie started shedding 2 days ago. Yesterday morning I checked on her and she was snug in her hide, only halfway done. I added another water dish and a humid hide, but she wasn't interested. I checked on her again this morning and she was in the same hide, still only half shed. I came home from work and found her in the same exact state. I had to take a warm damp towel and let her wriggle through it a number of times to get it all off.

She seems fine now and ate a nice F/T pinkie for dinner... Is this normal for corns? My ball python always all the way, or just leaves the tip. I've never seen a lazy shedder before! Her temps and humidity seem fine. 78 - 89 and 43% humidity.

Any pointers?

Thank you!

Rach

[rachelintx]

Oh, and I'll post some pictures in a few days after she digests her meal. She's so pretty, post shed! And she is such a sweetie; I love her!

[Cam5]

From what I have read, and experienced, they should completely shed all at once.
If the shed is in pieces or, as in your little ones case, is over a period of time then something is wrong.
You did the right thing by the damp towels, moist hides etc.

Maybe someone else can chime in, but the temps seem a bit high.
The warm hide should be between 80-84*F.

Is this always the case or just the first bad shed?
Mites can also couse poor shedding...just to take a peek for that.

Good job helpping out you little one

[Cam5]

I looked around a bit and about 72-75*F seems to be the cool end temps people are suggesting.

Hope this helps

[rachelintx]

Thanks everyone!

I'll lower the temps a bit.

Rach

[Cam5]

let us know how it goes

[ballpiefun]

Originally Posted by Cam5

........Maybe someone else can chime in, but the temps seem a bit high. The warm hide should be between 80-84*F.........

For the first couple of months of the hatchlings lives I do keep my warm end temperatures a little higher than I would for adults, around 89/91F(32/33C). I have not had any issues with non-feeders or regurges and all sheds have been in one piece and nicely rolled up in a ball.

However, I do have a very good gradient, down to 72/74F(22/23C) at the cool end, with multiple hides at varying temperatures along the scale. The baby corns can choose the correct temperature for itself and more importantly, because of the multiple hides, can base that decision just on temperatures without having to comprimise because of wanting/having to choose between heat and security.

I also carefully monitor their shedding patterns and introduce a damp piece of kitchen towel to the warm end of their home as soon as I notice the first signs of a baby going into shed or on the date that I anticipate them going into shed, whichever is the soonest, in order to increase the humidity levels for a short period of time.

My 07 hatchlings will soon be moving up to a bigger tub and will be introduced to aspen-like bedding for the first time which will drive down my maximum warm end temperatures to about 86/88F(30/31C). again with a good gradient and multiple hides.

Cheers,
Patrick.

[rachelintx]

Extremely helpful! Thank you Patrick! Right now she is in a 10 Gallon tank with an inch of aspen bedding. I think I bought her right before she shed and I wasn't able to bump up the humidity for her until after the fact. About how often do hatchlings shed? Or does it just depend on the individual and their growth rate?

Thanks again!

Rach

Originally Posted by ballpiefun

For the first couple of months of the hatchlings lives I do keep my warm end temperatures a little higher than I would for adults, around 89/91F(32/33C). I have not had any issues with non-feeders or regurges and all sheds have been in one piece and nicely rolled up in a ball.

However, I do have a very good gradient, down to 72/74F(22/23C) at the cool end, with multiple hides at varying temperatures along the scale. The baby corns can choose the correct temperature for itself and more importantly, because of the multiple hides, can base that decision just on temperatures without having to comprimise because of wanting/having to choose between heat and security.

I also carefully monitor their shedding patterns and introduce a damp piece of kitchen towel to the warm end of their home as soon as I notice the first signs of a baby going into shed or on the date that I anticipate them going into shed, whichever is the soonest, in order to increase the humidity levels for a short period of time.

My 07 hatchlings will soon be moving up to a bigger tub and will be introduced to aspen-like bedding for the first time which will drive down my maximum warm end temperatures to about 86/88F(30/31C). again with a good gradient and multiple hides.

Cheers,
Patrick.

[ballpiefun]

Originally Posted by rachelintx

Extremely helpful! Thank you Patrick! Right now she is in a 10 Gallon tank with an inch of aspen bedding. I think I bought her right before she shed and I wasn't able to bump up the humidity for her until after the fact. About how often do hatchlings shed? Or does it just depend on the individual and their growth rate?

Thanks again!

Rach

My 30 hatchlings, which range in weight from 35g to 15g, shed every 30 days or so and eat every 5 days, pinks and or fuzzies with weights equivalent to approximately 10% of the hatchlings body weight (i.e. 7g to 3g respectively).

Again its a Brit thing, but I have no idea what a 10 gallon tanks is. What are the measurements (L x W x D)? Do you have a photo of your set up?

Cheers,
Patrick.

[Cam5]

How big of an enclosure are your hatchlings in?
What do you use for belly heat?
And how on earth do you get them to cooperate for weights? I think I am going to get a deli cup with holes in the lid to get a check on where our 2 babies are at.

You seem to have such a goo heat gradient, it would be nice to know your secret