My poor baby...

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Originally Posted by SKO

Snakes secret oils naturally to help them shed. Soaking them before they start a shed process will remove the oils and make it harder to shed. Soaking should really be a last resort option. Also, haven't seen this mentioned but never try to pick the shed off. You can damage scales that way.

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I was told that yesterday when I first asked about the shedding. I'm so paranoid about hurting him right now that helping him shed by peeling his skin off is not going to happen. I also already told my kids to leave him alone. No one is to touch him for a few days. Thanks for the advise.


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Originally Posted by SKO

I never had an issue with mold. Keep the moss damp, not Soaking wet. what substrate are you using? Most people change substrate once a month or even less.

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Aspen snake bedding is what we are using right now. Pet store recommended. I have an appointment set up for Monday with the vet. I'm hoping he has finished shedding by then. I want him checked out after this disaster just to make sure he is healthy going forward.


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Originally Posted by Ckrumn

I was told that yesterday when I first asked about the shedding. I'm so paranoid about hurting him right now that helping him shed by peeling his skin off is not going to happen. I also already told my kids to leave him alone. No one is to touch him for a few days. Thanks for the advise.


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No problem. It is stressful starting out especially when things seem to be going wrong but once you get it down everything will be like clockwork. Humidity and shed issue is why I switched out of tanks. Even though I started seeing perfect sheds, switching to a pvc enclosure is much lower maintenance.

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Originally Posted by Ckrumn

Aspen snake bedding is what we are using right now. Pet store recommended. I have an appointment set up for Monday with the vet. I'm hoping he has finished shedding by then. I want him checked out after this disaster just to make sure he is healthy going forward.


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Yeah aspen is alright but cypress helps with humidity. There are other substrates that hold humidity well but I've never used anything else so I can't really comment on those. A vet visit can be expensive and if a bad shed is all that is wrong, the snake is fine. Now, unless there were signs of health issues such as click or popping noise while breathing or mucous/bubbles coming out, or something else that seemed wrong, I would seriously suggest not taking him to the vet. Is there something else concerning you about his health?

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Originally Posted by SKO

No problem. It is stressful starting out especially when things seem to be going wrong but once you get it down everything will be like clockwork. Humidity and shed issue is why I switched out of tanks. Even though I started seeing perfect sheds, switching to a pvc enclosure is much lower maintenance.

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I'm thinking of building one for him and then closing off part of it for now. One and done kind of thing. I spoiled my iguanas with home built lizard lounges and want to do the same for my Yoshi. Someone sent me a video for an enclosure he built and it looks pretty nice. Weekend project. Hoping to have it done by the time he finishes his shed so I can move him over.


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Originally Posted by Ckrumn

I'm thinking of building one for him and then closing off part of it for now. One and done kind of thing. I spoiled my iguanas with home built lizard lounges and want to do the same for my Yoshi. Someone sent me a video for an enclosure he built and it looks pretty nice. Weekend project. Hoping to have it done by the time he finishes his shed so I can move him over.


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Building one is cool. I saw someone mentioned some pvc cages for sale, I myself have two t8s from Animal Plastics and love them. If you want to build it yourself, do your homework and take advice from others that built their own. I would have liked to build one myself but I'm not that crafty of a dwarf

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Originally Posted by SKO

Yeah aspen is alright but cypress helps with humidity. There are other substrates that hold humidity well but I've never used anything else so I can't really comment on those. A vet visit can be expensive and if a bad shed is all that is wrong, the snake is fine. Now, of there were signs of health issues such as click or popping noise while breathing or mucous/bubbles coming out, I would seriously suggest not taking him to the vet. Is there something else concerning you about his health?

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Overall he seems great. But I know next to nothing about them. He is going on three weeks without eating. I'm not sure if he is drinking or not. The water level on his dish is always lower by morning, but that doesn't mean much. We give him fresh water daily. He is active when out, but not in a defensive manner. He loves to wrap himself around my youngest daughters neck and hide under her hair while she does her homework after school. He even freaked her out the other day by going down her shirt. I just laughed. I wear hoodies a lot he loves to hangout in my pocket with me when I'm watching TV. It's kind of cute to me. I hope it's normal behavior.


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Originally Posted by SKO

Building one is cool. I saw someone mentioned some pvc cages for sale, I myself have two t8s from Animal Plastics and love them. If you want to build it yourself, do your homework and take advice from others that built their own. I would have liked to build one myself but I'm not that crafty of a dwarf

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I can build it, it's keeping the kids from decorating it that will be the issue. The video saw was pretty straightforward. I'm pretty sure I have all the tools needed and if I don't, I'm sure my dad will loan me what I'm missing. Hell, he may use this as some father/daughter bonding time and come help me. Lol.


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Originally Posted by Ckrumn

Overall he seems great. But I know next to nothing about them. He is going on three weeks without eating. I'm not sure if he is drinking or not. The water level on his dish is always lower by morning, but that doesn't mean much. We give him fresh water daily. He is active when out, but not in a defensive manner. He loves to wrap himself around my youngest daughters neck and hide under her hair while she does her homework after school. He even freaked her out the other day by going down her shirt. I just laughed. I wear hoodies a lot he loves to hangout in my pocket with me when I'm watching TV. It's kind of cute to me. I hope it's normal behavior.


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Sounds normal to me. The not eating part can be for a few reasons, but let's focus on the shed coming off first. When I was a new owner, I was on this site everyday trying to learn everything I could. A lot of good info on here. Google searching how to care for ball pythons will either lead you here anyways, or to a site that has some wrong info.

Do you have a pic of your setup? I might be able to help you with your humidity problem easier. I had two tanks for almost a year before I switched so I might be able to give you some pointers

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As far as the feeding~~~ if your having a problem with him feeding it is stress related most likley. No Ball python wants to be held for 5 hours a day.. 3/4 times a week for 20 min is normal. Also dont forget when you have him out he has no heat.
Stress from coming home with you, handling for 5 hour a day, soaking him for a couple days ect.. This is all a recipe for him to get stressed & sick. A ball pythons immune system declines with stress. Give this lil guy a couple weeks to get strait. Several new owners want to hold and play with these cute snakes and I hear about and see hundreds die from stress all the time. Another big problem is Respiratory infections. Stress can be a major factor in that when there immune systems worn down.
Put this lil guy in his enclosure, cover the glass for security and let him get use to his new home.
Some of it might sound to strict, but every week new keepers post on here "my Balls a month old and I found him dead"..
These arent domestic animals, they Tolerate us but thats all and some tolerate better than others.. Just trying to help you so you and your family have him/her to enjoy and he deserves a good safe place too.