Little Freyja needs help again!

Hey all,

Well Freyja looked like she was going good there for a bit. She finally ate. She started to gain weight and now somethin bad is happening.

So I smelt the funk coming out of one of my tubs and saw freyja pooped! YAY! Her first poop! after her first meal! Well I lifted her hide to see she was blue eyes! Yay her first shed would be coming up! Well its been well over a week since her blue eyes went away and she still hasnt shed and she is looking like she is in bad shape.

Her skin is wrinkly like its not stretchy like snake skin usually is it feels taut. Her colours are darker and grayed out like she is about to shed. You can even see her eye caps. But its not happening. The humidity in her tub is perfect and she has been drinking and urinating like usual (yes I have seen her drinking recently)

Here are pictures :

http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/...chnids/f10.png

http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/...chnids/f11.png

http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/...ds/freyja1.png

http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/...ds/freyja2.png

http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/...achnids/f9.png

http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/...achnids/f8.png

http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/...achnids/f7.png

http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/...hnids/f6-1.png

http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/...hnids/f5-1.png

http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/...hnids/f4-1.png

http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/...hnids/f3-1.png

What does everyone think???


Thanks,

What is humidity in the tub at and are you positive that what its being read by is accurate? I would mist her once a day until she sheds. Is there something rough in her tub that she can rub against to shed? Like a rock or piece of bark.

It just looks like the humidity is too low for her.

I agree with Mike that it does not appear that she has the proper humidity. Depending on what you're using as a gauge, it could be innacurate. I would recommend putting her in a shed bag for an hour just to moisten her up. Get a pillowcase or snake bag and wet it with warm water. Then place her in it and close it where she cant get out of the bag. Put that in a tub with a lid and let her be for about an hour. Once she actually sheds this is a great way to let her remove any of the stuck shed that did not come off on it's own, which from the looks of it you will likely have.

As Mike said, when they are going into shed you should spray them at least once if not twice a day. If you are using plastic hides, lift up her warm side and spray the underside of the hide as well.

I am using the AcuRight from wal-mart for humidity. Its saying it is 65% humidity. I keep her water bowel over the flexwatt to keep the humidity up.

All thats in her tub is her hides and her water bowel. Same set up for every other snake and they have never had a problem shedding.

Idk maybe the accurite is reading wrong? Im not sure, it just doesnt look like it. I would definetly mist her twice a day.

All of mine just have a hide and water dish too, im just saying since shes young it may help her to have something to aid her. Not all bps learn everything as fast haha.

3 different acurights though?

I tried soakimg her last night in a tupperware container wth slightly warm water amd a soaked rag. Didnt work at all. I could try the misting.

Oh idk. Thats weird then.

Yea i would try the misting then.

I've had bad luck with Acurites. I've had 2 out of 4 wrong.

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Maybe all three are wrong then if satomi's had a 50% failure rate?

What do you use instead of accurite nikki?

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

Maybe all three are wrong then if satomi's had a 50% failure rate?

What do you use instead of accurite nikki?

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For temps I use a temp gun. And for humidity, I use the two Acurites that read the same. But since I get perfect sheds without condensation building on the side of the tubs, I don't worry about the numbers so much anymore. But I do know it's at least 60. The humidity of room temps and outdoor temps is 50-55% according to the weather forecast. And it stays that pretty much all year round. So the rack humidity is definitely a little higher.

I've been thinking about investing in dial hygrometers made for musical instrument cases. I used to have a heavy duty high quality one for my violin. Worked perfectly.


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Maybe she just didn't rub off her shed if she's stressed? I would use the wet pillow case, make sure she can't get out, and put her in it, then pillow case in her tub over the flexwatt side so she stays warm. Check an hour or so later.

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To be honest i dont even have anything that measures humidity. I know that the humidity is always fine, where i live at least, and at nite it gets a boost bc the room is small and i share it with my brother. When i see them going into shed i mist once or twice a day. Like 2 weeks ago 7 out of my 8 snakes shed out within the same couple of days and they all had perfect sheds.

To me that just doesnt look like shes in 65% humidity... Idk though.

This happened to me yesterday, completely out of the blue as well. My little normal and my lesser went into shed at the same time. I went away to work for a few days, came home and my lesser shed perfectly, and my normal looked like Freyja. They are in the same rack and identical tubs. I had never had a bead shed before. I think it's the really humid weather in Southern Ontario we've had this summer, maybe the little ones just can't handle it?

I got it all off in one piece by putting him in a wet pillow case with a wet towel in his tub for about an hour. Then I started to gently roll it down from his head. Came off perfectly, in one piece.

Good luck with her!

The extreme humid weather is causing it? You think its too humid for them to shed out liv?

That seems odd lol.

From time to time, shed does get stuck, even with good humidity. Some snakes just don't seem to know to start the shed peeling. I'm think this is what has happened to her. She is ready to shed, but just didn't rub and get it started.

If that is the case, when you pick her up the shed will be loose and crinkly under your hands. Gently pinch a bit of it up near her head, try and get it started for her. Generally they'll finish it on their own then.

Gale

Has she been checked for parasites?

Take a one gallon plastic coffee container and fill it with warm water. Put some holes in the lid and soak her in it overnight. I just did this with my baby 1.0 normal as he looked like a poor shed was un-avoidable. In the morning he had a completey clean shed with everything just soaking off in the coffee can.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by coreydelong

Take a one gallon plastic coffee container and fill it with warm water. Put some holes in the lid and soak her in it overnight. I just did this with my baby 1.0 normal as he looked like a poor shed was un-avoidable. In the morning he had a completey clean shed with everything just soaking off in the coffee can.

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I would not leave my snake this long in water. Im surprised your snake didnt drown, they arent really meant to be swimmers.

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

The extreme humid weather is causing it? You think its too humid for them to shed out liv?

That seems odd lol.

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I meant really dry. :P

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Originally Posted by liv

I meant really dry. :P

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ya i thought so but couldnt pass up the oppurtunity to harass you lmao

Quote:

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Originally Posted by coreydelong

Take a one gallon plastic coffee container and fill it with warm water. Put some holes in the lid and soak her in it overnight. I just did this with my baby 1.0 normal as he looked like a poor shed was un-avoidable. In the morning he had a completey clean shed with everything just soaking off in the coffee can.

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I agree with Mike.
I wouldn't do this either. One hour with the damp pillowcase method is much safer and less stressful on the snake. Heck, I would rather get the humidity up and wait for the snake to do its thing during the next shed cycle. 30 mins to an hour would be the longest I leave ball in water if I ever had to try soaking one... Leaving a ball python in water overnight doesn't sound safe to me. And what about water temp? Doesn't it get too cold? Its recommended to use 80-85 degree water if one wanted to soak their snake. If I left a snake in water overnight, clearly the water temp would drop and loose it's heat. I'd rather not risk an RI to a cold soak for a stuck shed.....

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by coreydelong

Take a one gallon plastic coffee container and fill it with warm water. Put some holes in the lid and soak her in it overnight. I just did this with my baby 1.0 normal as he looked like a poor shed was un-avoidable. In the morning he had a completey clean shed with everything just soaking off in the coffee can.

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This doesn't sound like a good idea at all. :(

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Not FULL.... just like 2" in the bottom. It's no different than seeing one of my snakes sit in the water bowl for a day before a shed....

Sometimes babies are kinda stupid. You gotta help them out a little.

Eit for temp- my ambient house temp is 82F, so I don't think the temp was an issue either.

agree with everyone humidty too lowe ( might be evaping out fast to the point she not benafiting from it. I use a pillow case and a wet washrag or hand towel forthem to rub onin the bag. then just take a wet rag and whipe them down as I remove them from the bag later in the day. ( leave bag in tub )

Quote:

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Originally Posted by coreydelong

Not FULL.... just like 2" in the bottom. It's no different than seeing one of my snakes sit in the water bowl for a day before a shed....

Sometimes babies are kinda stupid. You gotta help them out a little.

Eit for temp- my ambient house temp is 82F, so I don't think the temp was an issue either.

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I imagine not full. But water shouldn't go more than half way up their sides. 2 inches sounds a lot for babies. As you mentioned, some babies aren't the brightest and can't keep their heads up. Either way, its unnecessary stress. And I don't agree with the method. Snakes don't need baths ever. There are better ways to deal with shedding issues.

Shed or not, its not normal behavior for a ball python to soak. I'd check for mites or other issues. Bathing before a shed will strip the essential oils needed to shed. The oils act like a lubricant for the skin to slide off in one or mostly one piece. No oils, the shed won't go well and come off in pieces.

Just my $.02.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by DrDooLittle

Maybe she just didn't rub off her shed if she's stressed? I would use the wet pillow case, make sure she can't get out, and put her in it, then pillow case in her tub over the flexwatt side so she stays warm. Check an hour or so later.

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Just did this for an hour and absolutely no change. :( Ill do it again tomorrow but for 2 hours.

Joey get it started by rubbing her head a bit and then put your hand fully around her to roll it down her body. I'm on my phone so I can't find the link, but there's a video of a lady doing it if you youtube stuck shed

Quote:

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Originally Posted by liv

Joey get it started by rubbing her head a bit and then put your hand fully around her to roll it down her body. I'm on my phone so I can't find the link, but there's a video of a lady doing it if you youtube stuck shed

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I tried this allready to no avail.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by satomi325

I imagine not full. But water shouldn't go more than half way up their sides. 2 inches sounds a lot for babies. As you mentioned, some babies aren't the brightest and can't keep their heads up. Either way, its unnecessary stress. And I don't agree with the method. Snakes don't need baths ever. There are better ways to deal with shedding issues.

Shed or not, its not normal behavior for a ball python to soak. I'd check for mites or other issues. Bathing before a shed will strip the essential oils needed to shed. The oils act like a lubricant for the skin to slide off in one or mostly one piece. No oils, the shed won't go well and come off in pieces.

Just my $.02.

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I agree. Ive never seen my bps soaking before a shed. They wouldnt be able to bc their water bowls arent big enough. Ive never seen them even try to. Sometimes pregnant females may, but its not normal for a bp to. I also do not believe that the coffee can method sounds like the best idea.

Take it to a vet. Sometimes parasites can cause shedding troubles.

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Originally Posted by meowmeowkazoo

Take it to a vet. Sometimes parasites can cause shedding troubles.

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This ^ might be a good idea. Since she was little and a troublesome eater, now the shed. Check up couldn't hurt.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by satomi325

Shed or not, its not normal behavior for a ball python to soak.

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I'm glad you said this, I thought there was something wrong with my BP, since everyone always insists you have a bowl large enough to soak in....but he NEVER soaks. In fact, he seems to quite despise it. Occasionally you'll find him with his head hovering over the top of the bowl, but never submersed. He seems to prefer hugging around his moss bowls or hiding in his moss hide. He recently had a bad shed, his first in his new tank and he quite surprised me with it. He didn't act at all like he does when he normally goes into a shed, he was out cruising about, eating, and one day I noticed he was looking very dull, so I figured he was going into shed and started misting his cage. Next day he sheds! I could tell he was going to have a bad time of it as it was coming off in pieces and he was really working at it. I bumped up the humidity some more and the next day tried soaking him for the first time. He hated it. The entire time he kept the three inches down from his head out of the water, propped up against the side of the tub in a clear, plaintive, "Whyyyyyyyy????". And as such, he has a patch on his neck I wasn't able to get off. :\ I've been keeping the humidity up, and he still seems to be actively getting it off. Should I just leave this till next shed or try soaking him to get it off again? He really didn't seem to like me going near his head with the washcloth to try and get it off, I'd rather not stress him if it's not a big deal to have some left-over patchy shed.

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Originally Posted by OmNomNom

I'm glad you said this, I thought there was something wrong with my BP, since everyone always insists you have a bowl large enough to soak in....but he NEVER soaks. In fact, he seems to quite despise it. Occasionally you'll find him with his head hovering over the top of the bowl, but never submersed. He seems to prefer hugging around his moss bowls or hiding in his moss hide. He recently had a bad shed, his first in his new tank and he quite surprised me with it. He didn't act at all like he does when he normally goes into a shed, he was out cruising about, eating, and one day I noticed he was looking very dull, so I figured he was going into shed and started misting his cage. Next day he sheds! I could tell he was going to have a bad time of it as it was coming off in pieces and he was really working at it. I bumped up the humidity some more and the next day tried soaking him for the first time. He hated it. The entire time he kept the three inches down from his head out of the water, propped up against the side of the tub in a clear, plaintive, "Whyyyyyyyy????". And as such, he has a patch on his neck I wasn't able to get off. :\ I've been keeping the humidity up, and he still seems to be actively getting it off. Should I just leave this till next shed or try soaking him to get it off again? He really didn't seem to like me going near his head with the washcloth to try and get it off, I'd rather not stress him if it's not a big deal to have some left-over patchy shed.

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If its just a little bit on his neck, I wouldn't worry about it. He'll shed it off during the next shed if your humidity is good.

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