New ball owner

[smeaglethepython]

Okay, so I have had my ball for about 3 weeks, he has ate for me and has no issues with handling. The temp is stable around 85, I cant afford a better stat at the moment so I really dont know the exact range in the tank. My issue is comming with his first shed. It started about 5 days ago, and he is now in the actuall shedding of the skin. My problem is that his shed isnt comming off evenly and is worrying me that he wont complete the shed properly. I live in southern california and we have been having our yearly dry cycle so Ive been having some struggle in keeping the humidity up around 70. Is there anything that I can do to help him? Hes got pleanty to rub on and has been pretty active with rubbing against things. Im glad that Ive got to witness this as well..I've read that some dont get the chance to see there ball shed for sometime. Any help is greatly appreciated guys.

[JayBP]

You can try soaking him in warm water for 10-15 minutes.

[snakecharmer3638]

Here is a good trick that worked for me. Get a pillow case and a wash cloth. Run some warm water, remember if it feels hot to you then it is to hot for your snake. Wet the wash cloth and the pillow case. Put the wash cloth in the pillow case with the snake, close it up and leave very little room for the snake to wiggle around. Put him back in his cage, in the pillow case. And leave him for about half an hour. He should get most of the shed off just moving around. what he doesn't get off should come right off if you just let him slither through your hands.

[littleindiangirl]

Make sure it is a cheap pillow case with a very low thread count. Wet fabric with a tight weave can suffocate.

[casperca]

This sticky should help too.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=43403

[snakecharmer3638]

Make sure it is a cheap pillow case with a very low thread count. Wet fabric with a tight weave can suffocate.

Good point!!

[Abby_The_Python]

I can confirm that the all mighty pillowcase suggestion works...lol

[Mindibun]

My normal humidity range is about 52%. When I notice one of them going into shed (particularly if it's Adalae - she's always been a difficult shedder) I'll put a small tupperware with damp moss in it into the cage. Just today I noticed that that wasn't enough - the humidity was only around 60%. So I also added a second waterbowl. She now has three water sources in the tub, and the humidity is at 70%. By the time it is time for her to shed, we should have no problems. I try to combat bad sheds before they happen; that's always worked best.

If you don't notice it in time, or for whatever reason it just doesn't help and you STILL have a stuck shed on your hands, then the pillowcase idea will help. Or, another method I've used in the past is to fill a small critter keeper with an inch or so of water (depends on how big your snake is; a small snake will need less water) and put in a large washcloth or dish towel. In the process of moving around and soaking, they'll usually take all the old skin off. Then I just move them back into their tub. You have to be careful not to leave them too long, though, or else the water will get cold.

Hope some of that was helpful.

[smeaglethepython]

Thank you guys for all your help, this site is just awsome. In any case, I forgot to ask, at what point should I intervene to help with the shed, Smeagle has already removed about a third of his skin himself and has been activley loosing it for about 3 days. Thanks again everyone

[SamuraiZr0]

If it looks like its in a difficult area for him to reach then I'd say intervene now.. it will not hurt.. I usually just help mine after day 2