charlies having a BAD shed!!

angelrose · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 7:14 am Post subject:

yes

I like it to so the sheds over quicker (fingers crossed) making them feel better and alot more comfortable

_________________
1.2.0 b/w Colombian tegus
1.2.0 b/w Argentine tegus
1.0.0 Savanah monitor
1.0.0 Brazillian Rainbow boa
1.1.0 Ball pythons
1.0.0 Burmese python

redtail2426 · Valued Member Joined: Sep 27, 2007 Posts: 92

You have to keep the humidity between 60-80 percent in the enclosure but also You have to keep there hide were they sleep humid aswell that is were alot of people start getting shed issues. My humidity in my enclosure is always high but as soon as his mulch dries out in his hide his shed starts coming off slower and slower and in smaller peices. So every few weeks once I know it is dry I pick up the rock he sleeps under and moisten the mulch were he sleeps. Also vitamin A will help with shedding but be careful as you can overdose on it. If you are having to give baths all the time to get proper shedding then there is something wrong with your husbandry.

angelrose · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 1:37 pm Post subject:

redtail, what is your method of keeping the humidity up

_________________
1.2.0 b/w Colombian tegus
1.2.0 b/w Argentine tegus
1.0.0 Savanah monitor
1.0.0 Brazillian Rainbow boa
1.1.0 Ball pythons
1.0.0 Burmese python

redtail2426 · Valued Member Joined: Sep 27, 2007 Posts: 92

Well it all depends on what kind of enclosure you have like screen top and what have you. But I have a custom built wood enclosure with 4 small vents so it holds humidity pretty well. Usually when I clean his cage and put fresh mulch in it comes already damp so I let that sit for 3-4 weeks rotating it about once a week until it is dry then I have a good sized sprayer like the ones for chemicals at your home depot or lowes store, so I take that and just give it a good spraying about everyday (depending on what the meter says) over the top of the mulch quickly getting everything wet but not sopping wet, then I check his hide or were ever he has made his sleeping spot because it moves every so often and I spray that mulch down and rotate it getting it all evenly damp and I will do that every 2 or 3 weeks or if his shed starts coming off in small pieces that is a sign it needs to be more humid in his hide.

angelrose · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 5:57 am Post subject:

thx redtail, I find myself spraying in there 3 to 4 times a day because it dries out so quickly

and I flip all of the mulch about once a week

and yes they are screen tops for now (not finished)
_________________
1.2.0 b/w Colombian tegus
1.2.0 b/w Argentine tegus
1.0.0 Savanah monitor
1.0.0 Brazillian Rainbow boa
1.1.0 Ball pythons
1.0.0 Burmese python

HernandosMom · New Member Joined: Sep 08, 2007 Posts: 6

Our boy developed a bad shed about 5 weeks ago. After constantly shedding for his first 10 months or so, one leg and most of the tail just failed to grow new skin underneath and he hasn't shed since. He also stopped eating fruit ever since staying in the reptile kennel while we were on vacation. The toes on his unshed foot started to look stiff with crusty patches. We soak him about once a week in 90-95 degree water for 20-30 minutes, not more often so his skin oils don't wash out. After the bath, I gently rub his toes. About a week ago it was clear that this was hurting him

We went to a reptile specialist who said he sees 3-4 cases of this in tegus per week this time of year. He said it was from a vitamin C deficiency, which makes perfect sense based on his recent resistance to fruit. He got a shot of vitamin C (we didn't watch) and now we stuff his (dead) mice with kiwi and red grapes. I'll tell how in detail if anyone wants to know.

He also was given an antibiotic shot and put on a course of oral antibiotics that we have to squirt into the back of his mouth. And, twice a day, a cleaning solution for his affected areas. This is because little fissures had opened in the crusty skin, like those little cuts you get along your cuticle, and no matter how clean you keep your terrarium these guys are filthy on a microscopic scale.

It's been 5 days and we aren't sure that we see improvement.

Everybody, fruit is important! Most reptile vitamins do not have vitamin C because only tegus and a few others require it and other species can be irritated by it. There are brands with some C, but a variety of fruits is the best way.

angelrose · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:30 pm Post subject:

thank you for taking the time to explain the importance of vitamin C.
and how is he doing

btw, I like your way of getting him to eat fruit

_________________
1.2.0 b/w Colombian tegus
1.2.0 b/w Argentine tegus
1.0.0 Savanah monitor
1.0.0 Brazillian Rainbow boa
1.1.0 Ball pythons
1.0.0 Burmese python

angelrose · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:33 pm Post subject:

firecar96, how are you doing

you like the Shed-Ease also

_________________
1.2.0 b/w Colombian tegus
1.2.0 b/w Argentine tegus
1.0.0 Savanah monitor
1.0.0 Brazillian Rainbow boa
1.1.0 Ball pythons
1.0.0 Burmese python

txrepgirl · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:44 pm Post subject:

Hi HernandosMom.I don't know if I welcomed you to the Tegu forum family yet.If not I would welcome you on board.Thank you for all the info.Do you have a arg.red Tegu ? how is he doing now ?

HernandosMom · New Member Joined: Sep 08, 2007 Posts: 6

Thank you for the welcome. I've learned a lot here.

We have a B&W Argentine. Today we were thrilled that he ate his bowl of grapes and some kiwi and a few kernels of corn without having them stuffed in mouse. We give him his meat every other day or every two days so he doesn't get stopped up, and in-between have always offered fruit and mealworms or earthworms. Today was the first day in a while that we weren't throwing out most of the fruit. I did mix it with a soft-cooked quail egg, but I'd tried that before and he wasn't fooled, so I know he wanted it.

He's starting to shed his face and head, now, which is a great sign. But nothing much seems to be happening with his foot and tail.

I'm going to ask our lizard vet about the shed ease product. I'm not sure if it's right for our kind of problem, where the new skin just stopped growing in.