Boa Constricter

Question
Something is wrong with My Boa's skin.  It just started to come off when I touched her or she rubs against something.  It's kind of moist and tears easily when touched.  It's like it is disolving off of her.  She is black and she has a couple of white patches where her skin is rubbing off.  I'm thinking this might be her flesh, but not sure.

Answer
hi lana,

this may just be a skin shed. not all snakes shed in one piece. the white areas are where the top dead skin is coming off and has separated from the new skin, but has not completely ben removed. this is nothing to worry about. give your snake a bath in some lukewarm water, as this will help the shedding process. if after a few days there is still a lot of retained skin, you can spray the tank with water to increase humidity or buy some sphagnum moss. this will also help skin shedding.

this may also be a condition called paper-skin. if the areas where skin has been lost are bleeding, then it sounds like this condition. paper skin is where the top layers of skin on an animal are very fragile and easily tear or come off. it isn't contracted from anything but is gained at birth. unfortunately there is not much you can do and a vet will have to humanely euthanize it. if it does turn out to be this, you definitely should not have been sold this boa and should go back to the pet shop that you got it from.


I hope this helps,

Andy