My first shedding experience! Any tips please?

[stargazed85]

As most of you know I'm a new parent to my female ball python "Kumasi". I keep asking alot of questions, because you guys are so helpful She is my first snake. I noticed her eyes are turning blue and she's starting to shed. I know the humidity of her tank is very important. Should I not handle her as well? Should you make a moist hide? Any tips on what to do and what not to do??? Thanks

[llovelace]

They become skiddish while in blue, they can't really see, so leave her be for those few days, she may not want to feed while in blue (some snakes won't). bump up humidity to around 60%, everything should be fine . to make a humid hides I put moist sea sponge in their hides, you could use spagnum moss also.

[stargazed85]

Thanks. She actually just ate for me on Saturday like a champ! Do I basically mist down her enclosure to help the humidity? How long does the shedding process take?

[Kaorte]

You should have a digital humidity reader to let you know what the humidity is. You should try to keep it between 60-70% during a shed cycle and 50% normally.

She will probably be blue for a couple days and then she will go clear again. After she goes clear, she should shed her skin in one piece in about 24-48 hours.

[blushingball419]

Yes, misting the enclosure is a good way to keep humidity up, especially if you mist over the warm side where the UTH is. That's what I usually do and it works wonders. Putting a damp sea sponge or damp sphagnum moss around the enclosure helps a lot as well. Like the others said, 60-70% is the goal...as long as it's in that range and she has plenty of stuff to rub on, she should have no problems

[stargazed85]

Is it also true to give her a warm bath? I really looked forward to handling her since I got her a week ago and left her alone for the week. Then I fed her Saturday, so I planned on holding her today this evening since I gave her 48 hours to digest her food. Should I not touch her? She hasn't been handled in like a week plus some days.

[blushingball419]

The warm bath is usually only for retained sheds, aka when they don't get all the old skin off.

As long as her eyes aren't blue anymore you should be able to handle her without any problems. When their eyes are blue they can't see very well and are more likely to get stressed with handling, but if they aren't blue then handling her for a few minutes shouldn't be too detrimental. Maybe just don't keep her out as long

[stratus_020202]

I check on mine everyday during a shed. She stays in her hide all the time when she is shedding. I pick her up when she lets me, but i don't keep her out very long. Just remember, some get grumpy when they shed and they may strike due to them not being able to see. I just don't like the idea of not seeing my baby for 3 to 4 days, even though I know its normal. I just carefully lift off the hide, and pick her up. I do a little checking to make sure she's health (5 to 10 min.) then put her back. Mine just ate on Tuesday, and went in to the blue stage that same day. I know the feeling of missing them.