Shedding for Blood Python Info Needed

Hello All,

My Blood is starting to shed, now that I understand the Poop issues, but he seems to be have a little hard time? My Ball does fine. I have keep the Humidify at about 85 to 90 to the best I can and have used shed help Spray. This would be his first shed with me since I got him so I am unsure on how a Blood does theirs? I know I might be over reacting, but it is my wifes and I want to make sure eveything goes well. Size is about 20" or more all brown.

I have read up but I have not been able to find out what I need.

Please any help or info, It started the procces about 5 days ago 31 Dec 2011.

Thank You for any help

Terrance

How is he having a "hard time" shedding. Has he already tried to shed & has retained the skin? Is it coming off in pieces? Can you go into more detail on that? You say he started 5 days ago, did he start going opaque then, or start actively trying to shed his skin off at that time?

85%-90% humidity is fine while a blood python in in a shed cycle, but the rest of the time 65-70% is fine for this species...

It should shed within the next couple days, and if all is well with the humidity it should shed in one nice piece, like a well-cared for ball python. Keep the humidity up for the blood python like you do with your ball pythons and you should have no problems.

Thank You both, I wish I could go into more detail. He just is not normal I do know they change, since I have a Ball and a Tree. But my wife is a little worrie, I was thinking if I let him swim in 1" of warm/cool water in one of my tubs with shed spay in it for a little while say 10 mins or 15 mins would this help?

Nothing coming off yet and did he start going opaque then, or start actively trying to shed his skin off at that time not that I can tell.

We had him for a while and has been a good eater and been handle without problems. She just concern.

Let me know with the tub might be a good thought? Please

Thank You

Terrance

If he just started going opaque 5 days ago, he has another 5 days or so to go before you should expect him to actively shed. The entire shedding process (ecdysis) lasts about 10-12 days. Your humidity is certainly sufficient - wait & see what happens when he actually starts shedding & adjust as necessary when that time comes. Right now while he's opaque, handle him as little as possible.

Good luck!

K~

Can you post a photo? When a snake has an adhered shed and is well past the point of having finished shedding, it is usually very distinctive looking.

I will if i can cam not taking good pics right now.

:) We Got a good one Piece shed from him on sat and we where able to feed him for the fist time for 2 weeks. We are Very happy. Now we just need to wait for him to go to the bathroom.

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Originally Posted by MSG-KB

:) We Got a good one Piece shed from him on sat and we where able to feed him for the fist time for 2 weeks. We are Very happy. Now we just need to wait for him to go to the bathroom.

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You are going to love cleaning up that mess. Mine held hers in for 8 months then let loose, I've never seen more poop in my life. Now she poops about every month to two months. Which reminds me I need to buy more XL rats.

I seem to be havin the same problem had him for month and a half he is 2 feet always eats humidity at 85 while in shed and went blue week and half ago i came home today he Looked shiny so I fed him the small rat that I had for Him for 2 weeks problem is started looking for the shed and can't find it he did eat the rat like clockwork I never feed during shed so wondering if him eating is gonna have any adverse affects considering he Has to still be in shed?

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Originally Posted by adre531

I seem to be havin the same problem had him for month and a half he is 2 feet always eats humidity at 85 while in shed and went blue week and half ago i came home today he Looked shiny so I fed him the small rat that I had for Him for 2 weeks problem is started looking for the shed and can't find it he did eat the rat like clockwork I never feed during shed so wondering if him eating is gonna have any adverse affects considering he Has to still be in shed?

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Many people have this notion that you shouldn't feed a snake while it's shedding. IMO I can't see any adverse effects. In the wild I presume the snake would eat even when it's in blue. Remember it's an ambush predator not a hunter. However some snakes won't eat because they can't see, eye caps are blue and/or they don't want to eat because they are in an awkward stage and want to get the old skin off. My bloods always eat even when in blue, so I stay on schedule for feeding and most times they'll eat. Even if they show a slight sign of interest and they don't strike I leave it in their cage, within an hour it's gone.

I wouldn't worry too much about the shedding. Just increase your humidity 5-10% and if you want soak in luke warm water for 30 min. I used to do this and got a few bad sheds, now I just increase the humidity by 10%. Perfect sheds each time. I've had shed cycles that have been a little over 2 weeks. I look for their belly's turning pink then I know they'll shed in a month or so. GL