New Ball Python, but answer this...

Hi, I'm a first time ball python owner, he's just a normal ball 3 1/2 months old, about 21 inches has already eaten once last friday, and was somewhat active the first two days before that got him that wednsday. ever since he ate all he wants to do is stay in his rock hide which he obviously loves, but i never see him come out, however when i get him out he is moderately active, very docile, does very well with handling has never struck out. I've got two questions, should he be hiding so much, and second, the last two pics i posted are from today, does it look like he might be starting to shed based on his eyes and skin?

http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/DSC01958.jpg

http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/DSC01962.jpg

http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/DSC01978.jpg

http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/DSC01980.jpg

a ball python should be hiding, thats what they do in the wild. 100% normal

yes it does look like hes starting a shed cycle

Thanks, I knew they suppose to hide alot but dang, that's ok tho, btw his name is jerello jj for short forgot to add that,

Yeah, definitely the beginning of a shed. By tomorrow his eyes should be solid blue, then they'll fade back to normal and then a couple days later, he'll start peeling. Make sure his humidity is up around 60 - 65% and maybe even give him a bath or two (I love watching them swim XD).

just curious, how often do you see ur snakes come out of their hides, also he ate on friday and poo'd today im assuming cuz i found it today and it wasn't there yesterday, is that ok that it's that quick, plus i saw in another post about went they bend and have wrinkled skin they might be dehydrated, but could it just be the shed, i saw him drink water the other day and when i feed him friday, it was the biggest meal he ever ate, so could he be dehydrated?

yep up the humidity a touch (I just spary a bit, making sure to spray some in and around the hide ), Mine will quite often not even come out of the hide to shed, just kinda shurg it off in a roll, make me feel good when they leave a neat little rolled up 1 peice :D

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Originally Posted by dryates

just curious, how often do you see ur snakes come out of their hides, also he ate on friday and poo'd today im assuming cuz i found it today and it wasn't there yesterday, is that ok that it's that quick, plus i saw in another post about went they bend and have wrinkled skin they might be dehydrated, but could it just be the shed, i saw him drink water the other day and when i feed him friday, it was the biggest meal he ever ate, so could he be dehydrated?

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Mine eats every Saturday, poops every Sunday, and sits in his hide nonstop until he gets fed again or I pull him out. It's like clockwork.

He doesn't ever LEAVE his hide, but 90% of the time I come in to check on him, he's got his head poking out to see what's going on.

As for dehydration, if he's got a constant clean water supply, he should be okay. Ramses usually gets wrinkly skin around his curves when he's about to shed too, and then he plumps up again once it's done.

I very rarely see Tiberious. He'll troll around after I put him back from a short handling, but he is very attached to his hides :-) Occasionally I'll see him roaming if he's hungry too, but normally he stays hidden. Anyway, if I'd wanted an active pet I'd have gotten a wiggly fish! I wouldn't be too worried. At least it seems as if yours doesn't mind too much handling when he's in blue. Tiberious gets very ornery and tries to run away from everything when he's in blue!

Yup, he's shedding. It's normal for balls to hide practically all the time; the only time my ball actually leaves his hide on his own is when he's changing sides or when he's hungry and "hunting". The wrinkles are normal, because he's shedding. If they don't go away after he's done shedding, consider adding a bit more humidity to his environment.

Congrats on the first ball, btw :)

I have one who hides all the time, rarely ever see her unless I take her out, and one who is easily stressed and comes out anytime I come around his tub and make noise.

well thanks for all the info and input I don't mind if he's not active as long as he's ok I have a 1 yo African grey who is as active as they get, I'm just new to snakes so wanted to be sure he's ok

just thought i would give yall an update, i went to check on him today and he had shed all his skin and his eyecaps came off too. Also his feeding day was friday, and he didn't eat, but today i put the rat in and jj searched, then destroyed that rat.:banana: Thanks to all here is two pics of him going to hide right after he just ate, yes i know the temp shows to be a little low, but the lid and everything was off,

http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/DSC01986.jpg

http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/DSC01985.jpg