sheding problems

[henrythepython]

I have a normal ball python that i got a a rep show about a month ago. The guy i got it from said it was 2 months old. It has been eating well and everything, i couldn't ask for a better snake. this morning i saw his shed in his warm hide, it looked like his head and a little of his neck shed last night. I haven't seen him though because he has been in his cool side this morning. i was wondering if its ok for him to shed in pieces or if he should shed in one piece? or how much longer it will take for him to shed the rest.

I also don't know if i should help him with it, or if there are any methods to help him because im a little new at this. Thanks

[Sammy412]

your humidity is probably too low. You can help, the easiest way I have found is to take a washcloth or small towel, wet it with lukewarm water, wring it mostly out, and them let him crawl through it while you hold him in it. It may take a few minutes, but once the shed gets moist it should come right off. Check to be sure he shed his eyecaps when he shed his head skin. What kind of setup do you have? Temps, substrate, enclosure, humidity?

[henrythepython]

your humidity is probably too low. You can help, the easiest way I have found is to take a washcloth or small towel, wet it with lukewarm water, wring it mostly out, and them let him crawl through it while you hold him in it. It may take a few minutes, but once the shed gets moist it should come right off. Check to be sure he shed his eyecaps when he shed his head skin. What kind of setup do you have? Temps, substrate, enclosure, humidity?

he is in a 15 tall aquirium with aspen shavings an a hot hide that stays around 85-90, acool hide that is critter cave, and the humidity is 60 percent,the only heat source i have is a heat mat setup on a rheostat. yes his eye caps came off.
If the humidity is low how do i raise it with a heat mat.

[steveboos]

Well first i would check on the Hygrometer you have to make sure it's not broken. I would say about 80% of hygrometers are innacurate, if not more! Switch over to a cypress bedding and that will solve your problems. Cover the screen lid with a towel or tin foil(assuming it's a screen top) and that will keep the humidity up with slight misting a couple times a week and your good!

[Ogr3]

Well first i would check on the Hygrometer you have to make sure it's not broken. I would say about 80% of hygrometers are innacurate, if not more! Switch over to a cypress bedding and that will solve your problems. Cover the screen lid with a towel or tin foil(assuming it's a screen top) and that will keep the humidity up with slight misting a couple times a week and your good!

Since your on the topic of shedding, I have a quick question. My ball python recently shed and it was a terrible shed(pieces everywhere). I have repti bark in my tank with eco earth underneath that which kept the humidity up around 80% during her shed. Why such a bad shed? It has gotten colder around where I live recently, could it be the dryer air?

[majorleaguereptiles]

Living in California where it's constantly dry and having chondros and lots of balls I've found it vital to provide appropriate housing with solid tops to caging or and racks. Substrate is more important in dry environments as well unless you constantly mist the snakes or provide some sort of moist hide box. I have automatic misting systems for my chondros and tree monitors or else it honestly would be a incredibly difficult task to maintain appropriate humidity with these animals. Balls don't need that much humidity but they definitely require a good 60%, anything less and they will have shedding problems. Get cages like vision cages, or racks to house them and a little mist here and there will go a long way and create healthy humidity. I've had good success with ZooMed Shedding Aid when I've somehow had an animal with poor shedding. I even use shedding aid to help maintain the snakes about a spray or two a week. It really works. If you have screened lids for your balls, please provide a large moist hide box for them. That would be the only way. Hope this helps.

[majorleaguereptiles]

Since your on the topic of shedding, I have a quick question. My ball python recently shed and it was a terrible shed(pieces everywhere). I have repti bark in my tank with eco earth underneath that which kept the humidity up around 80% during her shed. Why such a bad shed? It has gotten colder around where I live recently, could it be the dryer air?

Definitely winter time brings much dryer air. Bumping humidity just prior to shedding will help but is not the answer. Constant is definitely the key here. Drying a snake out seems to be very difficult to recover from, from my experience anyway.

[Ogr3]

Definitely winter time brings much dryer air. Bumping humidity just prior to shedding will help but is not the answer. Constant is definitely the key here. Drying a snake out seems to be very difficult to recover from, from my experience anyway.

What kind of automatic misting systems do you use?