Hi

BRB had partial shed yesterday. Retained some old skin around a couple of areas of belly and sides - 95% of her is clear.

Have tried the following:

* Soaking then gently rubbing at skin (she jerked away from me like it hurt her so I stopped). Also then tried letting her crawl through a towel but that didn't work either.

* Leaving in a damp pillow case with moss and a rock overnight in her viv to see if she would clear it herself.

Neither of these methods have worked or made any difference. What should my next step be? As her eyes, tip of tail and vent are clear should I leave it or is it best to remove the old skin?

If it is a case of peeling the old skin away, does it hurt them or do you just have to get on and pull it off?? I am just concerned that I will do more harm than good and hurt the new skin underneath....

Thank you.

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0.1.0 BRB (Auriga)
3.1.0 Bengal Cats (Blade, Talus, Naboo and Spice)
1.0.0 Fluffy Other Half!! (Craig)

Missing "o's" in posts - broken key on keyboard!!

I have got some 'shed ease ' here if you want to pop over and get it.

it will help soften the skin and make it easier for her to slough .

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bathe her for about an hour in warmish water, the skin will then peel/rub off no bother. You won't hurt it.

Thing to worry about now is which part of your husbandry or setup is letting her down when she's trying to slough.

What are you keeping her in and on? what are her temperatures etc and exactly what are you doing to manage her humidity when she's in slough?

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Mason

1.0 of "Quixotic_Axotlotl"




3.3 Python Reticulatus
1.1 Leiopython Abertisii
2.7 Python Regius
5.6 Boa Constrictor Imperator
1.2 Boa Constrictor Constrictor


Locality Boas and Retics A Passion.

Hi Mason

I've been having problems with the humidity levels, which I fully admit, and which I am trying to sort. My set up is currently as follows (prepare for details LOLOL):

Vivarium: 36"L x 15"H x 12"D Clear - Seal glass viv with sliding doors.
Lid has a glass panel in the middle which slides out. There is a mesh/vent panel 6" wide at the cool end which runs the depth of the viv.

Substrate: Hot half is sphagnum moss. Cool half is repti-bark.

Waterbowl: rectangular, 2" deep, 13" long, 8" wide so large surface area. At least half of this "bowl" is over the heat mat and the water is tepid so should be evaporating quite happily. Changed daily with reptisafe added.

Heating: ceramic and heat mat

Temps: Around 88F hot end, 80F cool end. Temps dropped about 5F at night.

Hides: 1 half log at the hot end. "Moist" hide at the cooler end, ie margarine tub filled with sphagnum moss which is wetted on a daily basis (more difficult when she's in it!).

Other: viv is sprayed at least twice daily. All glass sides and the glass panel in the lid are blacked out and backed with poly-tiles to aid heat retention. The heat mat is underneath the viv, on top of poly-tiles, with a 2mm gap for air circulation. Matstat is set to 85F. Main thermostat is a thermo control pro II. Thermometer is a digital lucky rep combined hyrgometer/thermometer - only drawback to this is that it only measures humidity at the unit itself, which is in the cool end.

Humidity levels have been about 40% so I have now also put in a waterfall at the cool end, to see if that would up them and now they are around 50-60%.

Phew, think that's it! When she's coming up to shed, I tend to leave her alone till she's cleared and then she gets sprayed daily (hates it LOL). But obviously something is wrong or she wouldn't be having problems....

Julia, thanks, that would be great if you're sure. Will PM you!

__________________
0.1.0 BRB (Auriga)
3.1.0 Bengal Cats (Blade, Talus, Naboo and Spice)
1.0.0 Fluffy Other Half!! (Craig)

Missing "o's" in posts - broken key on keyboard!!

any chance of a photo of the viv?

I suspect if you switch to a wooden or plastic viv humidity would be fine. no idea what repti-bark is, we don't use the brand named crap. Switch to orchid bark, unless repti-bark is orchid bark in smaller bags with a higher price then leave it

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Mason

1.0 of "Quixotic_Axotlotl"




3.3 Python Reticulatus
1.1 Leiopython Abertisii
2.7 Python Regius
5.6 Boa Constrictor Imperator
1.2 Boa Constrictor Constrictor


Locality Boas and Retics A Passion.

LOLOL I've been hunting for this legendary orchid bark and I cannot find anything by that name in my area, or even online - perhaps I am searching for the wrong thing?!!

Re the viv, I was under the impression that wooden vivs were crap for humidity as they don't tolerate it well and warp. Plastic (ie visions or herptek or whatever) are out of my price range. I can't see why glass is a problem for humidity, I've spoken to some peeps who keep BRBs who've recommended glass as being good providing insulated to stop heat loss...?

This is the viv, but this pic is NOT up to date, there have been some changes since I took this:




Does the rest of the set up sound like I'm on the right track....?

Cheers

__________________
0.1.0 BRB (Auriga)
3.1.0 Bengal Cats (Blade, Talus, Naboo and Spice)
1.0.0 Fluffy Other Half!! (Craig)

Missing "o's" in posts - broken key on keyboard!!

it's the viv, those vivs are shocking at holding humidity. Change it for a wooden or plastic viv and your humidity will be fine. I personally would not put any kind of repitle in one of those perfecto vivariums, they are possibly the worst on the market. We have one in the house and it's used for mice!

ANY reptile retailer should be able to tell you what orchid bark is and where to get it and/or order you some, personally i've nnot yet come accross a reptile shop that doesn't stock it! Ask in any shop at all.

__________________
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Mason

1.0 of "Quixotic_Axotlotl"




3.3 Python Reticulatus
1.1 Leiopython Abertisii
2.7 Python Regius
5.6 Boa Constrictor Imperator
1.2 Boa Constrictor Constrictor


Locality Boas and Retics A Passion.

Ah.......

I've literaly just spoken to a reptile shop in Taunton and he says he has never heard of Orchid Bark and it's not in his "big book of stuff" LOL. Is it called something else? Can I ask where you get yours from or do you know anywhere I can get it online? Sorry to keep asking you questions but obtaining orchid bark seems to be akin to finding the holy grail!!!!!!!!

thanks

__________________
0.1.0 BRB (Auriga)
3.1.0 Bengal Cats (Blade, Talus, Naboo and Spice)
1.0.0 Fluffy Other Half!! (Craig)

Missing "o's" in posts - broken key on keyboard!!

google brought this up, I was trying to find an example of what orchid bark lookslike and a retailer

888 Reptiles | Orchid Bark Medium

IT probably does go by many many other names, it's not made out of anyhting to do with orchid, but it IS used in the growing orchids, as in it is the best medium for it. Orchid bark is simply the name I know it by, and i'm pretty sure thats what it is labeled as on the bag too.

As far as I know most of not all garden centres and similar will have it and like I said i've yet to find a repitle shop that doesn't carry it, obviously you've managed that though :P

Go round all of your local DIY and gardening type places and ask for orchid bark, orchid mulch or t'he stuff used to grow orchids in that retains a lot of moisture and looks like strips of bark rather than compost'.

don't worry about it hugely though, it's probably almost the same as the branded stuff you have got, it is the vivarium that is letting the humidity out. Throw it away!

__________________
---
Mason

1.0 of "Quixotic_Axotlotl"




3.3 Python Reticulatus
1.1 Leiopython Abertisii
2.7 Python Regius
5.6 Boa Constrictor Imperator
1.2 Boa Constrictor Constrictor


Locality Boas and Retics A Passion.

I know, I'm just speshul that way!!!

I've done that, and it turned out that the graded bark in all the orchid-growing stuff I found was made from pine bark which I didn't think could be used with reptiles as it's harmful?

I don't understand how the viv is letting the humidity out......

__________________
0.1.0 BRB (Auriga)
3.1.0 Bengal Cats (Blade, Talus, Naboo and Spice)
1.0.0 Fluffy Other Half!! (Craig)

Missing "o's" in posts - broken key on keyboard!!