My poor baby...

My baby started shedding sometime yesterday morning/afternoon. This is as far as his shedding has gotten. I have checked his tank over and can't find any skin in it. What can I do to help him out. He looks so sickly right now with all this sagging skin. Thanks for all the help.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...02fd23311e.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...c54c5481b6.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...18db7d984d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...235e15eb9e.jpg


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If you can bump his humidity up, that's huge for getting good clean sheds. At this point I would give him a soak for a couple hours in a small tub. Use luke warm water, try to match his temp so you don't shock him, about an inch deep. Make sure the tub breaths with cap on, you could just poke a couple holes to be safe. Put the tub with him in it obviously, into his enclosure to keep the temp right. After a couple hours you can release him back into his enclosure and he should be able to get it off.

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Originally Posted by rufretic

If you can bump his humidity up, that's huge for getting good clean sheds. At this point I would give him a soak for a couple hours in a small tub. Use luke warm water, try to match his temp so you don't shock him, about an inch deep. Make sure the tub breaths with cap on, you could just poke a couple holes to be safe. Put the tub with him in it obviously, into his enclosure to keep the temp right. After a couple hours you can release him back into his enclosure and he should be able to get it off.

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I will put him in a bath. What is a good temp?? Luke warm to me means about the same temp you would use for a baby. Would that work??


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Put him back in his cage and be sure his humidity is 70 give or take. And leave him alone. If he doesn't have any object(s) with some mild abrasive to it consider adding a rock or piece of wood.

He was probably taking a break when you saw him. He may shed tonight for you.

Start by checking your humidity where you keep it, it should never be less than 50, when they go into shed I like to pick it up to 60-70 by misting the cage. If you keep up humidity then you won't run into this.

For the immediate problem, a bath for ~15min in warm water then rubbing its skin gently with your hands should make it come right off.

The serious part is if the eye caps (scales over the eyes) came off. From the picture kind of looks like they did but I'm not sure. If they didn't you'll need to assist in removing those too, but I've never had to do that myself so I'll let someone else explain that.

No need to soak yet. He was just getting started. Give him a chance. If you want to meet halfway, put a bowl in his cage big enough for him to crawl in if HE thinks it's necessary.

I am very new to snakes. As in, only had him for a week and a half. First snake. I'm very paranoid about everything with him. I don't want to lose him or mess him up. Thanks for the suggestions.



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Do you have a humidity probe inside his cage?

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Originally Posted by Ckrumn

I am very new to snakes. As in, only had him for a week and a half. First snake. I'm very paranoid about everything with him. I don't want to lose him or mess him up. Thanks for the suggestions.



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Snakes manage to shed fine in the wild all by themselves.

Even if the shed only sloughs off in patches it's not that serious unless there is a band of skin going all of the around like a jewelry ring or his eye caps don't come off. Then the next step is a damp towel to let him crawl through while you apply gentle pressure.

No. I need to go get some. I have a wet towel over half the screen top and two bowls of water in the tank for him. We have a 4"x6" under the tank heater and a 75w heat lamp on the warm end of the tank. He is in a 20 gallon long tank. The temp is reading about 87 degrees right now. I also keep misting the tank. I'm used to iguanas, this is so much different and I feel in over my head right now.


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You'll be ok, like Reinzmentioned bad sheds happen. You just gotta get it right then 1 time then the upkeep is not that hard.

You definitely need a humidity probe, lamps unfortunately dry up the air a lot.

And save up for a proper snake cage or tub, they are a lot easier to keep up temp and humidity. Tanks are for fishes haha :P

I rarely have bad sheds but recently my little pastel lesser had a pretty bad shed similar to yours just mine had his head skin off. I knew he was shedding and had his humidity up but he's really young is just a little dumb he's uh still figuring it out. But anyway what i did was put this softball sized rock with a ruff surface in his tub a night then cranked up his humidity. In the morning he had used it to get most of it off. I just had to assist and help peel the rest off. If you use a rock make sure its clean a safe shaped rock you know something that cant fall on him or hurt him.

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Originally Posted by iLikeSneks

You'll be ok, like Reinzmentioned bad sheds happen. You just gotta get it right then 1 time then the upkeep is not that hard.

You definitely need a humidity probe, lamps unfortunately dry up the air a lot.

And save up for a proper snake cage or tub, they are a lot easier to keep up temp and humidity. Tanks are for fishes haha :P

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What type of enclosure do you recommend?? What is a "tub"?? Please keep in mind, I'm very ignorant when it comes to snakes.


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Originally Posted by EDR

I rarely have bad sheds but recently my little pastel lesser had a pretty bad shed similar to yours just mine had his head skin off. I knew he was shedding and had his humidity up but he's really young is just a little dumb he's uh still figuring it out. But anyway what i did was put this softball sized rock with a ruff surface in his tub a night then cranked up his humidity. In the morning he had used it to get most of it off. I just had to assist and help peel the rest off. If you use a rock make sure its clean a safe shaped rock you know something that cant fall on him or hurt him.

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We have a natural wood log in there and his water bowl has roughish exterior as well. I have some sandstone out in the back ward I could boil in water to clean. Would that be ok to use??


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Originally Posted by Ckrumn

What type of enclosure do you recommend?? What is a "tub"?? Please keep in mind, I'm very ignorant when it comes to snakes.


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The only special thing about a snake cage is that is mostly lsed off except for a few air holes to keep humidity and heat in. They usually open in the front instead than the top.
AnimalPlatics make some really cool one but there are other makes.
I built my own, that's an option too.

A tub is just a plastic container. These are the easiest to keep, you would never have humidity problems but they are not very slightly.

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Originally Posted by Ckrumn

What type of enclosure do you recommend?? What is a "tub"?? Please keep in mind, I'm very ignorant when it comes to snakes.


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A small storage tub.

Look at the top of the home page. There are stickies (permanent threads) on setting up various enclosures as well proper care sheets.

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Originally Posted by Ckrumn

We have a natural wood log in there and his water bowl has roughish exterior as well. I have some sandstone out in the back ward I could boil in water to clean. Would that be ok to use??


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No need to add anything. Just be sure the humidity is set.

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Originally Posted by Ckrumn

I am very new to snakes. As in, only had him for a week and a half. First snake. I'm very paranoid about everything with him. I don't want to lose him or mess him up. Thanks for the suggestions.



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Listen to Reinz... Dont ever soak a Ball Python for 2 hours. If he doesnt shed after tonight then a 15min soak at 88-90 is what you would do if you need to. You can not go by what you would use for a baby. We are warm blooded. Get a Laser thermomerter at Lowes $19.99. You point it at a surface including water and it gives you the temp. I use them for spot checking bask area & the substrate on cool side.
Its great your asking for help.. But never go by the first answer you get or by what one person says. Research too. Ive see 10-15 people this week alone regurgitating answers to questions they asked a week ago when they joined and they forgot half of it so it WRONG. :O:O:O:O

Not need to soak yet. Give him a couple of days. If not u can put the snake in lukewarm water for 15-20 min. You can buy shed-ease and add it to the water as well. It worked for me

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Originally Posted by iLikeSneks

The only special thing about a snake cage is that is mostly lsed off except for a few air holes to keep humidity and heat in. They usually open in the front instead than the top.
AnimalPlatics make some really cool one but there are other makes.
I built my own, that's an option too.

A tub is just a plastic container. These are the easiest to keep, you would never have humidity problems but they are not very slightly.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...72b20dece2.jpg

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I like that setup. I'm thinking building one would be best. Can I build it for his max length now and close off a smaller area for him or would it be best to build as he get bigger??


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Originally Posted by Ckrumn

I like that setup. I'm thinking building one would be best. Can I build it for his max length now and close off a smaller area for him or would it be best to build as he get bigger??


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If u put a lot of hides, and you fill up space with a lot of decorations, then yes

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Originally Posted by Mr Sully

Listen to Reinz... Dont ever soak a Ball Python for 2 hours. If he doesnt shed after tonight then a 15min soak at 88-90 is what you would do if you need to. You can not go by what you would use for a baby. We are warm blooded. Get a Laser thermomerter at Lowes $19.99. You point it at a surface including water and it gives you the temp. I use them for spot checking bask area & the substrate on cool side.
Its great your asking for help.. But never go by the first answer you get or by what one person says. Research too. Ive see 10-15 people this week alone regurgitating answers to questions they asked a week ago when they joined and they forgot half of it so it WRONG. :O:O:O:O

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I'm not telling anyone anything about snake handling. Lol. Way to much info out there. I am doing research as well but these so called experts don't always agree either. I will continue to keep an eye on him and make another trip to the store for more supplies. Thank you.


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Originally Posted by Gc99

Not need to soak yet. Give him a couple of days. If not u can put the snake in lukewarm water for 15-20 min. You can buy shed-ease and add it to the water as well. It worked for me

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My poor baby looks so sickly, I hate it. I know it's normalish, but I feel bad for him. He looks miserable.


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Originally Posted by Ckrumn

I like that setup. I'm thinking building one would be best. Can I build it for his max length now and close off a smaller area for him or would it be best to build as he get bigger??


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Thanks, and you should be able to do it for his max size, just put extra hide boxes, make him feel tight, which for them means safe. Or closing off a section would work too.

Mine is a 4'x1.5'x1.5'. That's probably too big for a ball python, specially a male one, but that ok because I'm making a new one and using this one for a Boa. You probably don't need more than a 3'x2' or a 3'x1.5', they don't need much neck room so that's more of a personal preference.

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Originally Posted by Ckrumn

My poor baby looks so sickly, I hate it. I know it's normalish, but I feel bad for him. He looks miserable.


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He looks dry, wrinkly and dull. Like an old raisin. But its 100% normal lol he will live

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Originally Posted by iLikeSneks

Thanks, and you should be able to do it for his max size, just put extra hide boxes, make him feel tight, which for them means safe. Or closing off a section would work too.

Mine is a 4'x1.5'x1.5'. That's probably too big for a ball python, specially a male one, but that ok because I'm making a new one and using this one for a Boa. You probably don't need more than a 3'x2' or a 3'x1.5', they don't need much neck room so that's more of a personal preference.

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That seems small. I'm glad I asked. I was thinking more like a 4'x3'x3'. Lol. I have read they get to be about 4' to 5' long if taken care of properly. I'm sure Home Depot would have loved me. I know the pet store sure does.


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Can I hold him or is that not advisable. He is so cuddly. I miss just hanging out with him after work. He's my stress relief I guess you could say.


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Originally Posted by Ckrumn

Can I hold him or is that not advisable. He is so cuddly. I miss just hanging out with him after work. He's my stress relief I guess you could say.


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I dont hold while theyre in shed (unless a soak is necessary) they are stressed and can be a little more defensive. But thats just me lol im sure some people still hold their snakes when theyre shedding without any issue

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Originally Posted by Ckrumn

Can I hold him or is that not advisable. He is so cuddly. I miss just hanging out with him after work. He's my stress relief I guess you could say.


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. Leave him alone if you want him to have a successful shed. He is VERY miserable right now and wants to be left alone.

I'd focus on getting him back to normal. Just keep his humidity up a night time leave him alone let him crawl around and he should get most of if not all his skin off eventually.

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Originally Posted by Ckrumn

That seems small. I'm glad I asked. I was thinking more like a 4'x3'x3'. Lol. I have read they get to be about 4' to 5' long if taken care of properly. I'm sure Home Depot would have loved me. I know the pet store sure does.


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Too big a space can stress them. And keep in mind males are smaller than females.
A good rule to use as a starting point for cage size is that the perimeter (length + width) must be the length of the snake at least.

I used this video as a reference when doing mine, there are others out there.
https://youtu.be/3_pQMwZOAnc


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Originally Posted by EDR

I'd focus on getting him back to normal. Just keep his humidity up a night time leave him alone let him crawl around and he should get most of if not all his skin off eventually.

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Thanks guy/gals. I really do appreciate all the advice. It helps a lot. I'm pretty much a basket case right now with him because I don't want to make any mistakes. I don't even think I was this bad when I had my kids. Lol.



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I know it's tempting to want to hold your snake, but let him be until after he has shed.

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Originally Posted by iLikeSneks

Too big a space can stress them. And keep in mind males are smaller than females.
A good rule to use as a starting point for cage size is that the perimeter (length + width) must be the length of the snake at least.

I used this video as a reference when doing mine, there are others out there.
https://youtu.be/3_pQMwZOAnc


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To be honest, I'm not sure if my baby is male or female. I have checked on line for sexing a snake and I'm so not qualified to that. I'm scheduling a vet appointment for him when he is finished shedding. Maybe the vet can tell me then. In the meantime I'm hoping for a boy so I'm calling my baby a him. Lol.


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You can make one like others have done, but honestly, being new to this there are things you would never think of that experts have researched for years and years in building safe enclosures that clean easy and are user freindly. Id suggest AP (Animal Plastics) enclosures. 4 feet is fine thats what I use, but a hight and Depth of 3 feet is way to much for all kinds of reasons including heating easily, cleaning easy and snake feeling secure ect... You want a T10 $199! Thats 4'x24"x15". I'll post some things a lot of us use and you look at them if you want.

1) AP enclosures: http://www.apcages.com/home/

2a) Thermistat: cheap one that works good - Jump Start by Hydro farm. https://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPRTC-Digital-Thermostat-Heat/dp/B000NZZG3S
2b) Best out there:Herpstat thermistats: http://www.spyderrobotics.com/index....products_id=24

3) Pro Panel Rhp heating: http://pro-products.com/pro-heat/

4) Reptile Basics hides: http://www.reptilebasics.com/hide-boxes

5) Acurite thermometer: https://m.lowes.com/pd/AcuRite-Digit...meter/50425266

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Originally Posted by Mr Sully

You can make one like others have done, but honestly, being new to this there are things you would never think of that experts have researched for years and years in building safe enclosures that clean easy and are user freindly. Id suggest AP (Animal Plastics) enclosures. 4 feet is fine thats what I use, but a hight and Depth of 3 feet is way to much for all kinds of reasons including heating easily, cleaning easy and snake feeling secure ect... You want a T10 $199! Thats 4'x24"x15". I'll post some things a lot of us use and you look at them if you want.

1) AP enclosures: http://www.apcages.com/home/

2a) Thermistat: cheap one that works good - https://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPRTC-Digital-Thermostat-Heat/dp/B000NZZG3S
2b) Best out there:Herpstat thermistats: http://www.spyderrobotics.com/index....products_id=24

3) Pro Panel Rhp heating: http://pro-products.com/pro-heat/

4) Reptile Basics hides: http://www.reptilebasics.com/hide-boxes

5) Acurite thermometer: https://m.lowes.com/pd/AcuRite-Digit...meter/50425266

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Thank you. I plan on going shopping this weekend for more supplies. I will add these items to the list others have suggested. We are also looking for a stand to keep his enclosure on. Right now he sits on my dining room table. I like having him out in the open but from what I'm reading on here and other sites, that may be stressing him out. We also handle him quite often. Pretty much everyday for about 5 hours at a time between my daughter and myself. So much to learn. Thanks again for the suggestions and tips.


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Keep in mind post count doesn't show experience, it just shows if people are new to this site. I'd be interested to hear why soaking is so bad, maybe things have changed but I learned that trick over 20 years ago and it's worked every time I've received a new animal in this kind of condition. Once I have them they only have clean easy sheds because I keep my humidity up and so I never need to help with a shed. You do though. I can tell your pythons skin is dry from the pics, where it looks like wrinkles. That is not normal and only shows up when an animal is too dry. They shed perfectly fine on their own if you keep them in the correct environment but you've let him dry out with your heat lamp and open screen top I'm assuming. Now soaking is your easiest bet, it softens the skin and allows the animal to do it on their own like they are supposed to.

Get your humidity up and you wont have to worry about it again. An easy fix is just to cover some of your screen top with plastic. This will help keep humidity in for now but for long term you'll want to look into a enclosure that is better suited for your ball python.

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Originally Posted by rufretic

Keep in mind post count doesn't show experience, it just shows if people are new to this site. I'd be interested to hear why soaking is so bad, maybe things have changed but I learned that trick over 20 years ago and it's worked every time I've received a new animal in this kind of condition. Once I have them they only have clean easy sheds because I keep my humidity up and so I never need to help with a shed. You do though. I can tell your pythons skin is dry from the pics, where it looks like wrinkles. That is not normal and only shows up when an animal is too dry. They shed perfectly fine on their own if you keep them in the correct environment but you've let him dry out with your heat lamp and open screen top I'm assuming. Now soaking is your easiest bet, it softens the skin and allows the animal to do it on their own like they are supposed to.

Get your humidity up and you wont have to worry about it again. An easy fix is just to cover some of your screen top with plastic. This will help keep humidity in for now but for long term you'll want to look into a enclosure that is better suited for your ball python.

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I have half the screen to covered with a wet towel and two bowls of water in the tank now. I'm leaning towards keeping the heat lamp off during the day as long as I turn the a/c off while we are not home. Im grasping at anything right now that may help him out. Thanks for the tip.


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My opinion is to leave the snake alone for a day or two and see how much skin he can get off on his own. He will likely still have some stuck shed.

For soaking, small tub that you can close to keep the snake in. The water should only come up about halfway on the snakes body. Very shallow. Room temperature water. Add a few paper towels or a washcloth to the tub so the snake has something to hold onto.

I've soaked ball pythons for 30 minutes and overnight many times for shed issues.

OP I would recommend a 30 minute supervised soak for any remaining stuck shed after a few days.

Definitely work on your humidity for next time.


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Originally Posted by rufretic

Keep in mind post count doesn't show experience, it just shows if people are new to this site. I'd be interested to hear why soaking is so bad, maybe things have changed but I learned that trick over 20 years ago and it's worked every time I've received a new animal in this kind of condition. Once I have them they only have clean easy sheds because I keep my humidity up and so I never need to help with a shed. You do though. I can tell your pythons skin is dry from the pics, where it looks like wrinkles. That is not normal and only shows up when an animal is too dry. They shed perfectly fine on their own if you keep them in the correct environment but you've let him dry out with your heat lamp and open screen top I'm assuming. Now soaking is your easiest bet, it softens the skin and allows the animal to do it on their own like they are supposed to.

Get your humidity up and you wont have to worry about it again. An easy fix is just to cover some of your screen top with plastic. This will help keep humidity in for now but for long term you'll want to look into a enclosure that is better suited for your ball python.

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I do soak when needed.. But i also would give him a day to do this on his own. When i soak i do so for 15 min and in 88 degee water, that is more than enough ( lid on) to soften up a dry shed. 2 hours is a tottaly unnecssary period of time for a ball python and i don't suggest extreme things to newbies as the snakes are already stressed from the home change, husbandry not on and new owners lack of knowledge. If you look a couple posts back youll see the snake is handled for 5 hours a day....
If your a 20 year snake keeper im sure you understand what might be common sense to us isnt common sense to unexperienced keepers. Im a 29 year owner of burms and balls and im amazed at the craziness i see on here everyday. Cripe today someone thought they bought a Corn Snake and its a Hatchling Albino Burm. I feel bad for that animal in the hands of a teen when they cant take care of it.

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Originally Posted by Mr Sully

I do soak when needed.. But i also would give him a day to do this on his own. When i soak i do so for 15 min and in 88 degee water, that is more than enough ( lid on) to soften up a dry shed. 2 hours is a tottaly unnecssary period of time for a ball python and i don't suggest extreme things to newbies as the snakes are already stressed from the home change, husbandry not on and new owners lack of knowledge. If you look a couple posts back youll see the snake is handled for 5 hours a day....
If your a 20 year snake keeper im sure you understand what might be common sense to us isnt common sense to unexperienced keepers. Im a 29 year owner of burms and balls and im amazed at the craziness i see on here everyday. Cripe today someone thought they bought a Corn Snake and its a Hatchling Albino Burm. I feel bad for that animal in the hands of a teen when they cant take care of it.

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I'm doing my best to learn as much as I can about how to care for my baby. I'm not some young teen who who thinks I know everything there is to know about snakes. Yes, right now I know I'm in way over my head, but you have to start somewhere. I'm doing everything I can to make things right for him. I just need to get him through this shed and healthy on the other side. I will learn from my mistakes and not repeat them going forward. I can promise that much. Thanks for the advice. Everything helps at this point.


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Originally Posted by Ckrumn

I'm doing my best to learn as much as I can about how to care for my baby. I'm not some young teen who who thinks I know everything there is to know about snakes. Yes, right now I know I'm in way over my head, but you have to start somewhere. I'm doing everything I can to make things right for him. I just need to get him through this shed and healthy on the other side. I will learn from my mistakes and not repeat them going forward. I can promise that much. Thanks for the advice. Everything helps at this point.


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Your doing great and asking questions.. Im responding to the other person that wanted to know why i went against his post about 2 hours of soaking.
Keep up the reseach and youll have a healthy albino. Yours looks like both of mine and my burms albino too.

I've soaked my garter snakes before, but never for over fifteen minutes simply because I don't want to spend time supervising them when fifteen minutes works just fine. It also seems to stress the snakes out. Ultimately though, it's your choice. Good luck and keep us updated!

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Originally Posted by iLikeSneks

The serious part is if the eye caps (scales over the eyes) came off. From the picture kind of looks like they did but I'm not sure. If they didn't you'll need to assist in removing those too, but I've never had to do that myself so I'll let someone else explain that.

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If you think the eye caps were retained, leave them alone. Make sure your husbandry is perfect up until the next shed and he will shed them off. The snake will be fine and you run the risk of damaging his eyes if you try to take them off yourself.

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Originally Posted by FlynnTheBP

I've soaked my garter snakes before, but never for over fifteen minutes simply because I don't want to spend time supervising them when fifteen minutes works just fine. It also seems to stress the snakes out. Ultimately though, it's your choice. Good luck and keep us updated!

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I started soaking him back in Saturday because the pet store we got him from said he was dehydrated. We couldn't get him to eat. I was completely unaware that he was coming due for a shed. I feel pretty awful now because I'm not sure if soaking him is what may have caused some of the issues he is having now. I was soaking him for 20 minutes twice a day for Saturday, Sunday, and once on Monday. Came home from work on Tuesday and almost panicked when I saw his head looked like a massive blister had just popped around his eye. I know now he was just starting his shed. I hate this feeling of not doing enough of the right things for him.


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If you are having humidity problems, add some sphagnum moss in the enclosure and even some in the hides. Keep it damp. I also started using cypress mulch when I had tanks and that helped the humidity stay higher.

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Originally Posted by SKO

If you think the eye caps were retained, leave them alone. Make sure your husbandry is perfect up until the next shed and he will shed them off. The snake will be fine and you run the risk of damaging his eyes if you try to take them off yourself.

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His eyes look good. I can tell for sure the left side is clear. The right looks clear as well, but I need a closer look to be sure. I want to check him over, but I don't want to harm him any so I'm gonna leave him for a few days but watch through the tank.


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Originally Posted by SKO

If you are having humidity problems, add some sphagnum moss in the enclosure and even some in the hides. Keep it damp. I also started using cypress mulch when I had tanks and that helped the humidity stay higher.

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What is the risk factor for molds growing?? I know it may be a pretty stupid question, but dampness/water and wood sometimes equals science experiments you really don't want to play with. How often should we change out his bedding?? We are doing it once a week right now.


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Originally Posted by Ckrumn

I started soaking him back in Saturday because the pet store we got him from said he was dehydrated. We couldn't get him to eat. I was completely unaware that he was coming due for a shed. I feel pretty awful now because I'm not sure if soaking him is what may have caused some of the issues he is having now. I was soaking him for 20 minutes twice a day for Saturday, Sunday, and once on Monday. Came home from work on Tuesday and almost panicked when I saw his head looked like a massive blister had just popped around his eye. I know now he was just starting his shed. I hate this feeling of not doing enough of the right things for him.


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Snakes secret oils naturally to help them shed. Soaking them before they start a shed process will remove the oils and make it harder to shed. Soaking should really be a last resort option. Also, haven't seen this mentioned but never try to pick the shed off. You can damage scales that way.

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Originally Posted by Ckrumn

What is the risk factor for molds growing?? I know it may be a pretty stupid question, but dampness/water and wood sometimes equals science experiments you really don't want to play with. How often should we change out his bedding?? We are doing it once a week right now.


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I never had an issue with mold. Keep the moss damp, not Soaking wet. what substrate are you using? Most people change substrate once a month or even less.

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