First shed, new snake owner

[Ranulf]

Hello all,

Our 9 week old ball python is going through his first shed he has had with us, and things are looking decently OK considering. He has some sheds hanging off of him but he also has the shed ring visible a few inches from his head.

We have been having problems with humidity, so I have been spraying frequently to make sure it is between 70-85%.

Our house is not climate controlled and temeratures have been unseasonably cool, so the cool side temperatures are getting too cold (upper 60s and lower 70s). I'm going to run in and get another UTH and thermostat for the cold side, but I don't want to install it yet if it means I'm stressing him out during shed.

He seems to be doing normal shed behavior.

I think there is a way I can move his enclosure so just enough is hanging off for me to be able to get the UTH on without having to move him.

Thoughts?

[Craiga 01453]

Hey, you're going to need an additional heat source. Not another UTH. Heat mats are designed solely to provide a hot spot to aid in digestion. They're not made to raise ambient temps. So you'll need a heat lamp with either a bulb or CHE (ceramic heat emitter). Or you'll need a RHP (radiant heat panel).

Bulbs are the cheapest, but last the least amount of time. CHEs are a little more money but last MUCH longer and don't shine any actual light. RHPs are definitely the most expensive, but definitely the best option.

Another heat mat simply won't do the trick.

[Ranulf]

We already have a bulb. Doesnt do enough for cold side before hot side gets too hot.

10g long

[Craiga 01453]

We already have a bulb. Doesnt do enough for cold side before hot side gets too hot.

10g long

Is the bulbon a thermostat?

[Ranulf]

Its on the same thermostat as the hotside.

I put aluminum foil on about 1/3 of the screen on each side, leaving the middle 1/3 open. The bulb is sitting incthe middle section now, haven't been home to see if its helped much yet.

[Craiga 01453]

Its on the same thermostat as the hotside.

I put aluminum foil on about 1/3 of the screen on each side, leaving the middle 1/3 open. The bulb is sitting incthe middle section now, haven't been home to see if its helped much yet.

Ok. It's tough to keep a temp gradient in such I small enclosure. I struggle with that with my little Hognose enclosure.
It's just a matter of finding the right bulb and right location and dialing it in. It takes a little time and patience, but you'll get it. It gets easier once the enclosures are bigger.

[Ranulf]

Should I get a 40g now and just subdivide it?

[Craiga 01453]

You certainly could. I've never divided a tank but know of plenty of people doing it. Just be very careful what you use for adhesive.

If you choose to go that route I'd suggest starting a new thread and getting advice from people who've done that.

Good luck! I hope I helped. And I'm sure others will be chiming in too..

[Ranulf]

Thanks. Got home and the humidity levels are looking good still. Air temp in the tank is about what it is outside today, around 75° (house temp about 68°-70° atm). Hopefully these temperatures stick around this time, as we should be warm for at least the next ten days. I also took out the half-log cold hide he never used (though he did like using the outside of it for shedding) and replaced it with a small zilla humidity hide.

I squeezed out the spanghum moss like I would squeeze out a sponge. Hopefully thats the right way to do it.

If he still isn't done shedding by tomorrow morning, should we follow bad shed procedure?

[Luvyna]

Thanks. Got home and the humidity levels are looking good still. Air temp in the tank is about what it is outside today, around 75° (house temp about 68°-70° atm). Hopefully these temperatures stick around this time, as we should be warm for at least the next ten days. I also took out the half-log cold hide he never used (though he did like using the outside of it for shedding) and replaced it with a small zilla humidity hide.

I squeezed out the spanghum moss like I would squeeze out a sponge. Hopefully thats the right way to do it.

If he still isn't done shedding by tomorrow morning, should we follow bad shed procedure?

Yes, squeezing out the sphagnum moss is the right way to do it I would say that if he still has stuck shed tomorrow yes it's a good idea to give him some help. We have some great threads on this forum showing how to do it if you need any guidance.

I used to have a similar problem with the cool side of my enclosure. I have a 30g Sterilite tub and the ambient temp in my house in the winter is around 70F. My hot spot was at 90F with a UTH but the surface of the substrate on the cool side would fall to 73F. I ended up fixing the problem by installing a CHE on a separate thermostat on the cool side and setting it to 80F. The ambient temp is now 80F on the cool side and 79F on the warm side. That's a solution you could consider if you're having trouble with ambient temps and the cool side being too cold.