why doesn't my snake ever soak despite shed issues

flamemomma · 07-02-13, 04:55 PM

I haven't posted in awhile. I am again writing about flame my corn snake.
I obtained the snake off of craigslist. I didn't do a close inspection-didn't really know what I was getting into. Flame arrived seriously dehydrated after what the guy briefly mentioned was a "bad shed". I figured I would make sure he had plenty of water and raise the humidity at right times and give him some soaks if neccesary. Unfortunetely it didnt turn out to be tge easy fix I thought it would be. He has shed several times since I got him in March and every shed has been incomplete. I have to soak him to try to get the flaking layers off. And in my early attempts at helping him-he developed some scabs where I can only guess after much reading that the skin was peeled too soon. Although-how u peel a partially shed layer of skin too early-I don't really know. Thankfully after months of care and worry I think we are finally getting past all this stuff. However-I have read that once a snake has a history of bad sheds and past injuries that it can continue to have shedding problems that require help.
But here is my question-flame has 2 bowls of water, 1 on the warmer side which also serves to hydrate the air in the enclosure & 1 on the other cool side. I have NEVER seen flame soak himself. I have seen him drink-but that's all he does with the water. Why wouldnt flame choose to soak himself pre-shed to assist in the proper shedding? I always have to soak him in another container. I just don't understand his behavior...I read snakes like to soak...I see snakes opting for hanging out in their water bowl...but not this guy. Why?

**Aaron_S** · 07-02-13, 04:58 PM

Not all snakes soak. They don't normally do it in the wild so it's not something they always take to in captivity.

You must ensure it's manually raised within the whole enclosure or make a humid hide. To him it's a hiding place but it's humid so it'll benefit him twice.

Lastly, the only time a shed normally breaks is if there's something to "get stuck on" like a scab for example.

KORBIN5895 · 07-02-13, 05:00 PM

Yeah I don't think most snakes sit in the water in the wild.

Lankyrob · 07-02-13, 05:33 PM

What is the humidity in the viv?

flamemomma · 07-02-13, 05:33 PM

Are you saying that the shedding problem isn't neccesarily preordained based upon past shedding issues? That flame should shed just fine if there are no scabs to get caught on. That's what I was wondering-I saw a show where a snake had gotten scale rot at some time in it's life and because of that the snake required human intervention to shed each time after the scale rot was healed.

flamemomma · 07-02-13, 05:36 PM

The humidity level fluctuates between 60-80% according to my hygrometer-depending upon how recently I've misted.

**Aaron_S** · 07-02-13, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flamemomma

Are you saying that the shedding problem isn't neccesarily preordained based upon past shedding issues? That flame should shed just fine if there are no scabs to get caught on. That's what I was wondering-I saw a show where a snake had gotten scale rot at some time in it's life and because of that the snake required human intervention to shed each time after the scale rot was healed.

Without seeing that snake it could be scars from scale rot that it needs this assistance.

One or two bad sheds don't mean a snake is a "bad shedder" there is no such thing.

Amadeus · 07-02-13, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

Yeah I don't think most snakes sit in the water in the wild.

Anacondas, Burms, Water snakes, Garter, snake, False water cobras, Dog faced water snakes.

I know you said most but many snakes of varied species take refuge in water.

**Aaron_S** · 07-02-13, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amadeus

Anacondas, Burms, Water snakes, Garter, snake, False water cobras, Dog faced water snakes.

I know you said most but many snakes of varied species take refuge in water.

Corns are not one...I see your point though.

KORBIN5895 · 07-02-13, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amadeus

Anacondas, Burms, Water snakes, Garter, snake, False water cobras, Dog faced water snakes.

I know you said most but many snakes of varied species take refuge in water.

Now shall I list all of the snakes that don't?

Amadeus · 07-02-13, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

Now shall I list all of the snakes that don't?

Yes please.

KORBIN5895 · 07-02-13, 10:11 PM

I will on my lunch break.

Amadeus · 07-02-13, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

I will on my lunch break.

Aww yeah....

Concept9 · 07-03-13, 08:17 AM

Corn snakes, milk snakes and king snakes are not know to be heavy soakers although some do.

If all your husbandry is up to par I would say the problem lays with the husbandry skills of the pervious owner.

A lot of snakes that have had bad sheds due to bad husbandry will continue to do so even after the animals environment has been brought up to par.

With the snake in a proper environment its issue should get better and better with each shed.

I am currently working on a similar issue with my Mexican Black King. He is on this third shed with me and still has problems. On his last shed, the last 3/4 of his body shed fine but his first 1/4 on the top of his head and back did not. I simply held him with a warm damp cloth over him for about 15mins and then put him back in his enclosure. After he burrowed around for a few minutes the rest came off fine.

With each of his sheds he gets better. Due to scare on his head I don't expect him ever to have a "GOOD" shed unless the scares completely go away in time.

Hope this helps.