Soaking a ball python before shedding

[Alex Lehner]

Soaking your BP before he's about to go into a shed? I did it the last time because it seemed like he was struggling, and by the next day it came off all in one piece. Seemed to soften up his skin nicely so he could get it off cleanly. Is this okay?

[RickyNY]

I don't do it for mine, I just make sure humidity is 60-70% when he's about to shed. Soaking is good after a bad shed.

[Craiga 01453]

If husbandry is correct soaking is unnecessary

[Bogertophis]

Soaking your BP before he's about to go into a shed?

I think you mean after the snake has "gone clear" and right before the old skin sheds off. I see nothing wrong with that, a snake in the wild that was lucky enough
to find a good puddle would probably do the same thing. But you'll probably get some "nay-sayers" that insist if your humidity is correct (& high enough) you should
not need to do that. Most just bump up the humidity, some mist the cage, some add a "humid-hide"...it's your snake & it's your choice, IMO. I think it's fine & helps.

[Craiga 01453]

I think you mean after the snake has "gone clear" and right before the old skin sheds off. I see nothing wrong with that, a snake in the wild that was lucky enough
to find a good puddle would probably do the same thing. But you'll probably get some "nay-sayers" that insist if your humidity is correct (& high enough) you should
not need to do that. Most just bump up the humidity, some mist the cage, some add a "humid-hide"...it's your snake & it's your choice, IMO. I think it's fine & helps.

I don't "disagree". However, if husbandry is on point and an appropriate water dish is offered the snake will soak itself if it needs to.
They have survived thousands of years without us soaking them.
My two cents...

[Zincubus]

I can see it working if it's done after the eyes clear and colour returns ..and before it actually sheds .

I've never had a Royal python that would ever choose to soak in a water bowl .. most of my other types did on occasion though .

Regular misting ... then daily misting when they go into shed and then as soon as the eyes clear I start spraying two or three times daily until they actually shed the skin .. works 100%


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[redshepherd]

Not necessary before the shed has happened yet, and is just stressful for the snake. It's much better to just mist the cage a couple times to bump humidity to 70%+ before it sheds.

Soaking is only done if the snake has already had a bad shed and has stuck shed. And even then, it's best to use a warm wet towel in a tub which is low stress on the snake, instead of trying to put it in water.

[Alex Lehner]

Okay, thanks everyone. Humidity is up high in the tank, and he has a humid hide and a large water dish so he should be all right then.

[PitOnTheProwl]

Proper husbandry wont require any soaks most of the time.
Every once in a while there may be a bad shed.
Problem with people forcing a soak, you can wash away the natural oils the animal produces to aid in shedding.

[Zincubus]

Okay, thanks everyone. Humidity is up high in the tank, and he has a humid hide and a large water dish so he should be all right then.

I'd try the spraying method I posted ... I'm confident


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