Shedding issue...

[nitsuj]

Well my bp finally started her first shed cycle (since I've had her) today. Anyway it's not going as smooth as planned. It seems that the only part that really shed well is an area 4 inches long, behind her head. The rest of her body and her head is still dull and has not shed yet. On top of that the part that did shed seemed to be a few pieces. It's been a few hours now since the shed started and she doesn’t seem to be shedding the rest yet. The humidity is around 70% so I just don’t know what to do.

How bad is this?
What can I do if anything?
Does this mean my snake is not healthy?

[Marla]

Boost your humidity for the rest of the night to 80%+/-. A partial shed isn't the enhd of the world, but it's not what you want to see, either. Most likely if you can boost the humidity quickly (a 2nd water dish, a clean damp sponge, misting, whatever works for you), the rest of the shed will come off in big pieces and you can try for a solid shed next time.

I keep my BPs in rubbermaid cages....with a moderately sized water dish...and when they go into shed, I mist 2x a day and I've never had anything but perfect sheds.

[Smynx]

We purchased our ball python just as she was beginning to shed, and humidity in the cage at the pet store was not nearly what it should have been, so she had a really, really patchy shed.

What worked for us was letting her soak in the tub for 20-30 minutes. (The snake will be more comfortable if you keep the temperature of the water steady.) We had to soak her a couple of times and help rub the old skin off the top of her head (gently), but it worked - and she was very patient with us.

Now she's beautiful, and we're hoping her next shed will be perfect, or at least close to, now that she has the humidity she requires.

[elevatethis]

I just had a great shed with my bp...it took a bit longer for it to happen, but i think thats just cause I have a very timid baby ball.

Anyways, I noticed that its eyes clouded last friday. Its colors faded and its eyes were fine again on monday. After that, throught last night it wasn't doing much of anything. Then last night, I noticed his skin was VERY wrinkled...almost looked dehydrated close to death....but not, it had already began to push some scales off around its nose. He was very dry so I soaked him for about 30 mins. Inside the bath, i could see him starting to rub again. So I took him out. Not 10 seconds after I put him back in his cage, he was beginning to start shedding. Not to mention, during all this, it had HUGE bowel movement. Is that normal?

Anyways, got out of his skin just fine and the colors are back to being as bright as ever. I'll post some pics tonight.

[Smynx]

It does seem that shedding and sh. . . , I mean pooping, go hand in hand.

[JLC]

Not to mention, during all this, it had HUGE bowel movement. Is that normal?

Marla just posted a picture the other day, of her snake's recently shed skin...wrapped around a neatly packaged pile o' poop! :lol:

[Marla]

And a lovely pic it was, too!

Technically, tho, it was my roommate's bp, to give credit where it's due.

[Hoomi]

I guess that's called off with the old, and out with the old!

[steelsack]

Just pulled a skin and a poo out of Xaero's tank today!