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 #1799233


Mdate
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 Question on shed

I aquired my BCI Murphy about a month and a half ago and he hasn’t shed yet and hasn’t even clouded over either. His temps are a consistant 88F and 80F with a humidity level of around 50-60%. I will bump it up when he shows shed. Is it possible it is because of teh new enviroment?
07/17/08  12:01pm

 #1799250


Drepop
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   Message To: Mdate   In reference to Message Id: 1799233


 Question on shed

the same thing happened to my boa. I had him for like 2.5 months and he never shed. He was young. A person told me to feed him something a little bit bigger than what I was feeding him and so I did and he went into shed a week later.
07/17/08  12:29pm

 #1799297


Mdate
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   Message To: Drepop   In reference to Message Id: 1799250


 Question on shed

would 1 small rat be too little ever 7-10?
07/17/08  01:17pm

 #1799332


SusanC
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   Message To: Mdate   In reference to Message Id: 1799297


 Question on shed

mdate,
judging by your pics... and keep in mind that I can’t really tell the girth (how big around) of your snake. I will advise you this way... your snake only needs one appropriately sized prey item every 7 to 10 days. Your snake will shed when it needs to.. there is no certain schedule... it sheds when it grows.. and sheds also signal other cycles in its life... but do not go bigger unless of course the prey item you’ve been offering is too small. My general rule is ... I try to find prey items as close to the same size as the snake’s girth as possible....so if a small rat’s body is the same size as your snake’s body..then yes... a small rat is fine... if it isn’t..then change accordingly.

Smaller... more active snakes need to eat more often... babies every 5 to 7 days... juvies... every 7 to 10... larger slower snakes every 10 to 14 days. Just b/c it CAN eat something bigger... doesn’t mean that it SHOULD eat something bigger. Overfeeding.. or power feeding.. causes constipation,obesity,possible regurgitation, and cuts your snake’s lifespan drastically. I have 21 snakes and only 2 are Boas. I have a male and a female... the male is 5 feet and eats either a larger sized small rat.. or a small/medium... (he is about as big around as my arm) My female is 7 feet... and about big around as my calf... she eats large rats... I haven’t even gone to jumbo rats yet.... as long as the snake is growing... pooping and shedding normally.. then your snake is getting the nutritional values it needs.
Based on what I’ve told you... just try to choose your prey item more appropriately...chances are everything is fine. Is the snake’s skin condition ok? Isn’t dried out or anything? if not, then everything is fine. I personally would bump my temps a little...but that is just me. Your humidity is great... I keep mine at 48-50% and have perfect sheds every time.Humidity levels should vary with each individual snake..depending on the skin condition..the climate where you live...what type of enclosure and where is the enclosure located in the house..etc.

Good luck!
~smiles~
Susan
07/17/08  01:46pm

 #1800405


Drepop
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   Message To: Mdate   In reference to Message Id: 1799297


 Question on shed

I cant tell her size or her girth but my female is 3ft. long and was skinny when I got her back in june and so far Ive only fed her 1 small rat every 7 days. She’s still a little skinny but she’s getting there. But like the other person said theres really no schedule for shedding some of my snakes shed monthly and others every 6 weeks or so.
Heres my girl after her last shed




07/18/08  09:51am

 #1800672


The rey
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   Message To: Drepop   In reference to Message Id: 1800405


 Question on shed

my boa is about the same size as yours, i only have 4 years of expierience, i feed her a medium rat once every 8 days and she is growing like a beauti.



07/18/08  03:16pm

 #1800688


Drepop
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   Message To: The rey   In reference to Message Id: 1800672


 Question on shed

I had to feed her small rats cuz she was VERY skinny and I didnt want to just stuff her with food because I read its not healthy you have to do it little by little. when she gets a little thicker Ill switch her to medium rats. Im buying them aug.2 cuz thats the next expo. I cant wait.
07/18/08  03:30pm

 #1801077


Mdate
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   Message To: Drepop   In reference to Message Id: 1800688


 Question on shed

He is also not pooping as often as he should be it;s almost been 3 weeks (2 feedings ago). Could it be that he isn’t getting enough food and that is causing the shed problem?
07/18/08  08:27pm


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