Help!!

[JaneySparkles]

Hi all, I have a pet Corn Snake, he will be about 3-4weeks old now.. and he is doing his first shed...
Is it normal for them to refuse to eat just before and whilst they are shedding? Also... He has shedded everywhere except for the last 3inches of him and this isnt moving atall... is there anyway in which I can Help the process along or is it better if i just leave him to it?
thanks....

[cooljules]

Originally Posted by JaneySparkles

Hi all, I have a pet Corn Snake, he will be about 3-4weeks old now.. and he is doing his first shed...
Is it normal for them to refuse to eat just before and whilst they are shedding? Also... He has shedded everywhere except for the last 3inches of him and this isnt moving atall... is there anyway in which I can Help the process along or is it better if i just leave him to it?
thanks....

yes its normal to refuse food...and does it soak in water?

[JaneySparkles]

I don't think so... He only started shedding yesterday but today was his feeding day so i tried to see whether he would take it or not... But i have read that they do soak... but would his water be too cold?

[JaneySparkles]

does the water need to be warm?

[cooljules]

Originally Posted by JaneySparkles

I don't think so... He only started shedding yesterday but today was his feeding day so i tried to see whether he would take it or not... But i have read that they do soak... but would his water be too cold?

most of my snakes (i have many soak and poo in the big water dish, normally its the sign of a healthy snake and they like to do it) its not too cold for them....

one of mine didnt eat his rat yesterday, a big rat as she will shed in the next couple of days..

if your snake is healthy...then dont worry, just make sure the skin will come off, as as it dries, it shrinks

[JaneySparkles]

okay thankyou, will it not damage his new skin to take it off? How long should I leave it before I start to help him peel... Sorry for all the questions...

[cooljules]

Originally Posted by JaneySparkles

okay thankyou, will it not damage his new skin to take it off? How long should I leave it before I start to help him peel... Sorry for all the questions...

if the skin is soft its quite easy to help it off, just be gentle...there are other ways to do it, bt maybe other people can help, i have never had to use other things...

as the skin dries it shrinks....so imagine losing your toe because you had a too tight elastic band or simular on...it gets tight and dies.

i have a disabled snake, that i had to help 2 days ago..a 1 week ok baby snake..

do you have a camera to take fotos of it?

[JaneySparkles]

yes i do... But I don't want to handle him because he has just accepted his mouse, so i don't want to handle him until he is fully digested... As I said earlier he only started shedding yesterday so I might give him a day or two to see whether he can get rid of it himself... What do you think?

[JaneySparkles]

the only pics i have of him are old ones... from before he started shedding

[cooljules]

Originally Posted by JaneySparkles

yes i do... But I don't want to handle him because he has just accepted his mouse, so i don't want to handle him until he is fully digested... As I said earlier he only started shedding yesterday so I might give him a day or two to see whether he can get rid of it himself... What do you think?

if he has only just eaten its mouse, its better than a day or 2 later...but put a dish in big enough so it can soak