Shed question

So, I've had my snake for about 2 months now, and it hasn't shed yet. It's still young (only about 18-24 inches) so I thought it should be shedding soon. It's belly looks (under certain conditions) lightly pink. He's starting to get what look like a lot of little clear hangnails sprouting from under his scales. Is this a normal part of his shedding process??


thanks

Could you post pics? Doesn't sound normal but maybe you're wording it funny...

What size of feeder are you feeding and how often?

I don't think I'm gonna be able to take pics; their too small to focus on. If you hold the snake in front of a solid colored object, you can kinda see them (hat just sounds retarded right there)

I'm feeding an adult mouse or hopper rat once a week (I'm gonna dial it back since I hope he'll be shedding soon...)


it wouldn't be a humidity problem would it?? He seems to be eating just fine (I fed him on Friday and he just passed some urates today)

How often do they shed anyways? I have my girl since a month too, and nothing yet: ) But no blue eyes or anything, no sings.

That sounds a bit light on the feeding. 18 inches usually are in the 500-800 gm area typically most choose to feed 10% of the weight. With little guys I personally feed about 10% but every 5 days. I have a little guy currently about that size he is 675 gm and is getting a large weanling or small small (hate the rat size names) every 5-7 days (depending on if it is a bit small or a bit big.)

It sounds like a shed and sounds due pics would be helpful however. What is your temps and humidity like (warm, cool, and air)?

When I got Allure I thought he was going into shed because his belly was that (typical) fleshy whiteish pink. When you see real pink belly it's unmistakeable. I don't know about the things you're talking about, but my guy is going through his second shed with me. I've owned him since late January. So it's about every two months for him (he's 7 months old).

The air is about 75-80F; as for humidity I can't be sure; I'm gonna go grab an accurite today from Wally Mart. I'll try to get some pics, but like I said earlier their really small and hard to see.

http://us-mg6.mail.yahoo.com/ya/down...Inbox&inline=1

You can kinda see one right there at the top of the picture, about a quarter of the way down. The high light contrast is needed to make it stand out, but they are appearing along his whole length currently, and are actually clear and are the size of one scale each. There are none on his belly, and when I hold him they will stick to my hand and come off like fish scales. His actual scales seem fine, so Im not sure what the issue is.

The temperature/humidity is as follows:

cold side: 78F
hot side: About 85F
humidity: 37%

Temperatures read with my new Acurite 00891 thermometer/hygrometer (YES!!!)

Maybe it's just me, but I can't see a picture. Did you upload the photo to a image sharing site and paste in the [IMG] code?

I'd try bumping up the humidity. If your Bp is going into shed, you should try to aim for the 60-70% area.

I think that I was just looking at the snake too closely. He's getting into she'd mode now; his eyes are currently blue (just turned today) so I figure he should be shedding in about 5 more days??

I'm also increasing the humidity by placing damp paper towels on top of the tank lid and by misting the bedding. Any other thoughts??

No, when you were seeing the pink belly, that was the start of shed. I should have taken a picture of Angelina's belly when she started, man was she pink!

Here's a very good stickied thread on the process: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...edding-Process

I start spraying down the bedding as soon as I notice the snake going into pink and try to keep it around 80% until I see shed skin. I'm using tubs so I'm just spraying down the substrate and that works for 2-3 days, but with a tank and a light you're going to have to spray probably two or more times a day. It's especially important to keep humidity up once they're in blue and beyond. I've sprayed down a paper towel and laid it over the top of the warm side hide before and that also worked. You could also create a humid hide with some moss that is thoroughly wetted but not dripping to give your snake an option if it needs more humidity.

Do these parameters look good??

Warm side temperature: 85F
Cool side temperature:74F
Humidity: 77%

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mephibosheth1

Do these parameters look good??

Warm side temperature: 85F
Cool side temperature:74F
Humidity: 77%

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Id try to aim for at least 88 on the warm side and at least 78 on the cool side.

Humidity is good for an in-shed Bp.

It's normal for them to jut sit in their hide during the shed, right??
he started clearing up Thursday, and has been sitting in his hide for all but the first day he was clouded up...
The hide is on the cool side and the water bowl is on the warm side.

warm temp: 88F
cold temp: 76F
humidity: 75%

Yep it's normal. Mine will hide all shed. They are more vulnerable during shed so it makes sense they would feel the need to stay hidden more so than normal.

Edit: and if you only have a hide on the cool side I would suggest adding another of the same hide to the warm side. You don't want him staying on the cool side and not thermoregulating just so he feels secure. I keep a hide on both sides and he picks as he feels fit.

I have him in a 10 gallon right now, and 2 hides and a water dish won't fit...
should I move the water and put the hide on the warm side, or should I take the water out entirely and put the hide in the middle.....

im going to be putting him in a 20 gallon tank as soon as he sheds, but is it a problem now??

Here are some picture links for the cage setup; sorry their crappy quality wise.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/.../photo%201.JPG
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/.../photo%202.JPG



Im starting to get worried; his eyes have been clear for the last 2 days, but he doesn't seem to be moving around or anything; he just sits in his hide curled up. Im concerned that since his hide is on the cold side, he may not be wanting to leave due to the exposed environment on the warm side....

Please help; Im sure its probably nothing but Im a little OCD when it comes to stress situations, and this is my first shed!!!