loose skin?

Hey everyone! I just got my first ball python this past saturday so i'm a little new to everything. Unfortunately I didn't do too much research before i got the snake (i got it on a whim) and now that i've been reading more it seems that all healthy hatchlings are supposed to have 'tight skin' and a 'round shape'. My female (about 14/16 inches) seems to have neither of those. Her behavior seems to be fine, but she is definitely more of a triangular shape and when she's both stretched out or curled up i can see folds in her skin. Does anyone know what could be causing this? The tank temp is 90-95 on one side and 80-85 on the other. The humidity is 55. I also noticed a slighty pink tint on her belly. I know this is a symptom of shedding but should her skin be really really loose? i'm trying to find pictures of shedding pythons that look like her but i can't find a close enough one. If anyone could help I'd really appreciate it:confused:

Hi,

My little lesser is due to shed in the next couple of days so I took this picture for you. :)

http://satanswombat.googlepages.com/sheddinglesser1.jpg

It shows the loose skin around his neck quite well.


dr del

Thank you so much for the picture! Yeah, her skin is like that around her neck but its also like that on her sides. Is that normal as well?

Hi,

That really depends on the porkiness or otherwise of the snake - Elam is kind of a porker. :giggle:

Is there anyway you could get us a picture of your little gal?

Is she eating for you yet? Mine don't seem to eat when in shed and it can take them a week or so to settle into a new environment but it might help ti know what/ how often she eats.

There can sometimes be wrinkles caused by dehydration but they tend to run along the snakes body rather than top to bottom.

While she is in shed you want to try and raise the humidity to 60-70% if you can to make it a bit easier on her.


dr del

Heres a picture of her skin when she was curved.

I'm not sure if you can see the wrinkles because of her pattern and the lighting though:

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/1762/dsc01057yi7.jpg
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/d...jpg/1/w548.png

A triangular shaped body could mean that she needs to be fed more often. Has she eaten with you? How often do you feed her and what size prey?

I've only had her since this saturday and the day i brought her home she pooped so i figured she had been recently fed. I just got some fuzzies today though so i'm planning on feeding her tomorrow in a tub.