Humid Hide, Handling BP & Introduction

Hey Guys, my name is Dino. I’ve perusing on the boards for a bit and it’s been great!

I have always had an enthusiastic amount of reptile and amphibian love/experience especially when was I was young. Obsessed with reading, field collecting and non-profit educational zoos.


Of recent I was struck with some bad luck of losing my dog, my five year marriage, my stepdaughter and an injury that das been affecting me greatly half my life but the really bad for the last a year and a half. Undergoing a couple surgeries this year and decided to get a Ball python for some company. I am determined to make this snake super docile. Considering it’ll be positive therapy animal during my down time she’s the only pet I can take care of myself at the moment.


And I feel like I got the perfect BP! She seems kind, doofy, Definitely not overaggressive for 1 1/2 month old (she hissed first feed and gave me a peck) and very beautiful. Her name is Roxy (Roxanne).


One thing I did forgot about having reptiles is the patience. Which I am no longer, I operate a New York restaurant.


At times I am way over concerned about her well-being even though I had her habitat ready weeks before she arrived, temporarily it’s probably a little too big. She seems fine and healthy, The oddest thing about her sometimes she awkwardly forces herself to be in the warmest part of the enclosure which is really hot.


My big concern is how much of the boss do I show a snake? Like right now I think she is going into early sheaf. After the last handling i persuaded her into a humid hide for the first time (finally I thought) and as far as I know she has not left since. The Sphagnum moss Is definitely drying out. I tried to feed her last night and she wasn’t having it and she seemed pretty pissed off at me for bothering her. I know she doesn’t like the spray bottle but I gave a couple squirts inside the hide.


Am I being too passive? Or should I get her out of the hide and adjust it as needed and let her figure it out or maybe use it as an opportunity to handle her again?


Or leave her alone until she either presents herself that she’s not in shed or completes the process?

FYI- This is not only my first Ball python but my first baby
snake.

Welcome Dino- I'm glad you finally came out of the shadows, lol. And congratulations for choosing a snake as a quiet companion. I find them to be quite congenial, & relaxing, but you'll have to learn some patience because they do things in 'snake time'. ;) Sounds like your life has been rough lately -so sorry about your losses. Let's hope Roxy is the start of things turning around for you with better things to come.

For us to help you- you need to accurately take the temps in the enclosure where your snake is. If your snake is always in the warmest part, that suggests it might not be warm enough, but don't assume & crank it up- get some readings on the cage floor with substrate pushed away (if using UTH); you want it at or below 90* at the most.

You haven't had her very long, so you need to minimize HER stress, which means you should AVOID taking her out of her hide forcefully or even excessive handling until she's eaten at least 3 times at normal intervals (roughly once a week), unless in shed (when it's normal for them to refuse food). Snakes in shed definitely do NOT want to be handled, so leave her alone as much as possible. I know how frustrating that is when you have only one pet & wish to connect, but that's what you signed on for. Snakes will be snakes. Since she's staying inside the humid hide, I'd just spray into the opening as best you can.

It's not about being a snake's "boss"- we're not & never will be. They're wild animals that listen to their own instincts- the best we can do is show them (thru respectful treatment) that they're safe with us. Snakes feel unsafe (where predators can get them!) when out in the open, so when I hold my snakes, I generally cuddle them close to me, rather than holding them out in the open which I know is scary for them. They also don't really identify us visually- so don't take it personal if your snake snaps at you from the other side of the glass (or plexi, or whatever)- they need more cues (our scent & touch) to recognize us.

"Baby" snakes are more fearful of us because they're small & many things prey on them. Bites are either self-defense (can't blame them, we're GIANTS) or food confusion. Remember that the only thing that picks them up in nature is a predator about to eat THEM, so be patient & don't over-do handling- feeding regularly is "job #1" for a while. Like any baby, they need to grow & gain strength for a while- coming to a new home is confusing for them, so it's also very stressful & stress lowers their immune system, just as it does for us. Just like us, if they're overly stressed they can become sick from whatever they've been exposed to previously- things they might otherwise have fought off if left to rest more. So my advice with any new snake is "easy does it". Do more watching than handling for a while- they grow very slow so "taming" is not a priority.

And don't bother trying to feed her when she's in shed- it's normal for them not to eat at that time- & since both digestion & shedding uses up the water in their bodies to accomplish, some snakes do not do both at the same time very well. Some snakes- if they do accept food while in shed (many won't) will then have a "bad shed" where they need some help to remove the zillions of stuck pieces. So like I said, go with the flow- don't push food when you know she's in shed. If you accidentally feed her sometime & then realize she's clouding up, don't panic- but I just try to avoid doing that, for best results.

Thanks for the great and reassuring response. For the most part she seems really comfortable in her assorted hides. Humidity and heat gradient seems good. Since I have your ear, the other day would’ve been her third time eating and her first time with frozen. Would you keep her on live for a couple more feelings? She seemed hesitant to kill and we’ll wait for me to play/tease

thanks!

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Originally Posted by D-.No

Thanks for the great and reassuring response. For the most part she seems really comfortable in her assorted hides. Humidity and heat gradient seems good. Since I have your ear, the other day would’ve been her third time eating and her first time with frozen. Would you keep her on live for a couple more feelings? She seemed hesitant to kill and we’ll wait for me to play/tease

thanks!

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I assume you meant the third time she has fed for you? Most breeders have fed the snake prior to selling them- do you happen to know what she was started on? Maybe she was already ON f/t- that would explain her response. (Any time you acquire a snake, it's important to find out what they've been fed, etc.)

Some (many) snakes need to eat live at first to get the right instinctive response, just until they learn to recognize their prey- then they often switch to pre-killed (p/k, either fresh or frozen/thawed- f/t) pretty easily. But if your snake hesitates to make kills, & happily eats p/k, then no, I wouldn't keep feeding her live- enjoy how easy the switch has been for her. P/K is much better (safer, more humane, etc). :gj:

Yes it would’ve been the third time but she refused it. I made the attempt because I do want to wean her off live, the breeder had her on small live rats by the time I got her.
The second time I fed her she killed the feeder but not eat it until I made a couple attempts teasing her and she eventually took it.
I thought why not try prekilled if she’s already excepted it once before.
I left the carcass by her hide for 40 min, She didn’t bother with it so I threw it out. I will see how she fares with the next attempt either tomorrow or the next day

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Originally Posted by D-.No

Yes it would’ve been the third time but she refused it. I made the attempt because I do want to wean her off live, the breeder had her on small live rats by the time I got her.
The second time I fed her she killed the feeder but not eat it until I made a couple attempts teasing her and she eventually took it.
I thought why not try prekilled if she’s already excepted it once before.
I left the carcass by her hide for 40 min, She didn’t bother with it so I threw it out. I will see how she fares with the next attempt either tomorrow or the next day

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Oh, I see- I misunderstood. If you've been reading threads here for a while, you know that adding some heat* to the prey is often needed to fool BPs into accepting dead prey, along with a subtle jiggle using feeding tongs. (*a blow dryer is very convenient & fast for this purpose) Sometimes even when snakes kill the feeder themselves, it cools off & they end up losing interest. I'd have done the same thing- tease her into taking it if possible. You won't win all the battles though- so get over it, lol.

It's very possible the reason she refused it was because she knew (she could feel) that she was going into shed. They know before we can see any signs of a shed, so sometimes you just have to take your snake's "word" for it. And didn't you just say you think she's going into shed now? If so, you shouldn't be offering food at this time- wait until after she sheds, even if it's a couple weeks from now by the time she's done. That is normal- & they don't eat during shed in the wild- they don't have room service, & they don't hunt when they're blind (in shed).

Also, when a snake refuses food- do NOT keep offering- it only stresses them into refusing. Just wait a week to offer again- and ONLY IF they're not in shed. ;) Remember, "patience"... Relax...you'll get this.

Thanks so much. Maybe her color faded a bit and her last meal was a good one. I just haven’t seen any cloudy or blue eyes. I just know she’s due for her age and her behavior is def a little more on edge since found her humid hide.
Like I said initially, I really need to exercise my patience.

Welcome. If you haven't already, give the forum's care guide a read.

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Originally Posted by D-.No

Thanks so much. Maybe her color faded a bit and her last meal was a good one. I just haven’t seen any cloudy or blue eyes. I just know she’s due for her age and her behavior is def a little more on edge since found her humid hide.
Like I said initially, I really need to exercise my patience.

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Snakes manage to teach us all to mellow out, lol. At first it can be hard to tell when snakes go into shed- a small bright mini-flashlight can be useful to see the foggy eye-caps (easier in a dark room- shine across eyes from the side) if you miss them when they're most visible. I can even tell by the way their skin folds on their neck usually- it's a different texture when they're in shed- and also, sometimes you'll see a "double edge" on their scutes. Then there's the behavior cues: hiding, preferring to be cooler, defensive strikes- and food refusal is often the first thing. ;) You'll learn. :snake:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

You'll learn.

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Don't feel bad if it takes you a while to learn. I could never tell when my bp was going into shed. I somehow always missed the bluing of the eyes part. I can only tell my Children's python is going into shed because the change in his behavior is so dramatic. He goes from being out and active to always hiding.

Thanks. I’ve read and reread care sheets but it’s just me and Roxy and there are times I’ve gotten a little concerned I’m not reading her correctly. I do appreciate all the feedback and welcoming me to the boards.
it’s helped a lot!

And yes the other night with her head sticking out of her humid hive I noticed the skin around her neck looks much different than it did the other day.

At the moment she’s not really interested anything but hiding so I gave her some extra moist Sphagnum moss I’m her wet hide and just give her some time.

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Originally Posted by D-.No

Thanks. I’ve read and reread care sheets but it’s just me and Roxy and there are times I’ve gotten a little concerned I’m not reading her correctly. I do appreciate all the feedback and welcoming me to the boards.
it’s helped a lot!

And yes the other night with her head sticking out of her humid hive I noticed the skin around her neck looks much different than it did the other day.

At the moment she’s not really interested anything but hiding so I gave her some extra moist Sphagnum moss I’m her wet hide and just give her some time.

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By the way, I assume that's Roxy in your avatar, & you should know that the lighter colored snakes like yours (& albinos, especially) are the HARDEST to tell when they're going into shed- that "milky-look" doesn't show up very well because of their normal coloration. So look for that "texture change" and appetite loss (food refusal) as signs. That's excellent that you did notice her neck looked different- it's hard to explain that change to people.

Also, something that confuses many if not most new snake-owners is the shedding "time-line": Snakes cloud up, then they gradually "go clear" for a while before they actually shed- & by that I mean their body secretes moisture between the old skin that's coming off & the new skin underneath, & it's that moisture that makes their tissue-paper-like old skin appear like normal, with the colors more clear again. So many people think their snake must have shed when it actually hasn't, & then when they can't find the old skin, they wonder why, or they try to feed their snake again before it actually shed, & wonder why it won't eat. See? ;)

So you have to wait for your snake to actually shed, after they "go clear"- and it takes as long as it takes- if your snake has fed recently, it can take longer, because both digestion & shedding are competing for moisture in their body. Snakes aren't that good at multi-tasking-:D And if nothing else, they teach us to pay attention & be patient.

Wow. You rock! I didn’t notice your response till today but after Roxy had been in her wet hid for over a week she finally has come fully out. Right now she’s chilling inside her log which is technically not a hide, just an additional place for enrichment. She looks slightly bigger but there is no shed.
I didn’t bother her and lift the log or pick her up assuming she is still in the process.

Happy I got to go in her wet hide and properly treat the moss again. Hoping tonight she does some work and gets out of those old clothes lol

But it is tough because she was stashed in a hide a lot longer than I could’ve imagined, I kept on smelling for death (or poop) and was very thankful she started popping her head out the past couple days.

So true about the light color. Right before her second meal I noticed her getting a little dull nothing in the eyes. After a few days in the humid hide I could notice a little transition in the lens.

I’m getting surgery in a little more than a week so I really want to see some skin and some poop before I go under the knife.

Just a couple hours later after leaving her humid hide she went to the log and pooped! I was expecting that after the shed.

When I was cleaning up she seemed very timid So I didn’t even consider handling her. With this behavior you would still consider ready to shed correct?

Or Could of it dissolved in that hot humidity over the past 9 days in her hide?

That thing is like a 83-88degree sauna all day, And I’m only getting a reading when the top is removed

I know patience, patience, patience.

I haven’t fed Roxy since 4th of August. It was a very good size meal and so when she started showing signs of potential shed and refused to let me feed her on the ninth I let it be.
She’s gone through the several stages of shed but I’ve never been able to find a skin.
She’s moving around here and there during unusual times of the day, I was hoping she was going to start removing her skin but there’s a part of me that feels that she’s on the hunt.
When I’m tending to her enclosure she flickers her tongue and comes to inspect me or stretches herself to the top of the enclosure. This is behavior that she had not been doing for a couple weeks. Usually she would just tuck her head back into her hide or gradually move into a safe place if she was exposed from any que from my presence.

I’ve been keeping the humidity high and the temperature gradient seems fine as she is moving from hide to hide.

I’m going into the hospital for surgery on Thursday and was really hoping to have her fed and clean her enclosure before then. Can this process go on more than a couple weeks without me stepping in?

Should I be looking for a less impressive shed? I’ve heard sometimes they can ball up and be pretty tiny at the stage. I just feel horribly bad if she’s dying for sustenance and I am the noob waiting for some visible proof of shed.

I will remain patient and hope for the best but it seems from all the information I’ve read to hold off on feeding till I’m 100% Confident the process is complete.

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Originally Posted by D-.No

I know patience, patience, patience.

I haven’t fed Roxy since 4th of August. It was a very good size meal and so when she started showing signs of potential shed and refused to let me feed her on the ninth I let it be.
She’s gone through the several stages of shed but I’ve never been able to find a skin.
She’s moving around here and there during unusual times of the day, I was hoping she was going to start removing her skin but there’s a part of me that feels that she’s on the hunt.
When I’m tending to her enclosure she flickers her tongue and comes to inspect me or stretches herself to the top of the enclosure. This is behavior that she had not been doing for a couple weeks. Usually she would just tuck her head back into her hide or gradually move into a safe place if she was exposed from any que from my presence.

I’ve been keeping the humidity high and the temperature gradient seems fine as she is moving from hide to hide.

I’m going into the hospital for surgery on Thursday and was really hoping to have her fed and clean her enclosure before then. Can this process go on more than a couple weeks without me stepping in?

Should I be looking for a less impressive shed? I’ve heard sometimes they can ball up and be pretty tiny at the stage. I just feel horribly bad if she’s dying for sustenance and I am the noob waiting for some visible proof of shed.

I will remain patient and hope for the best but it seems from all the information I’ve read to hold off on feeding till I’m 100% Confident the process is complete.

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Did you dig thru her substrate to see if her shed is rolled up somewhere? Sometimes they end up so tightly rolled they look like a miniature ski cap that would fit on their heads...:D

Also, if she appears to have shed (ie. has likely gone "clear") & seems hungry, you could feed her anyway- every once in a while, I've missed it myself, & the next thing I know, the snake (with a meal "on board") suddenly busts out of their old skin right after eating. (like those really old commercials "...my girdle's killing me!") Some snakes are just determined to "break the rules" too. ;)

Of course even if she eats right now, she'll probably wait until AFTER Thursday to dump in her clean cage...because (ahem!) Snakes Will Be Snakes! :snake:

The problem with humans (us) is that we like schedules & snakes couldn't care less. If she was refusing to eat on the 9th, she's most likely right about to shed now, since most shed cycles (from the time they "feel" it & refuse to eat, to the time they actually undress) take around 2 weeks or less.

Thanks Again Bogertophis! I replied but… it disappeared?
I took your advice and although she got pretty pissy with me flashing the rat in her face she struck and then ate on her own accord. First pre-killed feeder so that was great.
Should be digested by tonight and I’ll give enclosure cleaning. Very curious to see if she actually shed?

Okay I’m officially ending this thread – lol


Well I officially should end this thread but with answers come questions.


Update on Roxy’s shed, I found it and it must’ve been and her humid hide for a while. Full shed which is great but it was completely intertwined with one long coarse piece of moss smashed into the base of the hide- can't believe I missed it!


I was also shocked on how much more waste she released since I’ve had her. Super glad I opted for a thorough disinfection before I am physically unable to which was under debate because everything looked so clean. Spot cleaning was just not enough.


I did use a mild bleach solution For the fake foliage and furniture. Everything else was cleaned with a little warm water, Dawn and alcohol.


I think the fake leaves soaked up a lot of the smell of the bleach even though I only a small ratio and I rinse them many many times.


I left the top of her enclosure off for a while but my sensitive smell is still detecting some bleach. Roxy seems super stoked to be back in her enclosure, very curious, very comfortable.


But naturally I’m concerned since I am going to be in the hospital for a couple days. I think it will be fine but if anyone has any advice for the future or concerns I should have before I essentially am leaving her alone I’m all ears.


(FYI: My sister is going to keep an eye on Roxanne while I'm away just in case)

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Originally Posted by D-.No

Okay I’m officially ending this thread – lol


Well I officially should end this thread but with answers come questions.


Update on Roxy’s shed, I found it and it must’ve been and her humid hide for a while. Full shed which is great but it was completely intertwined with one long coarse piece of moss smashed into the base of the hide- can't believe I missed it!


I was also shocked on how much more waste she released since I’ve had her. Super glad I opted for a thorough disinfection before I am physically unable to which was under debate because everything looked so clean. Spot cleaning was just not enough.


I did use a mild bleach solution For the fake foliage and furniture. Everything else was cleaned with a little warm water, Dawn and alcohol.


I think the fake leaves soaked up a lot of the smell of the bleach even though I only a small ratio and I rinse them many many times.


I left the top of her enclosure off for a while but my sensitive smell is still detecting some bleach. Roxy seems super stoked to be back in her enclosure, very curious, very comfortable.


But naturally I’m concerned since I am going to be in the hospital for a couple days. I think it will be fine but if anyone has any advice for the future or concerns I should have before I essentially am leaving her alone I’m all ears.


(FYI: My sister is going to keep an eye on Roxanne while I'm away just in case)

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IMPORTANT- If YOU can smell the bleach, REMOVE the offending foliage & furnishings- your snake's sense of smell is far better than ours, AND bleach fumes are HARMFUL- they're toxic AND irritating to the lungs for as long as the odor persists. That's why we don't recommend using bleach for anything that is able to absorb it- the smell can take a VERY long time (if ever) to dissipate. Bleach is hazardous to health. If the odor persists, toss the stuff!

Never use bleach on anything porous, like wood or fabric, or even most plastics*, whether hides or fake plants- a little "dirt" is preferable to toxic bleach being present- once bleach soaks in, it might never go away. I'd take those fake plants out NOW- they're not essential. If your hides are affected, clean cardboard boxes can be used temporarily- just cut in a doorway. Things like cereal boxes that are the right shape & size, or close enough, can be used, & just toss them when they're dirty. You'll be back by then. (*You'll notice that bleach bottles even say "DO NOT RE-USE BOTTLES. That's why- it's toxic.)

Snakes should NEVER be exposed to bleach. Never.

I sorta figured she already shed & that you missed it (mostly because you said she was acting hungry) & you're not the first one to miss a hidden shed. ;)

BTW, good luck with the hospital visit- hope you get done what you need with a good & quick recovery.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

IMPORTANT- If YOU can smell the bleach, REMOVE the offending foliage & furnishings- your snake's sense of smell is far better than ours, AND bleach fumes are HARMFUL- they're toxic AND irritating to the lungs for as long as the odor persists. That's why we don't recommend using bleach for anything that is able to absorb it- the smell can take a VERY long time (if ever) to dissipate. Bleach is hazardous to health. If the odor persists, toss the stuff!

Never use bleach on anything porous, like wood or fabric, or even most plastics*, whether hides or fake plants- a little "dirt" is preferable to toxic bleach being present- once bleach soaks in, it might never go away. I'd take those fake plants out NOW- they're not essential. If your hides are affected, clean cardboard boxes can be used temporarily- just cut in a doorway. Things like cereal boxes that are the right shape & size, or close enough, can be used, & just toss them when they're dirty. You'll be back by then. (*You'll notice that bleach bottles even say "DO NOT RE-USE BOTTLES. That's why- it's toxic.)

Snakes should NEVER be exposed to bleach. Never.

I sorta figured she already shed & that you missed it (mostly because you said she was acting hungry) & you're not the first one to miss a hidden shed. ;)

BTW, good luck with the hospital visit- hope you get done what you need with a good & quick recovery.

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Just adding a little to this. I use Chlorhexidine Gluconate Solution (2%) to disinfect. Just don't spray it directly in your eyes, and it's fine. I just keep a spray bottle of it and spray everything down whenever I take it out to clean. I only have three snakes, so I just have a small spray bottle, mixed 3/4 tsp. solution to 2 c. water. Been using it for years with no problems, after my rodent supplier recommended it. It's effective, popular with reptile keepers, and not very expensive. I've also been known to use it in the kitchen, bathroom... etc... etc....

I think the only place I've never used it may be the chicken coop. I don't have a spray bottle big enough for that.

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Originally Posted by Argentum

Just adding a little to this. I use Chlorhexidine Gluconate Solution (2%) to disinfect. Just don't spray it directly in your eyes, and it's fine. I just keep a spray bottle of it and spray everything down whenever I take it out to clean. I only have three snakes, so I just have a small spray bottle, mixed 3/4 tsp. solution to 2 c. water. Been using it for years with no problems, after my rodent supplier recommended it. It's effective, popular with reptile keepers, and not very expensive. I've also been known to use it in the kitchen, bathroom... etc... etc....

I think the only place I've never used it may be the chicken coop. I don't have a spray bottle big enough for that.

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Yes, I also use generic chlorhexidine (diluted with water, in a spray bottle) for cleaning all my snake's homes, as well as my "rodent ranch". Spray on, wipe dry, no rinsing needed- NO FUMES. :gj:

I would ONLY use bleach as a last resort to sanitize non-porous things (ie. my glass tanks) IF the occupant had a serious & contagious illness or had passed away from such- which happily has never yet happened. I do not buy used tanks or enclosures ever, because you never know what the previous occupant died from, & sellers may not know or tell the truth if they do, so the amount of work involved just to clean that item is not worth the time & effort to me to make it satisfactorily safe. ;) Porous items can be sprayed or soaked, then thoroughly dried with chlorhexidine solution (or F10), but not with bleach, as bleach usually cannot be completely removed & the fumes are toxic. Especially to our much smaller reptiles, but it's even bad for us.

OK, thanks guys. I am going to rinse then soak everything overnight and let it sit out and dry for a couple days. Luckily her hides and furniture we’re easy to get the bleach smell out with a little Dawn soap. But I’ve been hanging out with her keeping her enclosure open hoping that it would dissipate. This is a lot easier and I definitely need a good nights rest.

Also thanks for the tip I will give the Chlorhexidine a whirl.

I do feel a little bad, I made it look so pretty for her and she seem so excited to have so much stimuli.

She still has plenty of places to hide just no cover to wiggle around.

Thank you so much guys.

I’ve oversaturated my brain with contradictive online reptile info this year It would be heartbreaking if I hurt Roxanne.

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Originally Posted by D-.No

OK, thanks guys. I am going to rinse then soak everything overnight and let it sit out and dry for a couple days. Luckily her hides and furniture we’re easy to get the bleach smell out with a little Dawn soap. But I’ve been hanging out with her keeping her enclosure open hoping that it would dissipate. This is a lot easier and I definitely need a good nights rest.

Also thanks for the tip I will give the Chlorhexidine a whirl.

I do feel a little bad, I made it look so pretty for her and she seem so excited to have so much stimuli.

She still has plenty of places to hide just no cover to wiggle around.

Thank you so much guys.

I’ve oversaturated my brain with contradictive online reptile info this year It would be heartbreaking if I hurt Roxanne.

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I know you probably have a lot on your mind right now- but I also think the last thing you want to do is hurt your snake. I hope the bleach smell comes out in time. Time will tell.

Anyway, a few days or a week+ won't matter to your snake- you'll have lots of time to enrich her environment in the future. Safety is more important.

FYI- feed stores are usually a good place to buy generic chlorhexidine- also animal supply sources online, if you have nothing local. And try to buy a pint- it takes forever & a LOT of animals to use a gallon while it's still fresh, since it's used very diluted. Have a peaceful evening- all the best.

So I can spot clean/treats with chlorhexidine? That’s pretty awesome! Do you guys recommend removing your pet for a little while when doing so?

On a sidenote I took your advice, tossed out anything that had any bleach like smell and got her enclosure where she seems pretty happy. It was an extremely stressful ordeal, just hours before I went into Surgery I started a disinfecting cleaning. Aside from the bleach her enclosure essentially fell apart. The caulk came undone For her lower heating elements and her interior thermostat. Even though cause me lots of stress and anxiety I think she enjoys the heat gradient more. And there is a lot more selection of warm hidden places to chill out and I found her using her cool side less and less. Plus after three nice sized rats and shooting up to 125 g I think she’s ready for another shed.

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Originally Posted by D-.No

So I can spot clean/treats with chlorhexidine? That’s pretty awesome! Do you guys recommend removing your pet for a little while when doing so?

On a sidenote I took your advice, tossed out anything that had any bleach like smell and got her enclosure where she seems pretty happy. It was an extremely stressful ordeal, just hours before I went into Surgery I started a disinfecting cleaning. Aside from the bleach her enclosure essentially fell apart. The caulk came undone For her lower heating elements and her interior thermostat. Even though cause me lots of stress and anxiety I think she enjoys the heat gradient more. And there is a lot more selection of warm hidden places to chill out and I found her using her cool side less and less. Plus after three nice sized rats and shooting up to 125 g I think she’s ready for another shed.

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I trust you're healing well from your own ordeal? I'm glad you got anything with a bleach smell out of her enclosure- those fumes are very irritating to their lung (snakes mostly only have one lung), & bleach is toxic to all living things (us too) so you should only use it when absolutely necessary, & only on things that cannot absorb it.

Yes, you can spot clean with chlorhexidine- just don't spray your snake with it, & wipe it completely dry before allowing your snake near enough to touch it. ;) (it's nowhere NEAR as toxic as bleach & leaves no fumes) If your snake is active, you could either remove them while you spot clean, or just put something in their way to block them temporarily- they usually take "the hint".

Not sure what you meant by "can spot clean/treats with chlorhexidine" though??? :confusd:

Sorry. I meant spot clean/treatment. Roxanne likes to go in a corner which is great but incognito. When I isolate the issue it would be great to disinfect it considering she’s such a clean critter otherwise.

Hey guys. Didn’t know if I should’ve started a new thread or bring this one back from the dead, it is Halloween season so here it is.

Roxy is 3 1/2 months old and just recently started her on a every seven day feeding instead of every five day feeding. Last week I could not get a rat anywhere so I gave her a 29g mouse. Comparing the mouse to the rats she’s been getting it seem much more dense and bone rich than she’s used to. During this time she’s been getting bigger without any additional sheds being found. And ever since that mouse she’s been in hunt mode the entire time. She’s also been showing aggressive motioning towards me, Like almost jumping out of her enclosure like a slingshot today. Not sure if she is showing signs of a shed Or if she just has a raging appetite. I was thinking of giving her a small 20 g rat 6 days later thinking she might need additional energy for the shed. Roxanne is a light color and I cannot tell any difference physically just behaviorally . But the funky behavior and the fact that she spends 85% in a humid hide, 10% extended over the entire enclosure in an S shape and 5% in her cool hide Makes me think I should expect a shed.

Any opinions on both my and Roxy’s behavior humans?

Young snakes eating young rodents often don't need to defecate until they've eaten multiple meals, since the younger rodents are very digestible, & snakes also conserve moisture in their body by not "going" more than they really need to. Rats have thicker fur than mice do & mice are usually easier to digest- that might explain her continued "hunger".

It's hard to say if she's going into a shed cycle, since we're not seeing her- but keep in mind that snakes often stay in what we call "feed mode" for hours or days after a meal- acting as if they're still hungry. Anyway, don't fall for it & don't feed her again until she's had time (a week) to digest her prey, as additional prey is likely to be regurgitated (due to insufficient digestive enzymes & interrupting the digestive process already in progress). I'd also skip feeding her if you see that she is in a shed cycle- most snakes refuse to eat then anyway- so why waste the prey?

Her "aggressive motioning towards you" sounds like it's just her normal reaction to something approaching that she hasn't yet identified as prey or predator- she's not identifying you based on vision alone- most of our snakes are quite near-sighted & need our touch &/or scent to recognize us- don't take it "personal". ;)

She sounds a little too active to be in a shed mode right now- they usually aren't coming after motion when in shed, just laying low in a cool or humid hide. You'll get better in time (with practice) recognizing her impending shed cycle- the cloudy eyes, lack of appetite, dull colors, & texture change in the skin wrinkles on their neck generally makes it obvious, even in pale snakes.

As you always say Bogertophis Snakes will be snakes and they work on their own schedule. Got a nice size poop and some urates today. I’ve been over inspecting her home because the last week there is definitely been a little funk in the air. Her feces was really well intertwined with the more complicated fake foliage suctioned to the bin. I assumed it was fresh because it’s still retain a lot of moisture and looked like the fresh poop I’ve cleaned up in the past. Then I was thinking maybe due to the humidity it just stayed moist, I couldn’t find it visually without removing the plant it and maybe that’s why she seemed a little agitated. I would not want to be locked in the Sterilite bin with a python poop.

I know a lot of people on the board say their snake hides heavily before a shed but do some still stay in hunt mode? There might be some dulling in the skin and there is a possibility that her shed is in the Moss again.

But at her growth rate she definitely is due for a shed and seems uber neurotic or mad at me for continuing to keep her moist tide moist while she’s hiding.

But days on end she’s been in her humid hide And if her head isn’t sticking out in rest mode it’s in Hundt mode. And if she’s completely in hide she goes immediately in a hunt mold when she hears me coming.



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Quote:

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Originally Posted by D-.No

I know a lot of people on the board say their snake hides heavily before a shed but do some still stay in hunt mode?

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My Children's python crawls under his repti-carpet and stays there for a week prior to his shed.

This is when I feel like such an novice. I’m checking her enclosure 20 times a day for signs of a shed (and Ofcourse temps n humidity) mainly because I want to gauge her feeding schedule.

And hearing myself say that I’m probably stressing her out more than anything always sticking my head in there[emoji849]


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OK I read up on a lot of old care logs and the shedding process. Definitely feel confident that I need to be way more patient with her. I’m not gonna bother her except to spray her down and her humid hide since it dries out pretty quick being over the UTH.
I think a lot of times I mistake her defensiveness/confusion for hunger or worse poor husbandry. Pretty sure I’m more stressed out than my pet. Maybe I’m shedding as well?


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