Dehydrated ball?

[Hydro]

Hello all, I was wondering if anyone can chime in their thoughts or experiences on how to rehydrate a possible ball python, she is about 4 feet in length and she currently is kept at 70-80 for temp and 60-70% humidity. A few days ago I checked on her and it appears she attempted to shed (skin was dry and flakey and was peeling in spots, So i soaked her for a bit and helped take the skin off. Skin all came off including eye caps, tip of tail and anal area, she promptly had a poop about 20 seconds after the skin came off. She looks fine except there is some vertical skin folds (not many) in a section of body, she has access to water of course. I have read multiple things online saying when bathing them they get water in there mouth and hydrate, or bathing them with powerade or gatorade and then placing them in a damp moist area for a period of a few hours will hydrate them? Could this lead to scale rot?!? This does not seem right to me. Also Reptoboost? Again not entirely sure about this. She ate a rat one week ago and as far as i can tell (i know you dont really see them drink) she isn't drinking from her water dish. I really do not want to force feed water and put that stress on her. Any ideas or thoughts would greatly be appreciated! I got her march of this year so I am new to this. Thank you.

[Jeanne]

What leads you to think she is dehydrated? Cause honestly, it doesnt sound like she is. Stuck shed has nothing to do w her hydration.

Also, alot of times, one doesnt see their ball pythons drink..just bc you dont see it, doesnt mean she isnt.. Do not force feed her water without vet recommendation, you can cause her to aspirate water.

Tell us about her habitat. How are you measuring temps? How do you provide heat, do you have a thermostat for heat mats if thats what you use? How do you measure humidity?

Based off your post, it sounds as if her cage is a bit too cool and she doesnt have a warm spot.

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[Jeanne]

And are you trying to rehydrate a ball python..or do you not know what species you have?

Above you said.. "How to rehydrate a possible ball python".

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[Hydro]

Yea i dont know why i said "possible" it definitly is a python regius. She is kept in a large plastic seethrough container, I measure temp and humidity with a thermostat and hygrometer and heat is provided via heat pad, not a petshop reptile heatpad but an actual heat pad for humans, it is placed underneath the slightly elevated container on one side directly under a hide, she also has a hide on the opposite side (cool side) she spends 95% of her time on the cool side. I do witness often her transition into the warm hide for periods of time before she heads back to the cool side, so i doubt the cage is too cool for her. I totally forgot to mention that I came to this conclusion of dehydration from the book "The Ball Python Manual" by Philippe de Vosjoli and a few other authors for the Herpetocultural Library. This book has a little section on dehydration, section shows photo that looks identical with bad flaky shed skin and skin folds to what my ball looked like a few days ago and though now my balls skin looks great besides the skin folds. Maybe i shouldent take info from books directly but thats why i made the post here in the first place for a bit more info. Thank you for reply.

[dr del]

Hi,

Vertical skin folds are more seen in snakes that are either shedding or fat - dehydration folds go lengthwise for the most part.

What are the temps inside the hide where the snake actually spends most of its time? - we generally aim for 80-82 cool hide and 90-92 hot side.

[Hydro]

Ok sweet well thats good to know about the lines, because they are not all over and she does seem to be a bit on the chubby side, before i got her she was being feed a medium rat weekly, and then i got her and she fasted for 4months and now is eating regulary, i am feeding her small rats , once every 2 weeks. I honestly do not know what the temp is inside the hides, what is the best way of measureing this!?

[dr del]

Hi,

Either a temp gun or a digital thermometer with a probe work well.