When to soak?

[kenzie]

I have had my ball for a little over a month now. When I first bought her she was mid shed, I didn't know, so she didn't shed properly. I ended up soaking and getting all the shed off except the eye caps. Her breeder said not to worry and that they would come off next shed.... Her eyes just cleared up so I am assuming that is any day now. When do you soak to help your ball shed? If she doesn't have a good shed this time I will take her to one of the vets listed on this site but is there anything I can do to help her?

I have her in a 20 gal tank, hard wood top, 40 Watt bulb, Aspin bedding, hollow wood hide on warm side, 85 degrees warm side, 72 cool side... humidity is high right now for the shed about 90% but usually around 60%.

She is sweet and I just don't want to do anything wrong. Any advise is welcomed as, to be honest, I am clueless!!

[Krynos]

I'm no expert, we've not had our ball long, and she is yet to shed. But your temps look low to me from what I have researched. Everything I have read suggests 82 / 92 (cool / warm). I know humidity has an effect on shedding (60% normal, 80% during shed seems popular), but I don't know what effect temps have on sheds.

[JLC]

You need to bump your temps up. Warm side should be 90-95 and cool side should be 80-85. You also need a hide on both sides of the tank. Sometimes the snakes will sacrifice proper temperatures in order to feel more secure.


90% humidity sounds high, even for a shed. 70-80 should be more than humid enough. If the cage is too wet, it can lead to various problems including RI and scale rot.

EDIT: And WELCOME to our little corner of the herp world!

[kenzie]

Thanks! I know my temps are a little low... still working on that. I have a human heating pad on low under her warm side right now. It's not making the temp dial raise any but it's abviously warmer when I stick my hand in. I will stop by and purchase another hide today. Lately she hasn't been using the hide at all but basking under the lamp with the hide right next to her.


One more question though... if she, Lord forbid, has another bad shed. At what point do I take her to the vet to have her eye caps removed?

Thanks for all the help... any suggestions on the soaking yet? I was thinking about trying it in another 2 days considering her eyes cleared yesterday and I wanted to give her enough time to shed on her own first.

[xdeus]

Let her shed on her own. Try to boos the temps and keep the humidity at around 80%. The eyecaps should come off. If they don't, you can try soaking her for 30 minutes or so, or you can try placing her in a moist pillowcase for 30 minutes to an hour. Soak a pillowcase, wring it out, and place her in it. Place the pillowcase in her cage, but don't place it directly under a heat lamp. It might be a good idea to set a timer so you don't forget about her. The moisture will loosen up the shed, and the shed should come off as she rubs against the material of the pillowcase.

Good luck!

[kenzie]

Last question promise... . So how many days do I give her after her eyes go clear to shed on her own? How many days does it take. My son, her daddy, is dying to "love" his little girl again . But don't worry the snake comes before my son's desires... that's why I'm asking so much.

[xdeus]

It usually takes between 4 and 7 days after their eyes clear up. Also, they tend to defecate either immediately or by the next day after they shed... just an FYI.

[tigerlily]

My bps usually shed 48 hours after the eyes clear up. Once the snake is ready to slough the skin, it should only take a couple hours. I would wait until the following day, if it not completely off then go ahead and soak.

[myballsandmyword]

I soak the day his eyes clear up all the way, last time he shed 1 piece with in 6 hours of the soak, with out coming out from his hide!

[tigerlily]

I never soak before the shed. It's not necessary, if you have the proper humidity Although every now and then you'll have a bad shed. It's not big deal. Just deal with the problem when it arises. Most of mine shed in their hides as well. They just like to be as secure as possible during a very vunerable time for them.