stuck shed

[Jayne]

Count me in with those having problems with stuck shed now. My girl (Ok, I'll start using their names - don't laugh, my kid named her "Spike"; the male is named "Shark Eye") Spike has some unshed shed stuck to her thigh - on the back leg, just above the knee.

It's a pretty small area, and it's on a flat area so I wasn't too worried about it constricting blood flow or anything. I was thinking it would come off on its own, but it's been there for a few days now. A couple of days ago I gave her a sauna. Today it was still there, and I tried very gently (*gently!*) scratching with my fingernail (that felt safer to me than tweezers) and a wet Q-tip. I was able to get some off.

She sat still for it so I don't think I was stressing her too much. Still, I don't feel comfortable trying to use tweezers.

If it isn't constricting a tail tip or toe, is it ok to wait it out or should I continue with saunas and Q-tips?

Oh, I mist 2-4 times a day, trying to get it up to 80% or more, then letting it dry out to 40% or less. The humidity in the house is about 37% and we have central heating, so air is exchanged enough to dry things out fairly quickly, especially with paper towel substrate and the Zilla cage. I was keeping wet paper towels on the top screen but haven't been doing that as much lately. I'll start doing that again.

(p.s. - she has a lay box with damp NZ sphagnum moss available.)

My hat is off to all those who can use tweezers, especially those who deal with eye shed.

[Midland]

This is more of a question for all those out there with experience on this issue, rather than an answer.

Is there any harm in waiting for the next shed to remove the stuck shed since there is no circulation issues and the amount of stuck shed is small?

[Jayne]

Thanks for asking so concisely! I tend to be verbose... Just want to provide all relevant info though.

But yes, what he said.

[Nook]

I'm not sure on waiting for the next shed if it isn't constricting something.. though personally I wouldn't want to risk it to find out. Maybe someone else can chime in on that. I'd still keep up with the saunas and Q-tips, but not tugging on the skin itself to get it off, that can be damaging.

[AgalychnisCallidryas]

I had a crestie with shed that was loose all over his body, but not constricting anything, just flat. I waited for the next shed, and he got it all off.