Shedding questions??

I was wondering if balls get more aggressive during sheds? Mine that has seemed go have no problem being handled has over the last couple of days been getting alot more aggressive. As in striking at me when I put my hand in to get it's water bowl. I noticed tonight that it's eyes were cloudy. Which I believe is a sign of shedding. My quetion is this I want to let it soak in the tub to help with the shed but with it striking I don't want to overly stress it out? What should my approach be. Should say I have only had the snake for about five weeks.

No need to soak it until its having a bad shed and its stuck.

My advise? Quit stressing it out.

Its striking for a reason. Because ur bugging it while its trying to shed. How about you loose all your skin are you gonna wanna be bothered?

Once the belly starts tuning pink dont mess with it unless u have to. You can still offer food. Yes they get a bit more defensive not aggressive.

That's kind what I figured. The only thing I wonder about with the feeding is if she is feeling stressed should I just let her be. Or take her out and feed her. I feed her in a separate cage.

And how ling does a shed usually last.

Keep your humidity up so he has a good shed and let him be until he's done shedding. They are more defensive when they are in shed.

Give it about a week after the cloudy eyes go away.

Not sure why you would feed in a separate enclosure but to each their own i guess if your really stuck to feeding in separate enclosure then just skip the feeding.

I mainly feed her in a separate cage because that's what I have read about. Also so I can have better control over no substrate getting taken in with the food.

Here is thread that should help answer some of the questions:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...edding-Process

Everything I have read and experienced shows that Ball Pythons do not have to be fed in another enclosure. In fact, and others should feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, I believe that sometimes feeding in a separate enclosure can lead to balls thinking it is feeding time any time you remove them from their home, thus making them more likely to think your pinky is a tasty mouse.

Actually I think you're the first person I've ever seen argue that a separate enclosure encourages cage aggression.

There are mixed schools of thought on the separate enclosure idea.

Pro-beliefs:

• The new cage is different and the snake associates it with feeding, so the home cage doesn't become a food zone
• The new cage can have a more dinner friendly bedding(if any)
• cleanup afterwards is usually easier(if it's necessary)

Con-beliefs:

• The transfer into/out of the food pen can be stressful and discourage eating
• The lack of familiar hides may make the snake less likely to eat
• Reaching in to a hungry snake cage may trigger a bite.
• The lack of heating makes slow eating an issue(or requires the purchase of more heating devisces)

Not all of the Pro's/Con's have been proven(some probably never will be) but that's the most common/strongest arguments each way. It's up to you ultimately, either way usually works fine in the end.

Thank you Jeo! It's always nice having someone with more knowledge chime in in case I was mistaken. Good points too!

I have a Ball Python who is about 5 months old and he is now shedding but it has been difficult for him to get all the skin off and it comes off in patches and it took him a while to get the majority off but there are still pieces on his back. pieces. :confused: Anything I can do to help? I've seen people on TV peel off a rat snake's skin easily, but I researched ball pythons and some say not to do this? So what should I do to help?

Your humidity is too low if it's coming off in patches. You need to keep your humidity higher and you wont have that problem.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Minpin1985

I have a Ball Python who is about 5 months old and he is now shedding but it has been difficult for him to get all the skin off and it comes off in patches and it took him a while to get the majority off but there are still pieces on his back. pieces. :confused: Anything I can do to help? I've seen people on TV peel off a rat snake's skin easily, but I researched ball pythons and some say not to do this? So what should I do to help?

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I usually bump my humidity up 10% when they are in shed. Helps everything come off smoothly. Oh I also put in a rough piece of rock so they can use it to remover their shed. I've noticed some snakes will feed during shed and some won't, also depending how far along they are in shed. My bloods feed during shed but not during deep blue, that's because they are aggressive feeders. I would suggest you stick to your normal feeding cycle during his shed. Take note when he doesn't eat during his shed cycle so next time he's in shed you know when not to feed him.

Also I used to feed in my snake in a separate cage, but decided to just feed them in their cage. I'm not an expert, but I bet any expert or any large scale would argue their is no need for a separate feeding cage.

GL and post some pics of your set-up and BP.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jeo123

Actually I think you're the first person I've ever seen argue that a separate enclosure encourages cage aggression.

There are mixed schools of thought on the separate enclosure idea.

Pro-beliefs:

• The new cage is different and the snake associates it with feeding, so the home cage doesn't become a food zone
• The new cage can have a more dinner friendly bedding(if any)
• cleanup afterwards is usually easier(if it's necessary)

Con-beliefs:

• The transfer into/out of the food pen can be stressful and discourage eating
• The lack of familiar hides may make the snake less likely to eat
• Reaching in to a hungry snake cage may trigger a bite.
• The lack of heating makes slow eating an issue(or requires the purchase of more heating devisces)

Not all of the Pro's/Con's have been proven(some probably never will be) but that's the most common/strongest arguments each way. It's up to you ultimately, either way usually works fine in the end.

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It is unlikely that snakes will associate their cage as a food zone. Some will but most dont.

I used to feed my ball out of his cage, but he is a VERY slow eater, and it became an inconvenience to me. I started to feed in cage and noticed no difference in his behaviour at all. He's been on a hunger strike lately, and last night when I reached in to his cage to clean he started hissing at me and LOOKED interested in my hand. I simply continued my business in his cage and then put a f/t rat in and he happily ate. However, as a personal choice, I do not feed when my snakes are in shed. Not only do mine usually refuse, but it can also lead to a bad shed.

As for the humidity, I'd bump it up quite a bit. For whatever reason, my ball python ALWAYS has bad sheds, even though his humidity is at a constant 60% and raised when he is in shed. I usually have to help him get his remaining skin off, but last time he got all of his skin off himself, but when I found him in the morning it was in a million pieces. So, if anyone can lend me tips... I'd appreciate it too xD

Oh, and my boa does associate his cage with feeding. But I would rather him associate his cage with food than coming out of the cage with it.