Ball acting very weird...

My python has always been very mellow and open to being handled. I've never even seen her ball-up defensively. But today she's coming out of her first shed cycle and I came home from work and misted her and picked her up to get some love and she was acting terrified. Balling, and hiding her head. But, most concerning of all, she was acting confused and possibly a bit uncoordinated. I am worried to death. What's going on with my snake????:confused:

• Has she actually shed yet?
• If so how long ago?
• Did she have a good shed?
• Does she have proper temperatures/humidity?

shedding can be stressful, she is probably just a little worked up. Give her a day or two and she will probably be back to her old self.

Your BP doesn't have any Spider genetics, does it?

You say this is your BP's first shed cycle? You mean the first shed with you, right? If She's still a young BP, the type of behavior you describe isn't really very far out of the norm.

Keep an eye on her for a couple of days and monitor her for signs of stress. You might want to give her some time to settle down after her next shed.

Good luck.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

• Has she actually shed yet?
• If so how long ago?
• Did she have a good shed?
• Does she have proper temperatures/humidity?

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She's, 1.5ft long, in a 10G tank w/ heat pad under cool side and 75w night bulb on the basking side providing roughly 80f on cool side to 84f on warm side. Aspen bedding, She's shed in thirds her tail is all that is left, I mist many times throughout the day but humidity still won't exceed 40-50%, and it drops very quickly.

I advise not handling them when they are opaque--they cannot see well, they obviously don't feel well, and their new skin, forming beneath the old, is fragile. It's just kinder to let them be until they shed.

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Originally Posted by Slim

Your BP doesn't have any Spider genetics, does it?

You say this is your BP's first shed cycle? You mean the first shed with you, right? If She's still a young BP, the type of behavior you describe isn't really very far out of the norm.

Keep an eye on her for a couple of days and monitor her for signs of stress. You might want to give her some time to settle down after her next shed.

Good luck.

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It's definately her first shed with me, but I don't think she was much older than a hatchlig when I got her, so it could be her first.

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Originally Posted by Hunkycorn

She's, 1.5ft long, in a 10G tank w/ heat pad under cool side and 75w night bulb on the basking side providing roughly 80f on cool side to 84f on warm side. Aspen bedding, She's shed in thirds her tail is all that is left, I mist many times throughout the day but humidity still won't exceed 40-50%, and it drops very quickly.

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does the heat pad have a thermostat and how are you measuring temps?

as others have said Shedding is very stressful so that could be why but your hot side temperature is too low

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Originally Posted by Hunkycorn

It's definately her first shed with me, but I don't think she was much older than a hatchlig when I got her, so it could be her first.

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they should shed in the first week or so after hatching so this probably isn't her first.

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

I advise not handling them when they are opaque--they cannot see well, they obviously don't feel well, and their new skin, forming beneath the old, is fragile. It's just kinder to let them be until they shed.

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This is my first snake, so there's a lot I need to learn. Didn't realize it was such a fragile ordeal. I just thought if she didn't act like she cared it was cool. But I'll leave her be next time around. Thx for the advice.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

they should shed in the first week or so after hatching so this probably isn't her first.

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Oh OK. Gotcha. But how's my husbandry? Any cause for concern?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hunkycorn

Oh OK. Gotcha. But how's my husbandry? Any cause for concern?

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Quote:

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The Serpent Merchant:

does the heat pad have a thermostat and how are you measuring temps?

as others have said Shedding is very stressful so that could be why but your hot side temperature is too low

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

does the heat pad have a thermostat and how are you measuring temps?

as others have said Shedding is very stressful so that could be why but your hot side temperature is too low

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I have a digital thermometer on each side of the enclosure. And no, I don't have a thermostat, but I think the package said up to 90f.

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Originally Posted by Hunkycorn

I have a digital thermometer on each side of the enclosure. And no, I don't have a thermostat, but I think the package said up to 90f.

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UTH's must have a thermostat. Do the thermometers have a probes?

the hot side needs to be between 88 and 92 degrees, and the cool side needs to be between 78 and 82 degrees.

The humidity should be between 40% and 60% normally and between 60% and 80% during shed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Slim

Your BP doesn't have any Spider genetics, does it?

You say this is your BP's first shed cycle? You mean the first shed with you, right? If She's still a young BP, the type of behavior you describe isn't really very far out of the norm.

Keep an eye on her for a couple of days and monitor her for signs of stress. You might want to give her some time to settle down after her next shed.

Good luck.

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I wouldn't know about her genetics. As far as I know she's the standard old ball. What would that have to do with it? Are there morph specific health problems?

You need a thermostat for the heating pad. Your humidity is low because you are using a lamp, they suck all moisture out no matter how much you mist, it's very annoying. I would recommend getting a humid hide to compensate. All you need is a tupperware with a lid. Cut a hole in the lid and put some sphagnum moss (available at any pet store) in the bottom of the tupperware. Mist the moss and keep it moist, but not sopping, and your snake can retreat in there for her shed cycle. I had PERFECT sheds as soon as I introduced the humid hide, and mine will actually stay in there for the full duration of her shed cycle, almost two weeks and not move. For that reason, it is a good idea if the humid hide is not in the coldest part of the enclosure, but on the warm end, or at least in the middle. I also mist during the shed cycle, even if she is in the humid hide.

My snake's first shed with me was also in pieces. Drove me insane. If the last part of the shed doesn't come off on its own soon, you will need to soak her. There is a sticky on how to soak under the husbandry thread, I believe.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

UTH's must have a thermostat. Do the thermometers have a probes?

the hot side needs to be between 88 and 92 degrees, and the cool side needs to be between 78 and 82 degrees.

The humidity should be between 40% and 60% normally and between 60% and 80% during shed.

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I didn't know that. About how much would I be able to pick one up for, and what would be an optimum setting? Sorry bout all the "??????'s". Thanks for helping me out tho.

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Originally Posted by Emily Hubbard

You need a thermostat for the heating pad. Your humidity is low because you are using a lamp, they suck all moisture out no matter how much you mist, it's very annoying. I would recommend getting a humid hide to compensate. All you need is a tupperware with a lid. Cut a hole in the lid and put some sphagnum moss (available at any pet store) in the bottom of the tupperware. Mist the moss and keep it moist, but not sopping, and your snake can retreat in there for her shed cycle. I had PERFECT sheds as soon as I introduced the humid hide, and mine will actually stay in there for the full duration of her shed cycle, almost two weeks and not move. For that reason, it is a good idea if the humid hide is not in the coldest part of the enclosure, but on the warm end, or at least in the middle. I also mist during the shed cycle, even if she is in the humid hide.

My snake's first shed with me was also in pieces. Drove me insane. If the last part of the shed doesn't come off on its own soon, you will need to soak her. There is a sticky on how to soak under the husbandry thread, I believe.

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Awesome. I'll rig one up asap. THX!

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Originally Posted by Hunkycorn

I didn't know that. About how much would I be able to pick one up for, and what would be an optimum setting? Sorry bout all the "??????'s". Thanks for helping me out tho.

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It's no problem at all

There are a few good ones on the market.

for $30 you can get this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR..._bxgy_ol_img_b

These cost more $99 + (depending on the mode) but work much better (these are what I use)

http://spyderrobotics.com/

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Originally Posted by Hunkycorn

I mist many times throughout the day but humidity still won't exceed 40-50%, and it drops very quickly.

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With your set-up, which is fairly common, you'll always have a hard time with humidity. Your heat lamp is killing it every time you turn it on. Also, if you're using a screen top and it's completely open, you'll never be able to maintain it. Try covering 2/3rds of the screen top with plastic wrap. That will help some. Honestly, a properly maintained BP enclosure doesn't require much if any misting.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hunkycorn

I wouldn't know about her genetics. As far as I know she's the standard old ball. What would that have to do with it? Are there morph specific health problems?

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If your BP has the Spider genetics it will look something like this:

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...t/efd50d75.jpg

The spider morph has a neurological disorder. Nothing to worry about in most cases but there are a few that it can cause issues in. The snake pictured above is mine and is fine (slight head wobble but nothing serous) so yes there are some morphs that have issues.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hunkycorn

I wouldn't know about her genetics. As far as I know she's the standard old ball. What would that have to do with it? Are there morph specific health problems?

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That question was more of a joke than anything...sorry for confusing you. BPs with Spider genetics have been known to act a little wonky. It's part of their charm.

A quick fix to keep ur humidity around 50-60 percent is to use Cyprus mulch and I u have a screen top put tin foil over it. Using Cyprus alone has kept me around 55


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