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9 Posts |
 Posted - 20/04/2010 : 13:05:22
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Hi,
I have had Kevin for 7 weeks. He is 18 inches long. He has shedded for the first time on Sunday. He has some skin left on his underside. He is now overdue a feed. I tried to feed him yesterday but when I have attempted to pick him up and place him in a RUB he has repeatedly attempted to strike and wasn't happy at all. He has bitten me several times in the past and this was likely due to me not being confident in handling. Handling has improved recently but since he shed it has now become a problem again.
I have read that bathing the snake in warm water and removing the skin myself would be the answer but I know that if I attempt to pick him up he will strike again and will not be calm.
Can anyone advise what I need to do? Should I just get on with it and if he strikes just carry on until he calms down? |
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DannyBrown91
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3070 Posts |
Posted - 20/04/2010 : 13:19:34
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| Yes mate, you just need to bite the bullet so to speak and pick him up. Before bathing him you could try to let him wriggle through a damp paper towel, 9/10 times this is enough to remove the retained shed. |
0.0.1 Ghost Corn - Casper
0.0.1 Diffused Corn - Reggie
0.0.1 Amel Corn - Candy A.K.A Baby
1.0 Commom BCI - Rocky
0.1 Japanese Akita - Sasha
Location: Liverpool |
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deleted
124 Posts |
Posted - 20/04/2010 : 13:36:46
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I have to agree with Dannybrown91 - you are just going to have to put on a brave face and pick up Kevin. At the size he is even if he does make contact when he strikes its not going to hurt.
I've just had to go through this with one of our snakeys who's a bit nowty! She'd bitten my son and we'd all got a bit nervous about getting her out of the viv. The only one who could do it was my OH. Once she was out and given the time to calm down she was fine and the whole family were OK with holding her. I've made myself overcome my fear of being bitten and have started picking her up. She started out a bit jumpy but she's so much calmer after only a week. The more I've done it and the calmer I've become the better she's become The other 2 snakeys aren't a problem at all and I've never had an issue with them. Its really just a case of mind over matter! |
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9 Posts |
Posted - 20/04/2010 : 13:51:13
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Thanks for your comments. I think Kevin does have a less than friendly temperament, but I know that the main issue is my handling confidence. I know that a bite won't hurt, it's just that a strike happens very fast and it's a bit unexpected. I have considered wearing gloves, but have been told this is never necessary for a Corn.
Regarding bathing, should I put him in a RUB that is filled with 1cm of warm water and no dry space, so that he has to go in the water? If he starts to move around like he has no desire to be there, any advice? |
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DannyBrown91
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3070 Posts |
Posted - 20/04/2010 : 14:00:16
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It could be done in a rub, sink, washing bowl, bath whatever is a good size. Make sure the water is luke warm, best to measure with a digital therm, it should no warmer than 30c and no colder than 27c. It should be deep enough that his belly can touch the floor in case he wants to rest.
How much shed has he retained? |
0.0.1 Ghost Corn - Casper
0.0.1 Diffused Corn - Reggie
0.0.1 Amel Corn - Candy A.K.A Baby
1.0 Commom BCI - Rocky
0.1 Japanese Akita - Sasha
Location: Liverpool |
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Kehhlyr
ǝʞɐɔ sǝʌoן
United Kingdom
8173 Posts |
Posted - 20/04/2010 : 14:03:52
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He will have no desire to be in the water, and will try to escape as much as possible, so be prepared for a fast snake as well.
What is your setup like?
What is the tank made of?
size of tank? (lengthxwidthxheight in inches pref)
substrate?
decor?
how is it heated?
how are temps monitored?
I wouldn't bother with a bath or a soak yet to be honest, quite often most shed can come off by themselves, another couple of days in the viv could sort it and of not then consider a dip.
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-=Kehhlyr - The Resident Loon
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Edited by - Kehhlyr on 20/04/2010 14:04:55 |
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9 Posts |
Posted - 20/04/2010 : 14:03:55
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| He has retained about a 4 inch strip on his underside just past half way of his length towards his tail. I believe it is just one area. |
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stoney2143
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
22 Posts |
Posted - 20/04/2010 : 14:06:41
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Not sure if this is a good tip or not but the guy in my local pet shop said he puts his snakes in a wet pillow case if they are having trouble shedding and that seems to do the trick.
Ive never tried it though so cant back that up
Does anyone else do this? |
1 Amel corn 0.0.1 ( name soon )
1 boxer dog, maisy |
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DannyBrown91
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3070 Posts |
Posted - 20/04/2010 : 14:15:41
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quote:
Originally posted by Kevin
He has retained about a 4 inch strip on his underside just past half way of his length towards his tail. I believe it is just one area.
Any chance you have any spagnum moss? You could give him a damp hide and see if that does the trick for him. If not then a damp paper towel will do the trick.
Baths should only really be used as a last resort as it can be very stressful for the snake, so before putting him in a bath you should try the other options.
Stoney, i've never heard of using a damp pillow case before but imagine that it could work. |
0.0.1 Ghost Corn - Casper
0.0.1 Diffused Corn - Reggie
0.0.1 Amel Corn - Candy A.K.A Baby
1.0 Commom BCI - Rocky
0.1 Japanese Akita - Sasha
Location: Liverpool |
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9 Posts |
Posted - 20/04/2010 : 14:19:06
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quote:
Originally posted by Kehhlyr
He will have no desire to be in the water, and will try to escape as much as possible, so be prepared for a fast snake as well.
What is your setup like? Plastic viv which is kept inside a full size Viv.
What is the tank made of? Plastic
size of tank? (lengthxwidthxheight in inches pref) 20x10x8
substrate? Aspen substrate
decor? 1 stone affect hide, 1 bark hide, 1 waterbowl
how is it heated? Thermostat controlled heat mat under half of small viv. Heat lamp on in full size Viv during daylight hours.
how are temps monitored? Cheap thermometers (not digital) either end of Viv.
I wouldn't bother with a bath or a soak yet to be honest, quite often most shed can come off by themselves, another couple of days in the viv could sort it and of not then consider a dip.
My Viv details are included above. Thanks for your comments |
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DannyBrown91
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3070 Posts |
Posted - 20/04/2010 : 14:25:07
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I would turn the light off as it introduces heat which is not needed.
Alo get yourself atleast 1 digital thermometer for on the warm side. You can pick them up on ebay for a couple of quid so arn't necesarily expensive. They're a crucial piece of kit to monitor your temps as the thermostat probes aren't very accurate nor are the dial thermometers. |
0.0.1 Ghost Corn - Casper
0.0.1 Diffused Corn - Reggie
0.0.1 Amel Corn - Candy A.K.A Baby
1.0 Commom BCI - Rocky
0.1 Japanese Akita - Sasha
Location: Liverpool |
Edited by - DannyBrown91 on 20/04/2010 14:25:43 |
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9 Posts |
Posted - 20/04/2010 : 14:32:41
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quote:
Originally posted by DannyBrown91
I would turn the light off as it introduces heat which is not needed.
Alo get yourself atleast 1 digital thermometer for on the warm side. You can pick them up on ebay for a couple of quid so arn't necesarily expensive. They're a crucial piece of kit to monitor your temps as the thermostat probes aren't very accurate nor are the dial thermometers.
Thanks for the advice. I shall get a digital thermometer. |
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Sta~ple
qeeun speler
United Kingdom
6129 Posts |
Posted - 20/04/2010 : 19:11:01
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| Bites don't hurt that much and once he's bitten you a few times he'll give up most probably. |
   
A very special super, duper thanks for K :3 |
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zandefloss
Hatchling
United Kingdom
245 Posts |
Posted - 20/04/2010 : 19:23:50
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Is it a possibility he has retained his eyecaps as well, just wondering because this could make him strike if he can't see you coming.
zan x |
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9 Posts |
Posted - 21/04/2010 : 08:34:01
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quote:
Originally posted by zandefloss
Is it a possibility he has retained his eyecaps as well, just wondering because this could make him strike if he can't see you coming.
zan x
Thanks for the tip. His eyes were cloudy before the shed but they are now their usual colour. I assume this means the eyecaps have shed fully? |
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9 Posts |
Posted - 21/04/2010 : 08:36:05
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quote:
Originally posted by Sta~ple
Bites don't hurt that much and once he's bitten you a few times he'll give up most probably.
Thanks for the reassurance. I know I'm being a big girl about being scared of the bites (no offence to any girls on here!) |
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DannyBrown91
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3070 Posts |
Posted - 21/04/2010 : 11:44:07
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The eyes always clear a few days before the shed so this dosn't mean they eye caps have come off.
What you need to do is find the skin, and check the skin for the eyes caps and the tip of his tail as these are the things that are usually hardest to notice on the snake. |
0.0.1 Ghost Corn - Casper
0.0.1 Diffused Corn - Reggie
0.0.1 Amel Corn - Candy A.K.A Baby
1.0 Commom BCI - Rocky
0.1 Japanese Akita - Sasha
Location: Liverpool |
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deleted
9 Posts |
Posted - 21/04/2010 : 12:31:50
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quote:
Originally posted by DannyBrown91
The eyes always clear a few days before the shed so this dosn't mean they eye caps have come off.
What you need to do is find the skin, and check the skin for the eyes caps and the tip of his tail as these are the things that are usually hardest to notice on the snake.
Have checked the discarded skin and the eye caps are on there, so i'm confident he can see o.k. |
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KITTYCAT
Hatchling
United Kingdom
492 Posts |
Posted - 22/04/2010 : 19:17:38
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i put my hatchling in the sink after a bad shed they are excelent swimmers aint seen him move so fast but it worked his shed came of brilliant i let him slide through a towel afterwards at it came of like a stocking aslo bare in mind your snake is probably more frightend of you than you should be of it, |
1.0.0 carolina corn (herbie)
0.1.0 snow corn (casper)
0.0.1 anery motley corn(diesel)
0.0.1 calafornia banded king snake (ozzy)
0.1.0 royal python (pandora)
0.0.1 boa constrictor (bullet)
1.0.0 weinmaraner (zac)
1.0.0 staffy (zeus)
1.1.0 cats (sophie n pepe)
0.0.1 fish (fish)
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DannyBrown91
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3070 Posts |
Posted - 22/04/2010 : 22:17:45
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quote:
Originally posted by KITTYCAT
i put my hatchling in the sink after a bad shed they are excelent swimmers aint seen him move so fast but it worked his shed came of brilliant i let him slide through a towel afterwards at it came of like a stocking aslo bare in mind your snake is probably more frightend of you than you should be of it,
As said in another thread, Yes they are good swimmers, but they don't like swimming and this should only be done as a last resort as it can be stressful to the snake. |
0.0.1 Ghost Corn - Casper
0.0.1 Diffused Corn - Reggie
0.0.1 Amel Corn - Candy A.K.A Baby
1.0 Commom BCI - Rocky
0.1 Japanese Akita - Sasha
Location: Liverpool |
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deleted
80 Posts |
Posted - 23/04/2010 : 19:57:22
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Although I have only had my snake for a week I did have one about 15 years ago that had some trouble shedding, I put her into a damp pillowcase for about 20 minutes and it did the trick. Just make sure that it is warm and you ring it out well.
Good luck
Steve |
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Help with a shedding, biting Corn snake
