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shedding problems
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by bush_viper17 on October 21, 2004
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Hey everyone, I have a cottonmouth that wont shed. He hasnt shed all the way the first time and now hes starting to shed again. It comes off in pieces. I have a smaller cottonmouth in the same cage that sheds easily. Also the bigger cottonmouth seems a little sick. I feed it and take care of it well, but some thing doesnt seem right. Its probably just because how it looks half way shed. I dunno.
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RE: shedding problems
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by Scootertrash on October 21, 2004
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I had that happen to one of my rattlers so I misted him everyday but a cottonmouth likes water anyway and probably sits in his water dish alot so misting would be redundant. I dunno either. Is he eating?
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RE: shedding problems
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by BwViper on October 21, 2004
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What are you keeping the humidity and temp at? How does it seem sick? Is it regurging? not eating? blowing bubbles under it's throat?
Not shedding can be caused by many things such as virus, parasites (internal & external), humidity, temp and many other things.
If it is feeding good and not regurging, just try soaking it in warm water for a couple hours to try to work the skin loose. I would also do this right before it sheds this next time.
Keep a large water bowl in there with it and keep the humidity up some and it should be fine. I keep mine at about 82 degrees with a cool spot of 76 on one end and a hot spot of about 90 degrees on the other and basically a swimming pool for them. They do great and seem to like it. Give them a hide spot, this is very important for stress, if they stress out, that can also cause many problems.
I am just going off of the info you gave and is from my personal experience. I hope it helps.
Bobby
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RE: shedding problems
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by ALA_herp31 on October 21, 2004
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It dose seem strange that a mostly aquatic snake would have so much trouble sheding. I have kept at least 20 WC (Nerodia sipedon pleuralis) Midland Water Snakes, and never had any trouble with the sheding. I guess it could be a cottonmouth thing. Well i agree with Bobby, all i can say is bring the humidaty up in the cage around the start of sheding time and try puting him in warm water to set for at least a full day. Hope evrything gose alright with the felow..... Good luck Jeremy........Happy herping Wally
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RE: shedding problems
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by Phobos on October 21, 2004
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Jeremy,
Cottons are prone to parasites especially WC animals. That may be the signs you're seeing. Are you going to be at the SC Show? If so email me off line.
I really raise the humidty 70+ when any of my snakes are going to shed. Even the desert snakes get some extra moisture just after the opaque stage is gone.
Is it soaking itself?
Al
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RE: shedding problems
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by Buzztail1 on October 21, 2004
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This will work!
Take your Cottonmouth and bag him up in a cotton bag (pillowcase, midwest snake bag, whatever as long as it is coarse cotton fabric).
Make sure that you tie the end securely!
Completely soak the bag. Do not leave it in water because the snake may get tired of holding its head up and eventually drown. Leave it in the bag which should be wet, not damp, wet for about 24 hours or so.
The snake should be able to shed out against the rough cotton fabric. I have found that Cottonmouths are very susceptible to patchy shedding. This method was explained to me by Chad Minter and Mardi Snipes and has not failed me yet.
Be very careful bagging your snake.
The field herping forum has a couple of current threads concerning a guy who recently got tagged through a bag while he was bagging a Copperhead.
Karl
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RE: shedding problems
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by BwViper on October 21, 2004
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That's a great idea Karl. I had never thought of that. I always put mine in a locking plastic rubermaid with water and a small block in there so it can prop on. I have also used an incubator with water in the bottom and the snake in a vented container placed in there. That way it is temp. controlled. I haven't had a shedding problem with any of my snakes in a long time, but you can bet, I will try the bagging method the next time around. Great idea.. Thanks Karl!!
Bobby
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RE: shedding problems
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by ALA_herp31 on October 21, 2004
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Karl, COOLLLLL, good idia. Thats what ya call using ya bag LOL. I think this mite help me with some of the Water Snakes i cetch here bouts. GOOD thing is thoe, with the old Northern Water Snakes ya dont have to worry bout going to the ER after geting bite huuu? Well thanks for the advice. AWWW, Jeremy good luck man, hope the old Cottonmouth dose beter and please do be careful baging him/her, ive heard of too many hot keepers geting taged by their snakes in the baging proces.....Thanks again......Happy herping Wally
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RE: shedding problems
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by Buzztail1 on October 21, 2004
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I guess I forgot to add that the wet bag should still be kept in a locked cage.
I am a firm believer in there is no such thing as too careful.
I have had plenty of friends who have had snakes disappear from perfectly secure seeming bags.
Karl
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