[jessicaparkscars]

I'm sure there is probably a thread similar but I'm too lazy to look through them all....

My redtail's eyes got cloudy around yesterday... and I was wondering is it bad to handle the snake during this period before the shed? And some people have suggested soaking the snake, although I'm curious if that is even necessary. My humidity level is at about 50-60, I haven't seen my snake soak since I've had it, maybe she doesnt like the water?

Anyways main question, is it bad for the shed to handle the snake?

[Merlin]

Yes. There is new skin forming under the old. excessive handling can cause the new skin which hasn't toughened yet to tear. Additionally when the snake's eyes are cloudy it can't see very well. That combined with the discomfort of the upcoming shed can make them a bit irritable.
As for soaking. Just put a water container in the cage big enough for the snake to get into and let it soak if it wishes. Some wil and some won't.

[jessicaparkscars]

merlin... you are always very helpful
you're like a reptile encyclopedia!

[millerpj]

Mustache only gets in her water after a shed and then she stays for days!

[BlackJack]

Don't handle during a shed. Snakes tend to be irritable and uncomfortable at that time and will be more likely to bite.
My BP doesn't like soaking in water, so when I see him "blue" I mist him with warm water from a spray bottle once or twice a day and keep the humidity up in his terrarium and his moist hide.

[SpecterGT260]

Originally Posted by Merlin

Yes. There is new skin forming under the old. excessive handling can cause the new skin which hasn't toughened yet to tear. Additionally when the snake's eyes are cloudy it can't see very well. That combined with the discomfort of the upcoming shed can make them a bit irritable.
As for soaking. Just put a water container in the cage big enough for the snake to get into and let it soak if it wishes. Some wil and some won't.

good advice.

however, handling is much more an aggressiveness issue than health from my experience.

i dont want to call anyone out (especially since ur an admin and its ur sight ), but I believe the new skiln is not fully formed even after shedding. the skin and scale are 1 at this point and the skin continues to form and even change until shortly before the next shedding. excessive handling would be more likely to cause complications with the shedding event itself IMO. the underlying skin should be grafted so hard to the scale that you wont affect it with normal handling (short of scale damage).

my red tail boa is still young and exceptionally well tempered since he went through several force feedings due to mites, so I am attempting to maintain this by handling him every day, even during shedding. i actually assisted his shedding the other day but soaking and rubbing. and he ate an adult mouse today which is a good sign of complacency
so nutshell time: handling, if attempted, should be gentle so you dont complicate your snakes shedding. i realize that its commonly held that handling may complicate further sheddings but from my experience I do not believe this. you would have to be excessively rough to cause this

[Merlin]

Originally Posted by SpecterGT260

i dont want to call anyone out (especially since ur an admin and its ur sight ),

LOL! You have obviously been to some of the nastier forums out there!
My position here as admin really has nothing to do with discussing an issue. And I will be the first to admit that I don't know everything. Anyone can point out that I have made an error and I will be more than happy to listen to their point of view. All I can do is rely on my personal experience, discussion with other keepers, as well as a great deal of study.

You will find it a bit different here. Differing opinions and discussions, as long as delivered with respect between all involved are welcome. That is how we all learn.
Unless someone gets seriously out of line and then I, or one of the other staff, will step in. Fortunately with the atmosphere of respect we maintain here that doen't happen very often.

And please do not use shortcut abbrevieations like ur or u. This is an international forum and it plays havoc with people trying to translate the posts.

but i believe the new skiln is not fully formed even after shedding. the skin and scale are 1 at this point and the skin continues to form and even change until shortly before the next shedding.

I disagree. While it will feel soft and supple the new skin that is exposed after the shedding is tough and resilient. Since most snakes will not feed aproaching and during a shed cycle, the first thing they do afterward is to feed. If the skin was not toughened then the prey animal would seriously damage the skin.

excessive handling would be more likely to cause complications with the shedding event itself IMO. the underlying skin should be grafted so hard to the scale that you wont affect it with normal handling (short of scale damage).

I think the key word here is normal handling. A bit of gentle handling when necessary will not cause a problem. Where the problem comes is with neophyte keepers who are too rough with the snake or are trying to control a flailing animal

i actually assisted his shedding the other day but soaking and rubbing.

It is not recommended to "help" a snake shed unless there is a problem. If a bit of the skin, for some reason, is not ready to be removed excessive pulling may cause pain. Think pulling off your own sunburn. part of it is coming off just fine and then suddenly OWWW!

so nutshell time: handling, if attempted, should be gentle so you dont complicate your snakes shedding. i realize that its commonly held that handling may complicate further sheddings but from my experience I do not believe this. you would have to be excessively rough to cause this

I think we are on the same page here with the exception of handling complicating future shedding. Unless you do serious damage to the skin the next shedding will be unaffected.

[SpecterGT260]

by future shedding I was referring to the upcoming shed after a snake has gone blue. and I think we are on the same page as far as the handling, just describing it with different levels of intensity