Adopting a Ball Python

I will try this and report back on whether or not I could get the eye cap off. This is my first rescue.

Didn't take me long to get the stuck shed off. I got every last bit of stuck shed off of her. Most of it was around her head. I used a wash cloth and got the eye cap off. She is wheezing really bad though. With every breath, you can hear it. Is there anything I can do until I get her to a vet. If I can't get her an appointment for tomorrow, the earliest is Monday or Tuesday. I've increased the temperature in the house as well as given her (its a she for now, until I know) a hot spot. I just found my extra thermometer so I'm waiting for it to tell me the temperature of the warm spot. (This was kind of sudden that I agreed to adopt the snake, so I didn't have a chance to go out and get anything. I know for certain I have a second hide floating around here somewhere, I just need to find it.

Warm (85 to 90 ) water soaks help with RI's. It helps the animal clear it lungs since they can't exactly cough like we do. Boost her temps. Higher temps will help her fight infection. Keep her as stress free as possible. I would have worried about the RI, before I worried about the stuck shed. Additional stress, causes increased respiration. Increased respiration, with lungs full of goo, means it is harder for her to get oxygen.

Whenever you take in a rescue, prioritize the problems (ie. the RI is immediately life threatening, while the stuck shed is not.) At this point, make her feel as secure as possible, even if it means covering the sides of her tank so she can't see out.

I will be doing everything possible to make her comfortable and stress free. How often should I give her warm soaks?

Sounds like she has had enough excitement for the time being. If you can get her to a vet first thing Monday, I would just boost her temps and let her be. To much stress can push a sick snake over the edge. Being moved so much (I assume she was not at your firends house very long) has probably stressed her quite a bit. You have to weigh the stress level. Her whole world has been turned upside down, not once, but twice in a short period of time. For the better of course, but she does not know that yet. I would just get her to a vet ASAP.

I'm waking up early tomorrow morning and calling the vet as soon as they open. I have to be at work at 11, but my husband could probably take her in. I'm not sure of my schedule next week, but more than likely I can take her in on Monday. She's enjoying her hot spot. It is sitting near 90 as that is as high as i can get it to go. I don't have any UTH or other bulbs. I've raised the temperature in the house to almost 80, so hopefully this will help her. I'll go out tomorrow and get a stronger bulb.