Problem Shedding in Pet Reptiles

November 14, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Question: My Corn Snake seems to have trouble shedding. The skin comes off in ragged pieces and sometimes he has trouble shedding the eye area. Is there anything I can do to help him? Will it hurt him if I help by gently pulling the skin off?

Answer: Medically, this condition is called dysecdysis, but in simple terms, improper shedding will suffice. In almost every case this condition is a symptom of a problem, not a primary problem. In other words, nearly all cases are the result of improper husbandry or handling issues. It is found in both snakes and lizards.

Husbandry factors which may cause dysecdysis include low cage temperature, lack of adequate humidity, improper nutrition and not having the proper cage furniture for the snake to rub its skin on. You should check each of these areas for problems. The place to start is to know what the requirements in each of these areas are for your snake. You can go to our Reptile Care at a Glance Chart to find the requirements for your pet. Once you have the requirements you would also need the tools to monitor the requirements, especially temperature and humidity as these are often the cause of this malady. A good dual temperature and humidity gauge will always tell you if you have a problem. A rough rock, hide or rough piece of wood or branch will also help the snake in rubbing the old skin off. Once the factor causing the problem is corrected the shedding should return to normal.

In some cases handling the snake during its shed cycle can cause damage to the skin and cause it to come off in patches. Your snake should develop a blue film over the eyes during the shed cycle and during this time the snake should not be handled.

In the instance when you have the problem of a bad shed before you it is important to treat your snake. The dead skin needs to be removed as it can harbor many disease causing organisms such as mites, bacteria or fungi. However, do not rip the skin off yourself as this may damage the fresh new skin below if done improperly. For snakes or lizards, the best way to remove tattered skin is to soak the animal in tepid water which is just deep enough to cover the animal’s body but not deep enough to drown it. It is very important to never leave a soaking reptile unattended. After soaking apply a good shed aid to the entire body. Then release it back into its tank with all other husbandry areas set up properly. Sometimes it will take two or three soakings to remedy the situation, but, be patient. In situations where soaking is impractical you may gently, but very thoroughly mist the snake or lizard and follow the same instructions.

As the snake or lizard sheds always check the skin over the eye which is called the spectacle or eye cap. These eye caps act as clear eyelids and protect the cornea of the eye from damage. If they are retained during the shed the eye may become infected. These retained eye caps can be hard to remove and the best action is to use the soaking or misting technique discussed earlier and let the snake take it off itself. In an emergency you can hold a moist rag over the the eye caps for about 15 minutes. Then allow the head and eyes to dry. When dry, gently press a piece of Scotch tape onto the retained eye cap and very gently pull the tape off. If there are no other complications, the eye cap should come off. If it does not come off easily then it is time for a veterinary consultation as there is probably a complication of some sort involved.

If all of the requirements of handling, heat, humidity, food and furniture are taken care of then problems with improper shedding in pet reptiles should be minimal.

Filed Under: Accessories, Reptile Supplies, Reptiles, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

February is Here – Start Thinking Bluebirds

February 9, 2010 by Leave a Comment

For many years now the bluebird populations have been declining because land has been cleared for new houses, shopping malls and highways.The old wood fence posts that provided nesting cavities are now being replaced with metal posts. Much of the natural nesting cavities for bluebirds and other native cavity nesters has been greatly reduced.

We also have to remember that the House Sparrow and the European Starling have been introduced to the U.S. Both starlings and sparrows are cavity nesters, and both are very aggressive. House Sparrows are small enough to enter any hole that a bluebird can, and are so aggressive that they will chase away the more timid bluebird. Starlings can be excluded from bluebird boxes by using the correct size entrance hole, but will compete with bluebirds for woodpecker holes and other natural nesting cavities.

During the summer, bluebirds feed mainly on insects. In the winter, bluebirds depend on many kinds of wild berries for their food supply. However, the supply of wild berries has also decreased over the years. The few berries that remain are often stripped quickly by large flocks of starlings.Even though the bluebird population has greatly decreased, you can impact the population positively. One very important step you can take to help bring back the bluebird is to provide nesting sites by setting out a bluebird box or starting a bluebird trail. A bluebird trail is simply bluebird boxes placed along a prescribed route. In areas where nesting boxes have been put up in suitable habitat, bluebird populations are increasing. Bluebirding is a great project that people of all ages can enjoy. Many a good bluebird trail has been set up by boy scouts and other similar youth groups.

Another way to enhance your area for bluebirds is to add a bluebird/mealworm bird feeder.  These feeders have entrance holes the correct size for bluebirds, and been designed specifically so that your mealworms will not be able to escape from the bird feeder.

These simple steps will encourage bluebirds to stay around your area and help increase the bluebird population nationwide.

Filed Under: Accessories, Bird Feeders, Bird Watching, Birding in General, Nesting and Nestboxes Tagged With: , , ,

Specialized Bird Feeders and Feed Stymie Troublesome Birds

July 3, 2009 by Leave a Comment

 If too many large birds or House Sparrows at your feeder become a problem, you can control their numbers by using specialty seeds or restrictive feeders that will attract only certain species.  You can encourage small birds and discourage large birds with feeders that restrict access.  Tube feeders without trays restrict access to only small birds. If you remove the perches you’ve further restricted the feeder to only those birds that can easily cling such as finches, chickadees, titmice and woodpeckers.  Specialty feeders are made for these birds which serve specialty seeds.  Black oil sunflower and Nyjer thistle seed are both popular with the gregarious and active small birds which many people like to invite to their yards.  Specialty feeders are available for both the sunflower and thistle seeds. 

Thistle seeds attract a limited number of bird species, but they include a number of the most popular backyard birds such as include the American Goldfinch (often called the wild canary), Lesser Goldfinch, Lawrence’s Goldfinch, Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll, House Finch, Cassin’s Finch, and Purple Finch. 

A tube feeder with black oil sunflower seeds will attract the goldfinches, chickadees, pine siskins, woodpeckers, nuthatches, titmice, and redpolls.  By adding a tray to the bottom of the tube feeder you can also attract House Finches, White-crowned Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, cardinals, crossbills and Purple Finches.  

These feeders and feeds will go a long way toward eliminating some of the problem birds in your backyard.

Filed Under: Accessories, Bird Feeders Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Hummingbird Feeders – How to Clean a Best 1

June 1, 2009 by 1 Comment

We have been going to the Bisbee Farmer’s Market not only to sell bird feeders, but to purchase great produce and pastured meat for several years now. Our first trip for the year was last Saturday.

We were welcomed back by the organizers and some old customers, however we had one customer who had been looking for us. It seems he was unhappy with the Best 1 Hummingbird Feeder we had sold him last fall, and was not shy about telling us how unhappy he was and how hard it was to maintain.

I asked him if he had been getting humming birds into his feeders. He replied he has had quite a few hummers in, but had to stop using the Best 1 we had sold him.

I asked him if the hummingbird feeder leaked or was defective in any way. He said he did not like the design.

I told him that it was my favorite hummingbird feeder because we get 40 MPH winds and the feeder did not swing and spill sugar water all over my porch. He agreed that it had not tipped to the point of spilling.

I explained that I sometimes recommend a funnel to fill the bottles, especially if you use a container with a wide mouth to mix your sugar water in. He said filling was not the problem.

I was about to give up when I finally got him to start talking about the feeder and what had him so upset. He then confessed that he had went out of town unexpectedly and had not told his neighbor that takes care of his house when he is away about the new hummingbird feeder. When he came home it was full of black mold and the brush he had bought at the local discount store simply did not get the neck of the bottle clean. It was impossible to clean the bottle. And he knew dirty feeders are not good for hummingbirds.

I asked him if he had tried a Swab to clean the bottle. While asking I handed him one of the Swabs. He looked at it and said he was sure that the swab would not get through the neck of the bottle. The Swab was simply to big.

I asked him to wait right here and I would be back in just a minute with a solution to his problem. I dumped out my soda and filled the cup with water from the bathroom. I then explained how important it is to get the swab completely saturated by squishing it several times under water.

Squeeze the Swab several times to make sure it is saturated.

Squeeze the Swab several times to make sure it is saturated.

I then showed him that the swab does indeed fit through the neck of the bottle.

Swab_and_Best_1_Hummingbird_Feeder

The Swab will fit through the neck of the Best 1 Hummingbird Feeder.

I showed him how it will open up once through it will clean the spots that the other brush missed.

The Swab is cleaning the Hard-To-Reach spot.

The Swab is cleaning the Hard-To-Reach spot.

He bought the Swab that I had demonstrated with and said he would get back to me next time we go the the Bisbee Farmer’s Market. He walked away with a solution to his problem and a promise from me to make it right. After all who wants to explain to hummingbirds that they will not get their sweet treat from a Best 1 Hummingbird Feeder?

Filed Under: Accessories, Bird Feeders Tagged With: , , , , ,

Backyard Wildlife Habitats Part 1

March 13, 2009 by Leave a Comment

The National Wildlife Federation lists three components necessary for the survival of all species of birds and wildlife; water, food and cover and places to raise their young.  If you provide these elements you will attract birds and other wildlife to your backyard habitat.  Once you get these elements started in your yard you can get your backyard habitat certified as a NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat.   For more information on the Certified Wildlife Habitat Program go to http://www.nwf.org/backyard/index.cfm . 

Water is a very important element for birds.  Many birds come to water that do not come to seed feeders or other bird attracting devices.  The birds need to  keep their feathers clean just to stay alive so they make daily visits to safe, clean and consistent water sources for the important task of preening.  You can make your water feature more comfortable for the birds by providing nearby bushes and trees for preening and evading predators.

To provide water for your birds, all you really need is a shallow 1 to 2 inch deep dish with a non-slippery bottom.  Commercial bird baths are made specifically for this purpose and are available in most price ranges.  Many more birds can be attracted by a drip or waterfall situation.  The sound of moving water will attract every bird within hearing. 

Cleanliness is important with water as a number of diseases can be spread from dirty water in a bird bath.  To prevent these diseases your bird bath should be cleaned every few days with a 10% bleach solution. When nighttime temperatures fall below 55 degrees, the bleach is not necessary but the cleaning is still a must.  A simple rule of thumb regarding cleanliness is to ask yourself, “Would I drink from this bird bath if I were a bird?” 

Always remember the three basic elements of providing water for birds and wildlife–cleanliness, comfort and consistency.  All three are important in maintaining a backyard bird or wildlife habitat.

Filed Under: Accessories, Bird Baths, Water Features Tagged With: , , ,

Short Birding Day

January 26, 2009 by Leave a Comment

We were up with the sun.  OK, the sun doesn’t rise all that early this time of year, but our coffee mugs were full and the blinds were open before the sun came up so we should get some credit for that.

We started our day looking out the sliding glass door, looking at our bird feeders and 4 tier pond.  After a little breakfast we headed out to spend sometime doing some casual bird watching in the Portal area.

Our plan was to start on the desert scrub where the sunlight hits first and then continue on up into the canyon.  It was a great plan, but the wind came up and 40 mph winds just don’t do much for birdwatching.

Here is a list of birds we saw on our pleasant but brief birding trip: Green-tailed Towhee, Brewer’s Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Black-throated Sparrow, Mourning Dove, Cactus Wren, Mockingbird, Chipping Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Canyon Towhee, Northern Cardinal, Curved-billed Thrasher, White-crowned Sparrow, Lesser Goldfinch, Pine Siskin, Mexican Jay, Acorn Woodpecker, Arizona Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Hutton’s Vireo, Bridled Titmouse, Dark-eyed Junco, Black Phoebe, Cooper’s Hawk, Says Phoebe.

There are reports of Townsend’s Warblers in the canyon, but with the wind coming up we were unable to confirm this.

Filed Under: Accessories, Birding in General, Coffee Mugs, Other Cool Stuff, Pond and Waterfall Kits, Water Features Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Return to top of page