The green box is suggesting I start here, so why not. I'm a new exotic snake owner in Oregon, with a Kenyan Sand Boa I received as a door prize for an event in November. I've had lizards and Skinks in the past, though I have to admit Jack (my snake) is the coolest reptile I've had.

His set up is as his breeder suggested, with Aspen bedding and a water dish on the cool side, keep close to 75 degrees. I've set up a "humidity box" on the other side that he doesn't like very much, but It seems to be doing it's job of keeping humid.

I received him while he was in Shed, and he had problems with it -- his skin flaked off and in some places dried back on. I gave him warm baths and slowly most of it came off -- though a bit on his tail remained. I figured the problem was stressed based, from being moved and everything, and wasn't to worried.

This time, he got very dull, and it looked like his shed would be normal -- then the skin dried onto him, creating wrinkles and limiting his movement in a bad way -- he just laid straight, and had a difficult time curling. I've soaked him in warm water, and it's seeming to help. Right now he's sitting in his humidity box, but I don't know what else to do.

I'd appreciate any suggestions.

Soak him in a bath of water with a little mineral oil in it. It helps keep the shed soft, so it comes off better. When you take him out of the bath, let him wiggle his way through a towel held somewhat tightly, it will help to take some of his shed off. You may have to do this a few days in a row. Make sure the end of his tail sheds completely so it doesn't get strangles by the shed and die off. Try raising his humidity in his cage a little too. Good luck.

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Kat

Thanks for the advice, I'll try having him wriggle about as such to loosen it.

It's strange that a sand boa should have problems shedding, as they do come from a fairly dry area. Most people who keep these use aspen as a substrate and offer water only 2-3 times a week to keep the humidity down to under 50%. All of the keepers I know keep their sand boas in this way without shed problems.

The adivce you've been given this far is good, though knowing that humidity shouldn't be the issue, I would try to see if their are other factors, such as parasites or another type of infection that may be leading to these shedding problems.

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i don't have a sand boa but I do have a rosy and they do not like a humid environment. i offer him water only a few days a week and do not keep a water dish in his tank so the humidity stays low. he has never had a problem shedding. as Titus suggested, i too would see if he may have a parasite or some sort of infection that might be causing the weird shedding behavior. i've never heard of a sand boa having issues with shedding because of humidity. good luck!

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yes i am a she ^_^

~My Babies~

1 Rosy Boa (male) Chaos
1 Snow Corn (male) Blizzard
1 Anertherystic Corn (male) Bullet
1 Senegal Parrot (male) Shadow
2 dogs (male) Spot and Bear

Jack's Skin came off entirely, but in pieces. I don't think he has any infections or little critters on him, he looks healthy and is reasonably active -- but I'm no expert.How would I tell if he had mites or an infection or something similar? He hasn't had any noticeable behavior changes, and his scales look bright and healthy after his shed.

He hasn't eaten since the 8th, but it was a larger pinkie and with his shed I'm not to surprised -- I offer him food every Sunday. Thanks for all the great advice so far!

a vet visit is the only way. Take in a fecal sample to be looked at under a microscope.

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My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

shedding in pieces is not normal for a snake, usually it would suggest a humidity problem but since that type of snake does not have a humid environment I would think it would be some sort of parasite. the only way to figure out if the animal had a parasite would be to take a fecal sample to a vet and get it checked. snakes can not always tell us when they are sick until its too late. if it were mites, you may be able to see them, they like to hide near the corners of the eys, in the scales of the throat and sometimes near the vent. if you were using paper towels as a substrate you could see little black dots on the towels or maybe floating in the water dish. i don't have any experience with my snakes having mites but I know several others here who have and they would probably be able to tell you how to better notice them or what to do to get rid of them. good luck!

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yes i am a she ^_^

~My Babies~

1 Rosy Boa (male) Chaos
1 Snow Corn (male) Blizzard
1 Anertherystic Corn (male) Bullet
1 Senegal Parrot (male) Shadow
2 dogs (male) Spot and Bear

Welcome to HC Network and I hope everything goes well with your snake!!

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Warmest Regards from Lyn

You were given a sand boa as a door prize? That's awful.

Not you, of course. You're doing the right thing by taking care of the animal properly. Welcome, by the way. I hope things go a little easier for you and your new snake.

It's just that I feel very strongly that no animal should ever be given away as a prize for anything. A lot of animals that people have gotten this way end up abused or in rescues because their new owners knew nothing about them beforehand and weren't equipped to take care of them. It's horrible to see that happen. Okay, sorry. Mini-rant over now.

Jack is very fortunate to have gotten you as his new owner.

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