BP not shedding right

[Crosstongue]

I moved my BP into a 40 gallon breeder with three hides and a large piece of drift wood.

The average tank temp is around 80

The digital probe on the cold end reads 78

The hot end reads 83-85

the basking spot reads 87-92

the humidity is 40-50 in the morning but I mist and bring it up to 78% and it stays there for most of the day, i mist again before I go to bed.

I also put in a humidity hide and a second water bowl

But yeah at first he jsut startd scraping skin flakes off.
So then I did what I do with my corn snakes if they ever have a bad shed. I take a pillowcase and soak it in warm water and then squeeze it out and put the snake in there for about twenty minutes. After that I let him crawl through a wash cloth and I help him rub off most of the skin. everything past the first few inches of his body came off, but he has yet to shed the face and neck....

Why isn't he shedding properly?
My friend who has a ball says his had problems when it was younger, is it normal for them to have trouble?

The reptile con is in august. should I return him to the petstore and get a new ball if he's having problems? I only have a few days left to return him if I do.

[stratus_020202]

When they are shedding, they need a constant 60-70% humidity, just misting for a few min won't work. Your hot side is a little cool too. They don't need a basking spot since they are nocturnal. Just a hot side that is 90-92 all 24 hrs.

I would take a damp towel and lay it over the top of his terrarium; or take a few Tupperware tubs fill them with damp moss (or damp sponges) and set them around his cage to try and raise the humidity; or take a damp washcloth and lay it over all of his hides. You can just make them all humid hides while he is in shed. It's been my experience to raise the humdity as soon as they go blue, and keep the whole tank around 70%. That why no matter where they go, it's always humid. Good Luck!

[stratus_020202]

It's not normal. The only one I have had trouble with is my spider, and it's because she has a slight wobble. That's from hatchlings to older bp's.

[Crosstongue]

Thanks.

What shoudl I do about his shed though? will he be able to get it off on his own if i raise the humidity to a constant 70-80?

[seeya205]

I would fill a tupperware container with 90 degree water(about half way up the snakes side) and put the snake it for at least 30 minutes but no more than 60 minutes then let the snake crawl through a wet washcloth a few times. If it all does not come off then repeat daily until its off!

[stratus_020202]

I would fill a tupperware container with 90 degree water(about half way up the snakes side) and put the snake it for at least 30 minutes but no more than 60 minutes then let the snake crawl through a wet washcloth a few times. If it all does not come off then repeat daily until its off!

Yes. Works wonders for stuck sheds. It will almost fall off in your hands.

[mykee]

"When they are shedding, they need a constant 60-70% humidity"

No.
When they are shedding, they need a constant 80-90% humidity.
That.
Is the only reason your ball python did not shed in one beautiful piece.
You'll need to fix the reason (low humidity) that you're getting bad sheds, and you'll never need advice on how to remove stuck pieces of shed again.