Shedding Question

My boy is getting ready for a shed and I wanted to know if I needed to add anything to his tank? I have a hide and a water bowl with paper towels on the bottom. DO i need to get him a rock or something rough to rub on?

Yes. A rock with rough edges would be perfect, especially for when he needs to rub the skin off his face - which will be difficult. As for anything else, I suggest you make sure the humidity in the cage is a little higher than normal - for it will help the old skin shed off better, and if he really has a hard time getting it off, try soaking him for 15 -30 minutes whilst trying to massage some of the dead skin away for him. Don't try to get the skin off his neck or face though even if it proves tough for him to do: he will eventually be able to get that off himself.

Although they have things to rub against in their Viv's, I have several of mine that shed inside their hides by just rubbing against themselves. Almost always a single piece (but I do watch humidity very closely).

X2 on the humidity, make sure its up at all times right up until he start shedding. My snakes shed perfectly fine with no rocks/branches/accessories other than a water bowl and a hide! I found that when they rub on something rough it breaks the skin up and causes incomplete sheds. Just my experience and opinion!

When it comes to a complete shed, the humidity is more important to be concerned about than a rough edge.
I have all my BP's in a plastic tub with a paper towel substrate and a H2O bowl and they have always had a complete shed as long as I bump the humidity to around 70%.

The humidity is good, Its just our first shed with him and my first time having a snake at all ( my husband is the snake guy), I am just learning as things are going. I just wanted to make sure that he has everything he needs to be happy and healthy. Im sure everyone here can agree to at least some degree, our pets are our children, even if he freaks me out a little still.

Do they generally get irritable juts before a shed? And is it normal for them to spend time in their water bowls just chillin?

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Originally Posted by KryptBaby

Do they generally get irritable juts before a shed? And is it normal for them to spend time in their water bowls just chillin?

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Yes, they will be a more shy around shed time but I haven't really seen my snakes routinely get into the water bowl when shedding. But I wouldn't worry about it. It can only help. :)

Thanks, We have only had him a couple weeks and he is MY first snake so I am just paranoid about everything at the moment. I want to make sure to be the best snake mommy i can be and that means a million and one questions. I even have to check and make sure he is in his tank every time I walk by cause I am nervous he might get out. My husband tells me everyday I need to relax and that he is just fine BUT I like to know for sure. How big do BPs generally get? How big should his tank be in relation to his size? Rather, How often should he need to get a bigger tank? I dont want him getting cramped and uncomfortable.

BP's depending on their gender can grow up to be 5-7 feet (2 m.) long. You generally want to have a tank that has approximately one square foot per foot of snake length.

Unlike boas, BP's like a smaller environment with plenty of tight places to hide. They prefer to have a hide that they can crawl into and have the ability to have the edges snug so that their whole body will be able to rest against the interior.
Historically, BP's have been more stressed when they are in a large enclosure.