Shedding Question

[ssomerford]

My son's ball python has a horrible time shedding - he has had maybe two successful entire sheds in one and half year. The others I have had to "help". This time he shed back half and not head nor front end. I've let him have a go at it and now appears ready to do a full shed again - but he still has a lot on head that has not come off and it appears to be too much to shed. Eyes look bad ... worried and don't have a vet to treat here, although not sure that is what we need. Any help/advise?

[JLC]

Hi and welcome to our forums! You're sure to get the help you need here, but you'll probably get asked a ton of questions...so brace yourself.


First off...what kind of set-up do you have for the snake? Do you measure the temps and humidity levels in the cage with an accurate digital meter? How old and how big is the snake?

Proper humidity is essential for a ball python to shed easily. They should be kept in around 50%-60% humidity on average, daily...and then when they go into their shed cycle, this should be bumped up to about 70% for the duration of the cycle...usually a few days to a week.

We'll help you get through this shed and then fix things up so this doesn't happen again.

[ssomerford]

36" tank - repti bark on cool end with hide. water in middle and paper towel on warm end with under tank heat pad and infrared bulb over climbing thing. Glass top on one side and screen on the other - covered with plastic except where lamp is. Use a pump to try and keep humidity up but hard to get and keep over 60. Temp close to 80 - again hard to keep temp high.

We bought him 14 months ago - I don't know why I say "him" - don't know. IT is 22+ inches long. When he decides to eat.... will eat 2 frozen fuzzies. Been about a month but with shedding problem have tried to leave him alone thinking too much handling or stress .... AAAAAHHHH will appreciate any help.

[JLC]

Ok...what are you using to measure the temperature and humidity? The little stick-on dials or strips from the petstore are virtually useless. If you go to WalMart, you can find a really nice indoor/outdoor digital unit that measures temps in two locations (hot side and cool side of your tank) as well as the overall humidity. And it costs well under $15.


You want your warm side temps to be in the range of 90-94 degrees and the cool side about 10 degrees less.

They also do best with TWO hides in the tank...one on the warm side and one on the cool side...that way they don't have to choose between feeling secure or finding the right temp for their body.

First thing, though...is to get the little guy some help with that shed. Two things to try. ONE: Fill a tub with tepid water (some call it luke warm, but that may be too warm for your snake...to your touch, you don't want the water to feel either warm or cold)...about 1/2 of the height of your snake's body. Let him soak for about an hour and then slither around in a damp towel to see if any of that old shed comes off.

TWO: Make a humid hide: Get a tupperware-type container with a lid that your snake can fit into. (They like 'em snug) Cut a hole that he can crawl through, either in the lid or the container itself. Layer it with damp (NOT dripping wet) paper towels and set it on the warm side of the tank. Hopefully he'll choose to crawl in there and soak up that extra humidity. You can use that for the duration of the shedding process until he's all cleaned up.

I know there are other things to try as well, and I'm sure others will chime in here.

[ssomerford]

okay - so the whole unit is toooo cold...

I can remedy extra hide on warm side NOW. I can buy new therm - because yes, I have a stick on dial for temp & humidity - in the morning.
Should I put "squeezer" in the sink to soak?
Does it matter if tupperware thingy is opaque or should it be dark in color?

[JLC]

I wouldn't use the sink because there are all sorts of chemical/soap residues in there. ...although folks use bathtubs without ill effects. Trouble with a sink also is its size and lack of a lid. LOL Squeezer (cute name!) may not want to stay in there. A big sterelite tub with a lid would work well. Make sure it can get air and the lid is secure and do not leave unattended!


As for the humid hide...opaque or dark would be best because they'll really feel like they're hiding.

You don't really know for sure if your temps are too cold because those dials just aren't accurate enough to tell. They are frequently as much as 10+ degrees off. Plus, they are measuring the part of the tank where they are stuck on...and what you want to know is the temperature of the floor of the tank where the snake is actually laying.

A UTH is usually enough to warm the hot side, and will often get TOO hot if it is not controlled with a thermostat or rheostat (dimmer switch) of some kind. Can you rest your hand on the floor of the tank over the UTH without burning yourself? If so, then I'm sure it's safe enough for now until you can get a real thermometer in there.

[ssomerford]

Okay Judy - I feel like I have been to the dr with Squeezer - thanks. Right now hubby and I are getting ready to go out - BUT I have fashioned a new hide out of a velveeta plastic container - dark lid, almost not see thru - with warm a little more than damp paper towel. He hasn't gone in yet...

Will see when we come home. Tomorrow, I will soak him, get the right thermometer and check back in with you. My 17 year old daughter saw what I was doing and said MOM, he can't take the lid off. I did cut a hole for him! Children.
I feel as though I have found a "snake home" for myself. Remember it was the 7 yr old that wanted him. Ugh.
Check in tomorrow.
Shawne

[JLC]

LOL...isn't it always this way when we buy pets for the kids?


Sounds like you're off to a good start. We'll take it one step at a time.

Once again, welcome aboard!

[frankykeno]

Welcome to the forum Shawne, glad you've joined us! Here's a picture of what Judy was describing. This is the Acu-Rite from WalMart (generally found in the outdoor thermeter/hygrometer area/weather stations). You can also find something similar at Lowe's and Home Depot though under other brand names. It runs off one AAA battery. It will default to time, temp, humidity but with a few pushes of the buttons you get an IN temp (the actual unit reads this), and OUT temp (what the probe reads) and a general humidity for the enclosure. You simply pop the unit itself into the cool end of the enclosure (I velcro mine to the side) then feed the long thin probe cord over to the warm side and either read the temps at substrate level there or tuck the probe right into the warm hide. Bingo....for less than $15.00 you now have a very accurate digital read of the cool side and warm side temps at substrate level where your ball python spends it's life and the overall enclosure humidity. It's a gem! LOL



You may have to do a lot of tweakin and fiddling around to get your temps and humidity stable and whatever other husbandry things need a bit of adjustment, and it does take time for the snake to adjust to any changes even good ones, but it will pay off many times over.

Please feel free to ask any questions that come up, search our BP forums, read our BP caresheet and enjoy the site and the wonderful folks that regularily come here. We're pleased you've found us!


~~Joanna~~

[iceman25]

Fill a tub with tepid water (some call it luke warm, but that may be too warm for your snake...to your touch, you don't want the water to feel either warm or cold)...about 1/2 of the height of your snake's body. Let him soak for about an hour and then slither around in a damp towel to see if any of that old shed comes off.

Adding to this Judy. Put the tub(sealed with lid) inside his enclosure and let him soak for an hour before you let him run through your hand or towel. Placing the tub inside keeps the water temps where you wan't it to be and creates a sauna like effect that helps in getting the stuck shed off. Good luck.