Great news for a 1st time owner!!

I totally solved the 40 gal tank issue. I decided to simply give my snake less room! 3 hide spots, bowl of wet moss, water dish and a really cool branch. I took her into the shop today where it was purchased for me, and the owner told me that she is in excellent health and very happy and friendly but needed a soak. She wasnt shedding or anything, but the dude determined that it was due. (Im sure living in vegas makes a bif diff). OMG she does NOT like baths, lol. Ive never seen her move so fast trying to escape before i put the screen on! I was totally cracking up, but i got her in. She was so friendly at the shop, even a customer who was with her bf and didnt care for snakes actually wanted to hold her! I feel like a proud parent.....lol.
:gj:

Glad to hear!

If you got your humidity right in the enclosure there is no need for soaks. I never soak my BPs or even mist them and they have full sheds all in one piece no damage. Soaking is just more stress put down.

And for a small snake like yours, I would consider downgrading to a smaller tank so you don't have to just try to make the space smaller. For a small snake like yours a 10 gallon or a 20 gallon long would do.

Also, Ball pythons are clumsy climbers and will just hurt themselves. No need for a branch:gj:

Everything else sounds good, enjoy your Ball python:)

I agree with everything that Tiffany said, also just make sure that the water is not hot, try and get a temp gun so whenever you need to give her a bath you can check it before putting her in.

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Originally Posted by jben

I agree with everything that Tiffany said, also just make sure that the water is not hot, try and get a temp gun so whenever you need to give her a bath you can check it before putting her in.

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Well said.

Make sure it feels warm on your wrist, not your hand. That's if you don't got a temp gun.

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Originally Posted by musclebabe

And a really cool branch.

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Branch for what? To climb? Their not aboral snakes they dont climb will most likely just fall and hurt itsself

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Originally Posted by musclebabe

I took her into the shop today where it was purchased for me, and the owner told me that she is in excellent health and very happy and friendly

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Sorry but if you bought it from a pet store why take it back to a pet store to see if its healthy rofl? Should of just took it to a vet im pretty sure that would be better LOL

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Originally Posted by musclebabe

but needed a soak.

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This brings me to wonder if you really did solve the 40g tank. If it needed a soak then ur humidity is to low. Seems you havent solved it all.



And on a side note. I would never take my bp into a pet shop :/ unless you soaked urself in pam and the snake after you got back LOL

Some ball pythons are fine with soaks, and others are not fine with it at all. For those kind of snakes (yours) soaking can cause more harm then good. A snake that is afraid of water can easily panic and drown itself in shallow water. Not saying that your snake is automatically going to drown or anything, but there are ways to avoid soaks completely. They aren't needed for a ball python unless it has had a bad shed or if your humidity is too low. Just keep your humidity between 50-60% and you are good to go. If it is too low, your snake will look wrinkly, have dented eye caps, and have bad sheds.

Remember that soaking before shed will work against you and make it harder for your BP to shed. :gj:

Soaking can also be quite stressful and is really unnecessary if provided with proper humidity.

If soaking is needed it should be done after shed to remove stuck shed (preferably in a tub with luke water up to your animal's back) - THis thread will help you doing just that http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...97&postcount=1

Proper humidity is very important not only for proper shed but also for overall health.

Of course to know whether or not you provide proper humidity it is very important to measure your humidity with a reliable digital hygrometer.

Yeah I never have had a place for any of mine to soak. Just make sure to mist 2-3 time a day whenever they are getting ready to shed and you should be fine :banana:

Why would soaking before a shed make shedding more difficult? My understanding is that shedding is aided by good hydration. Low humidity causes chronic mild dehydration, thus interfering with shedding.

t

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

Why would soaking before a shed make shedding more difficult? My understanding is that shedding is aided by good hydration. Low humidity causes chronic mild dehydration, thus interfering with shedding.

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There is some speculation that soaking during a shed cycle (prior to the shed being removed) can leach oils from their skin that helps them shed. I don't think there is any proof on the subject though. I never soak my snakes unless they have had bad sheds. I have only had two bad sheds.