BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

Okay,
This is Ichabods first shed with me so not sure what to look for.
I looked at the caresheet and it stresses to make sure that there is not retained shed on the toes/feet. How can you tell? Is it darker like the shed on the head, or will it turn white as it stays on?
I don't want to injure his feet, and also don't want to miss any unshed skin. He seems to be completely shed except for some scales in his head, so I'm thinking that he's done the job, but I want to be sure. I do provide a warm moist hide as well and he spend alot of time in there.
Thanks!

that's a good question. surprised nobody's jumped on it yet.

I suppose it won't hurt to soak them anyways right, if there is still some skin there that should get rid of it.

This is a good question...

It's really a matter of experience and discovering it by comparing the other toes. Sometimes it's hard to see, but upon careful examination, there is a definitive difference. Usually you can see small stringy pieces where there is still shed left, and yes, sometimes it is slightly darker. The toes are so small though, that color is not a strong way to tell.

Stuck shed looks duller in comparison to the new gloss coat of fresh skin, like looking at well scratched plexiglass, you should see the difference as you look down the leg,new skin to any old at the toes.

You could always sift through the substrate to find the foot shed. I always find the foot shed pieces and put them in a cookie jar.

I've found the gloves before, but only put biscuits in my cooky jar hee hee

Well, I'm not sifting through the shavings to find a piece of shed toe or foot skin. He's just a baby and is in a 40 gallon tank with about 3 inches of Aspen for him to burrow in. Talk about a needle in a haystack!

Those toes are just SO tiny, it scares me to think of having to mess with them too much. I have been staring at those toes and don't see any difference among them or among his legs compared to his feet. So I guess I'll just keep an eye out and hope I catch it if it doesn't come off on it's own. I suppose nobody has any pictures they would like to share of an unshed foot or toe? If I ever find one, I'm taking a pic!

Thanks a bunch everyone.

Can you get him some outside time? If so wet the grass before he goes out and the feet will be the first thing to come off. Walking around in the wet grass helps loosen everything.

Jenn wrote:Can you get him some outside time? If so wet the grass before he goes out and the feet will be the first thing to come off. Walking around in the wet grass helps loosen everything.

This seems to be Jenn's patented method -- and it works great.


Marie, I feel sorry for your future grandchildren who try to sneak a cookie....

It works so well though. Even my skinks who have problems with their toes shed beautifully this way. I only wish I could find a way to grow grass in their tanks so that I could wet it durning the months they can't get outside.

I have plenty of grass, but I'm terrified I'll lose him! He's so small and moves so quick. When he's bigger I'll definately be bringing him outside, but I'm too chicken to do it right now. I wonder if I put him in a container with some damp washcloths if the friction of the terrycloth would be similar. However I'm not even sure he needs anything done as his feel look fine. I may try it though just in case!

Thanks for the tips everyone!

I also have humid hides in some of my guys cages. The are made out of gladware with moss inside. I wet it when they are about to shed they hang out in it.

I have a humid hide as well, I have been using paper towels and changing/rewetting daily. Would the moss be more abrasive and therefore a better exfoliant? Or is the paper towels sufficiant?

I have used damp paper towel in gladware, and it works really well. I guess the moss would allow the bluey to dig its feet into something which might work a little better. Moss would also give the bluey something to burrow under.

i have a small tub for my skink, its just not too deep as where he needto swim to get out

Marie wrote:I have used damp paper towel in gladware, and it works really well. I guess the moss would allow the bluey to dig its feet into something which might work a little better. Moss would also give the bluey something to burrow under.

I found the moss stays wetter, longer. Also I leave Spike's humid hide in his cage all the time (only moist during shed time) because he loves to sleep in it. I'm not sure how the paper towel would hold up to that.


Quite a few of my guys don't like to be soaked in a tub of water. That's why I had to try different methods. It's really about which method works for you and your bluey.

I've found the moss tends to mold over time as it gets reconstituted with water, which is why I stuck to paper towels. Then again, that was just with the leopard gecko, Rollie hardly has problems shedding and is apathetic towards bathing.

KW

That's why I like the paper towels, I can keep everything sanitary that way. If he poops in there, I see it whereas with moss, I might not catch it. I use paper towels with my snakes moist hides as well and so far so good. Maybe I like it because I'm so lazy??