a shedding answer

[shivaboa]

When having problems shedding, I tried Lanolin, which is grease from the sheep, and within an hour the problem skin was off. You can get it at a health food store and since it comes from sheep, it may be edible for boas. It looks like petrolium jelly. It might also work for mites, since it is like petrolium jelly, and people sometimes use that for mites.

[shivaboa]

I've tried a shed box, a daily soak, and misting and my boa still has problems shedding. I think she is just a baby and hasn't figured out how to shed well. When I was young I had a boa constrictor and I never used a shed box or soaked it, but it didn't have problems shedding. That other boa had sometimes been housed with other snakes, so it could learn how to shed from them. My new baby, which must have been shipped to me only a few days after being born, probably doesn't know how to shed very well. I gave her a brick to rub up against but she doesn't use it. I don't see her rubbing her head as much as my earlier one. Being separated from the other snakes, she may never do it right!

[Randy_T.]

When using any chemicals or other forms of treatment to help sheds it may help with the problem shed you work with it on, but it has been shown to cause further problems down the road.

I suggest to always go as naturally as possible when trying to fix an issue such as this. The easiest and most efficient way I have found to help any animal with a bad shed is to use a damp pillowcase, put them in it, tie it shut and put the pillowcase back in the enclosure to keep it warm for a couple hours. This works great also for retained eyecaps.