New snake owner, New snake, Bad shed- Please help.

Hello-
I just got a year-ish old lemon blast two weeks ago. He'd just fed a couple days prior, and he hasn't eaten yet. Lucky me, he's also going through a shed.
I've got a UTH, uvb and heat, and nightime heat lamp. I bought a 40 gallon for him so he'd have room to grow, but I've got four or five hides and some foliage so that it's not too open.

I've been using aspen shavings- that's what they had him in at the pet store- and a carpet substrate to see how it worked out.


He's going through a terrible shed. I've misted the tank several times daily, whenever the gauge dipped, but he's having a terrible time and peeling in pieces.
I let him soak for about 45 mins this morning, and that's certainly helping, but I didn't want to add to his stress too much by having to handle him with a moist wash cloth to help him shed.

Could there be an underlying illness with the snake, or do bad sheds just happen sometimes? He'd been eating pretty regularly according to his feed chart- about every other week, if not every week. He seems fine, hiding mostly, sometimes exploring and tongue-flicking. I haven't seen him rub much to try to remove his shed himself, but now that it's started pretty well, should I give him some time to do his thing, or should I just let him soak again and use a washcloth to help him out?

Any tips or suggestions to help me out? I'm getting pretty anxious here.

I am not too sure why it happens but when a ball python is in the care of a new owner, it seems the first shed with the new owner is always a bad one... I had this problem for a while. I thought of it as a coincidence but it happens too often for it to be. :confusd: After this shed, your BP should shed normally. I wouldn't jump to "sick ball python" right away. That would cause you unnecessary stress, bad sheds happens, whether it be on the part of the owner or the BP itself.

Get a DAMP pillow case and stick him in it for 20 minutes and place it on the warm end of the enclosure. This should loosen the shed enough for it to be pulled off.

i too am a new snake owner but i own a few, and i love handling my snakes so when thy are going into shed i bath them and add a lil aloe vera to the water and play with them while they swim so they know that i am there while they swim and i let them rest on my hand as they are often blind at the time, also keep misting the tank keeping in mind you will have to change out the substrait(sp) as soon as he has shed, i also add aloe to the mist that i spay them with, and regular water for the tank, then if i have an open top tank i wet a towel and leave it on top of 3/4 of the tank not touching the light and yet keeping the moisture in i like to keep the humidity at 65-70 when in shed so you will have to re-wet the towel often to keep the humidity up...and if the shed is still bad then i bathe and wipe with towels at least once to twice a day i have pushed away more eyecaps than you can believe they will usually let me do it i try to think to myself "self how would they scrape their heads in the wild" lol then i proceed and push from the nose back with the towel or wash rag, they usually just snuggle down and let me do it, I would advise VERY STRONGLY AGAINST USING TWEEZERS as some you tube videos show because my snakes are spastic when they are blind, and even when they are not...
to make your aloe mist
put 3 Table spoons pure clear aloe in a spray bottle add 16 oz of warm water replace lid shake well before each use...sometimes it will clog the nozzle but if you keep it near but not touching your heat lamp it usually stays liquid, if clogs just rinse well or soak in hot water...keep us posted on this...ours seem to she fine now...

thanks for that good info!!!

First, a good shed starts when the humidity is appropriate while the new skin is forming. I'm guessing your snake was too dry at the pet store.

Second, you state that you have to mist the tank a lot to keep the humidity up. No surprise given that it's a 40-breeder with lights. Do you have any kind of a cover on it to keep the heat and humidity inside the tank? Also UV lights are unnecessary for ball pythons.

Third, I hope you've got thermostats regulating those lights and the UTH, or your setup will be both too dry and too hot for your snake.

Are you using a digital thermometer/hygrometer to measure your temps and humidity? You said gauges so I was wondering if it was those stick on dial ones, which can be very inaccurate.

If you don't have one, there is a $12 Accurite at Walmart. I'm pretty sure you can find them at any hardware store but I found mine there.

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I also use a 40 gal breeder for my snake. I have cypress mulch to aid in humidity, it doesn't mold if it gets wet, as aspen sometimes will. I have to keep the lid covered with aluminum foil and a damp warm towel to retain the humidity. When I see that my snake is starting to get dull and a pink belly I place damp moss in his favorite hide and add extra towels on the screen. This keeps the humidity around 65-75%. Just make sure the towels don't touch the lights.

I don't use an UTH, but have heard that you can put the water bowl over that as well to help boost humidity. As long as you keep your humidity up, he should not have bad sheds in the future. Good Luck



I have pics of my set up on my profile page if you need a visual aid :)
Seeing other peoples' set ups helped me a lot

I gave him a second soak and he shed all those bits. Now he's in a nice, clean cage and seems to be in a chiller mood.

Thanks for the info about the digital theromostat. I considered getting one over the gauge that I had, but it was way cheaper than the gauge options so I wasn't sure how credible it could be. I'll definitely get two of the digital ones to keep an eye on each side.

I think that humidity is okay- at least now that he's done with his shed. His tank is next to a 30 gal aquarium so the room stays fairly humid. The temperature I've checked with two thermometers and the ambient is 80-82 with the cooler side being 77. The UTH doesn't take up too much space, but he tends to stick around that area, so I imagine it's pretty comfortable there.
The wet towel idea is great. I've been covering the wire top- aside where the lights are - to help it retain more moisture. I've also moved his water closer to the light instead of leaving it on the cool side, so that might help with that.


I don't have anything regulating the UTH or the lamps, but I wasn't aware that was a necessity. I switch them at night and things seem consistent.
I'll look into upgrading from my starter stuff, regardless.

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Originally Posted by Fstarr

Thanks for the info about the digital theromostat.

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The info was about a digital thermometer. A thermometer measures temperature. A thermostat regulates heat sources.

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I don't have anything regulating the UTH or the lamps, but I wasn't aware that was a necessity.

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Then go kick the pet shop employee who sold you everything, that is the #1 most important piece of equipment you can purchase. Without a thermostat a UTH can get hot enough to burn your snake in minutes. Go unplug the UTH before you have to pay for a vet bill and a thermostat.

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Originally Posted by Merk

i too am a new snake owner but i own a few, and i love handling my snakes so when thy are going into shed i bath them and add a lil aloe vera to the water and play with them while they swim so they know that i am there while they swim and i let them rest on my hand as they are often blind at the time, also keep misting the tank keeping in mind you will have to change out the substrait(sp) as soon as he has shed, i also add aloe to the mist that i spay them with, and regular water for the tank, then if i have an open top tank i wet a towel and leave it on top of 3/4 of the tank not touching the light and yet keeping the moisture in i like to keep the humidity at 65-70 when in shed so you will have to re-wet the towel often to keep the humidity up...and if the shed is still bad then i bathe and wipe with towels at least once to twice a day i have pushed away more eyecaps than you can believe they will usually let me do it i try to think to myself "self how would they scrape their heads in the wild" lol then i proceed and push from the nose back with the towel or wash rag, they usually just snuggle down and let me do it, I would advise VERY STRONGLY AGAINST USING TWEEZERS as some you tube videos show because my snakes are spastic when they are blind, and even when they are not...
to make your aloe mist
put 3 Table spoons pure clear aloe in a spray bottle add 16 oz of warm water replace lid shake well before each use...sometimes it will clog the nozzle but if you keep it near but not touching your heat lamp it usually stays liquid, if clogs just rinse well or soak in hot water...keep us posted on this...ours seem to she fine now...

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I can't tell you how many posts I've seen over the years that say, "I try to keep my humidity up when my snakes go into shed". By that time, it's like closing the barn door after the cows are already out. The key to a good shed is to maintain the humidity at recommended levels at all times.

What do you think you're accomplishing by putting aloe vera on your snakes? I've never heard of this trick before...I'm thinking there's probably a reason why I've never heard of it, but I'm always looking to learn new things.

I'm glad you advise VERY STRONGLY AGAINST USING TWEEZERS on your snake's retained eye caps. I would further advise not to mess with your snake's retained eye caps in ANY way what so ever. Really really bad things can happen when you do anything to muck around with eye caps. If you're having that many problems with retained eye caps, you should really take a hard look at your husbandry.

I just read through this... and there are some good suggestions here, but some bad ones as well. I'm a VERY new snake owner, but I like to think I've done my homework and try to listen to the snake owners and breeders with what works (and about 99% of the time, that's what just makes sense).

Just to put them all in one place... then if I miss something or it's said in error, anyone with more knowledge, please correct me...

1. Humidity. 50%-60% at all times is good and in the 70%'s during shed is good. Keeping it around 70% all the time isn't a bad thing.
2. Thermostat - as stated - possibly the single most important thing in your setup. For a UTH, it's a must. lights, CHE's, and RHP's can be put on a dimmer switch, but all are even better when controlled by a thermostat of some kind.
3. Heat - You should have a warm spot, where the surface of the enclosure is around 90 degrees. A UTH on a thermostat will get this for you easily. Hot spot of 90-92, Cool/opposite side of the tank can be mid-high 70's, and your ambients will vary depending on type of enclosure, room temp, etc... best if in the high 70's-mid 80's.
4. Sheds - If your temps and humidity are in check consistently, this should not be any issue. As Slim referred to above, I think some problems come from low humidty and people try to raise it when the snake "go blue". This can work, but at this point, the snake is already into the shed process. Maintaining a constant humidity is a better approach, from what I have read and understand.
5. Bathing/soaking - Unless recommended by a good Herp Vet - I would not do it, and will never do it with my snake(s). I have yet to read where BP's benefit from it really. The water is more likely to break down and remove the natural oils that the snake's skin produces. This could result in dryer skin. Bathing also seems to stress the snake. It's not something most BP's normally do under their own power unless they are trying to get relief from mites.

Sounds like you're on the right track... just get the heat regulated with a t-stat of some kind and try to keep humidity up and you'll likely see a rather quick turn-around with this guy. :)

Oh my go and get a thermostat asap that under tank heat pad will burn your Snake also get a temp gun if you don't have one so you can spot check .

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My 40 gallon Breeder tank works well after I learned to cover most of the top and I am using Bark chips now makes all the difference

Sent from my SGH-T999

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Originally Posted by Slim

I can't tell you how many posts I've seen over the years that say, "I try to keep my humidity up when my snakes go into shed". By that time, it's like closing the barn door after the cows are already out. The key to a good shed is to maintain the humidity at recommended levels at all times.

What do you think you're accomplishing by putting aloe vera on your snakes? I've never heard of this trick before...I'm thinking there's probably a reason why I've never heard of it, but I'm always looking to learn new things.

I'm glad you advise VERY STRONGLY AGAINST USING TWEEZERS on your snake's retained eye caps. I would further advise not to mess with your snake's retained eye caps in ANY way what so ever. Really really bad things can happen when you do anything to muck around with eye caps. If you're having that many problems with retained eye caps, you should really take a hard look at your husbandry.

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Well as i have been collecting snakes since November 2015 and now own 10 and each snake has a rough shed after transport due to stress and adjusting i am assuming they have a rough time with their shed EVERY time,as I read that earlier and thought there must be something to that? Hmmm, so 10 new snakes in 4 months I think I am going to come across a difficult dry stressed shed Ummmm often? so because I do TONS of research on things that matter to me I went and did a simple easy little tiny google search on DIY reptile shed aid, you will be amazed at how many other snake owners love their snakes like I do and research so they can know what they are spraying onto their beautiful animals instead of trusting some silly industry to do the work for them...my husbandry will ALWAYS be improving because i do not pretend to know all ways to skin a snake tho I love my animals, and i am not willing to wait for 2 sheds to make sure my snakes can see and stress him/her out further, as I KNOW HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY REMOVE THEM...without harm or danger to the animal...not one has suffered as a result of my love and care, being a mother of 7 children, you learn QUICKLY and WELL how to think about the safety of what you love...and if my snake was out in the wild and scrubbing his/her face on things to remove his eyecaps I am relatively certain a bath a few mists with aloe water and a rub with terrycloth isn't going to blind him...Just sayin...maybe your snakes could use a lil more love and affection? what i have learned i have learned in 4 months and i am LOVEING EVERY Minute OF IT and my snakes are fat, precious and loving babies...just remember RESEARCH GOES A LONG WAY!!! if i have REAL concerns i go to REAL breeders, like Underground and Bob Clark or my Vet with MY real concerns however when it is something little I RESEARCH, i know that is a new concept to this generation but you can't get all you need from a forum tho some of the ideas are AWESOME... and some not so much help... so some of us like to contribute to the forum what wonders we have learned and others just want to make drama so go to fb to create your dram cause it shouldn't live here.

If you want to see how effective my advise really is you may go to my pix and see if my snakes are shedding well enuf for taking ACTUAL advise over drama.. i also use 10-47 and 76 gallon tanks tanks, and still get this kind of sheds keeping the tops wet with towels and covered...and the humidity up..

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Originally Posted by Merk

Well as i have been collecting snakes since November 2015 and now own 10

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Ten in three months is a lot. How did you quarantine them?

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and each snake has a rough shed after transport due to stress and adjusting i am assuming they have a rough time with their shed EVERY time

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They shouldn't be. If they are continuing to have bad sheds then there is a problem with your husbandry. I've also never had a snake with a bad shed due to stress and adjusting.

BTW did you ever get any thermostats?

OP It would be cool if you have some updates, I myself love learning things with research the icing on the cake for
me is someone with years under their belt with hands on is wonderful. Any how please share your results it helps everyone learn.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Ten in three months is a lot. How did you quarantine them?


They shouldn't be. If they are continuing to have bad sheds then there is a problem with your husbandry. I've also never had a snake with a bad shed due to stress and adjusting.

BTW did you ever get any thermostats?

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I have had thermostats, temp guns, humidity gauges, humidifiers proper bedding, heat lamps not the uv but the night glow, we have under tank heater not the heat rocks, warm hide and cool hide water bowls they can fit in tanks with lids, paper towels, safe disinfectants, scale and bowls for weighing, sexing kit and lube and i have made almost every kind of tracking chart i can possibly need..How hard is it to google a ball python care sheet...REALLY??? I mean do people REALLY go into buy animals with no research and no equipment, guess what we even have a routine... and my snakes come to me when i call so i think we are doing ok...
I do not understand how you do not quarantine them they each get their own tank they will not touch or be near each other until they breed by that time in a year and a half we should automatically know what they have right or wrong with them, wouldn't it be foolish to keep them together at all??? I mean i thought big ones can eat little ones, i could be wrong as i do not pretend to know everything as I HAVE ONLY been collecting for 4 months however common sense goes a long way...in any type of husbandry...so i do not keep them together they share no space so i guess i do not understand the question, and i know what to look for with mites and only buy from reputable people like Bob Clark & underground etc (they are really pretty reliable) as i learned a hard lesson from the local pet store who i will no longer purchase through...
I have had a few who have had bad sheds due to stressful change in their environment and my learning how to keep the humidity in the cage but when i didn't know I RESEARCHED and then the shed was ever so easy to deal with, i am still waiting on 4 to shed and have had VERY SUCCESSFUL SHEDS since i started doing what i have stated before, i mean i may be wrong but I thought a good shed was one whole piece that they just slither out of? but i am sure people here have preformed something much greater than that??? we get those when the snake gets used to our routine...so I think i will stick with my horrific husbandry approaches as I have FABULOUSLY GORGEOUS HEALTHY HAPPY SNAKES!!!

Keep up the good work sounds like your Baby is gonna be spoiled.........

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Temp guns, digital thermometers, space age this, space age that.....I wonder how my snakes survived all of these years with no temp gun, regular non space age thermometer, etc. My room is 68 to 72 in the winter. Summer 76 to 78. My cage has an under tank heater with outdoor carpet as flooring. Incandescent light bulb on 12 hour timer. Humidifier runs in the house during the winter. Total success since 1980 with all of the snakes I have ever owned. Plus I successfully accomplished this without the internet. Are BP"s different and need "space age" cage conditions? To those that say yes, well I guess I got a couple of dud snakes. Mine eat every 4, 5, 7, or 10 days (no schedule here) and are very happy snakes and oh by the way living in the same cage. No horror stories here since 1980.

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Originally Posted by Momokahn

Temp guns, digital thermometers, space age this, space age that.....I wonder how my snakes survived all of these years with no temp gun, regular non space age thermometer, etc. My room is 68 to 72 in the winter. Summer 76 to 78. My cage has an under tank heater with outdoor carpet as flooring. Incandescent light bulb on 12 hour timer. Humidifier runs in the house during the winter. Total success since 1980 with all of the snakes I have ever owned. Plus I successfully accomplished this without the internet. Are BP"s different and need "space age" cage conditions? To those that say yes, well I guess I got a couple of dud snakes. Mine eat every 4, 5, 7, or 10 days (no schedule here) and are very happy snakes and oh by the way living in the same cage. No horror stories here since 1980.

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This is refreshing - thanks for toning things down. I do think it's very important to have a thermostat with UTH though, I was shocked to find out how hot those things get. I would just like to say I bought my baby when she was in a shed from the pet store and she shed in one beautiful piece. Strive towards proper humidity for the next shed. No bath, no special solution sprayed on her, just high humidity. I can appreciate everyone has a different way of caring for their pets just as people raise their children differently. As long as you provide them with food, water, and proper shelter they should be okay.

Not trying to to be rude but since Valentine has been decided to be our only pet probably ever I have a hard time understanding why people would want to go get 10 in less than a year... What's wrong with having one or two pets lol but hey who am I to judge I just hope none of them ever have to be rehomed or given to rescues because that seems to be a very large growing problem. These pets are lifetime commitments what happens if something unexpected happens to you and instead of 1 snake needing care 10 need figuring out.

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Originally Posted by Merk

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You do realize you're getting all high and mighty about your 10 little snakes and 3 months experience with ACTUAL breeders who have had 100 ' s of snakes over years if not decades who's actual practical experience puts yours to shame and are daily trying to help new people by passing on that experience? (I'm not talking about myself.)

Just saying...I can google how to remove an appendix, doesn't mean a surgeon wouldn't do it better and have better techniques.


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Originally Posted by Momokahn

Temp guns, digital thermometers, space age this, space age that.....I wonder how my snakes survived all of these years with no temp gun, regular non space age thermometer, etc. My room is 68 to 72 in the winter. Summer 76 to 78. My cage has an under tank heater with outdoor carpet as flooring. Incandescent light bulb on 12 hour timer. Humidifier runs in the house during the winter. Total success since 1980 with all of the snakes I have ever owned. Plus I successfully accomplished this without the internet. Are BP"s different and need "space age" cage conditions? To those that say yes, well I guess I got a couple of dud snakes. Mine eat every 4, 5, 7, or 10 days (no schedule here) and are very happy snakes and oh by the way living in the same cage. No horror stories here since 1980.

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giggles without good husbandry makes me wonder how they survive in the wild for millennia?LOLOLOL?? that is why when someone says something about someone's husbandry it just gets me giggles because they cannot see what the snake would have lived like otherwise (in the wild...) that is why when i remove and eyecap with terrycloth i do not burst a head gasket because they would have to scrub it on bark or dirt gravel or what have you, germs, pathogens,parasites etc and other painful dangerous things so a lil massage with a towel doesn't scare me much...I mean HOW ON EARTH DID THEY LIVE WITHOUT US all of those years??? LOLOLOLOLOLOL my answer to that is THEY ARE TOUGHER THAN WE GIVE THEM CREDIT just like children... thanx for all the good info thanx for the info that wasn't so impressive i value all who contribute intelligence and research weather lived or read...many thanx...

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Originally Posted by SmoothScales

You do realize you're getting all high and mighty about your 10 little snakes and 3 months experience with ACTUAL breeders who have had 100 ' s of snakes over years if not decades who's actual practical experience puts yours to shame and are daily trying to help new people by passing on that experience? (I'm not talking about myself.)

Just saying...I can google how to remove an appendix, doesn't mean a surgeon wouldn't do it better and have better techniques.


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no one was bragging dear, or being high and mighty just disgusted with judgements of things they have never seen, I said i have 10 snakes in a short time because I have experienced somethings they were saying otherwise...if someone as GREEN as i am can get good sheds right after they learn a few things is meant to comfort someone(original post) and tell what you can LEARN in a short time, then to get verbally attacked by people who have had MUCH MUCH more experience was irritating because OF COURSE my husbandry needs work WHO's DOESN'T as i stated I TOO AM A NEW SNAKE OWNER??? this wasn't about me I was merely offering my KNOWLEDGE of what I have EXPERIENCED and my husbandry (that i will put against anyone on here form what i have read) was attacked because the few who are going at me have not stones to let their snakes be snakes...no wonder they need to buy "balls"

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Originally Posted by Merk

Well as i have been collecting snakes since November 2015 and now own 10 and each snake has a rough shed after transport due to stress and adjusting i am assuming they have a rough time with their shed EVERY time,as I read that earlier and thought there must be something to that? Hmmm, so 10 new snakes in 4 months I think I am going to come across a difficult dry stressed shed Ummmm often? so because I do TONS of research on things that matter to me I went and did a simple easy little tiny google search on DIY reptile shed aid, you will be amazed at how many other snake owners love their snakes like I do and research so they can know what they are spraying onto their beautiful animals instead of trusting some silly industry to do the work for them...my husbandry will ALWAYS be improving because i do not pretend to know all ways to skin a snake tho I love my animals, and i am not willing to wait for 2 sheds to make sure my snakes can see and stress him/her out further, as I KNOW HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY REMOVE THEM...

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Well, with all your vast experience, what could possibly go wrong :rolleyes:

Go with God...

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Originally Posted by Slim

Well, with all your vast experience, what could possibly go wrong :rolleyes:

Go with God...

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Yes you are right i do Go with much prayer to God , for the well being of my animals as it doesn't take much knowledge to take care of and OUT DOOR PET who if they were in the wild wouldn't even need my help..I MEAN DUH takes real brains, they must be so frail for you to be so worried, I just posted another of my horribly failed attempt at helping my snake shed I JUST SUCK AT THIS!!! I MEAN I Like LETTING ANIMALS BE ANIMALS!!! wow what a concept I mean they have been doing it for so many more years than I HAVE BEEN AROUND TO SAVE THEM!!! LOL I mean how did they survive without your GREAT HUSBANDS!!! BWAHAHAHHA

Well, I guess as I see it, they live in the wild in sub-Saharan Africa. . .the weather's a little different there than here ;). It might not take a lot of fussing to keep them healthy if you live in Ghana, but it's bound to be a bit more difficult here on the tundra :P.