Help, very wrinkly baby

[SerpentineDream]

How big is the snake and how big is his prey?

One common reason for snakes to have loose skin like that is malnourishment. Often new owners can underestimate the size of prey thay they should be feeding, either right from the start or when it's past time to move up to larger prey. There's no malice or cruelty--they just don't know.

Since he's got ready access to water that would be the next likely possibility.

Another guess, if he's being fed the correct size prey, might be internal parasites.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Originally Posted by SerpentineDream

How big is the snake and how big is his prey?

One common reason for snakes to have loose skin like that is malnourishment. Often new owners can underestimate the size of prey thay they should be feeding, either right from the start or when it's past time to move up to larger prey. There's no malice or cruelty--they just don't know.

Since he's got ready access to water that would be the next likely possibility.

Another guess, if he's being fed the correct size prey, might be internal parasites.

Actually, loose skin doesn't say anything of the snake's body tone. Loose skin like that indicates dehydration, not malnourishment. It looks like the boa has a case of stuck shed. Humidity should be 70-80% at all times, access to water does not increase a boa's hydration by a measurable amount if the humidity is not adequate.

A hopper every 6 days is overfeeding. It should be eating that same size meal every 10-14 days, no more than 7 at the absolute max. With young boas, a slight bulge is ok, but I like the bulge to be small enough it isn't obvious the snake has recently ate.

There is no need to bump the prey size, noodlesoup, an adult mouse is too much food for your boa right now. My boas don't normally make the jump to adult mice until they're 9-11 months and 150-180+ grams.



To get the humidity up, ditch the carpet completely. It's unsanitary and doesn't provide humidity. I would go with the coco coir like you planned, I usually pour just enough water in it to make it slightly damp. No water should come out when you squeeze it, and should fall freely from your hands when you let it fall from your hands (not in clumps).

I'm not sure if you're soaking him regularly, or you just soaked him for this shed cycle, but as mentioned soaking is unnecessary. I would only soak if the snake has a stuck shed, or if it's a medicinal bath.


If you do do a fecal, keep in mind you have to have a fresh, undried sample, and it has to be refridgerated if you aren't taking the sample in immediately. It can last in the fridge (not freezer) for 24 hours, maybe 48 max.