Shedding Issues

[CaitJaye]

This is my new balls first shed and its been a little difficult for her.
I had gone to a local petstore looking for a new chameleon but instead fell in love with this little baby python they had in the back. I brought her home and a let her settle in for a week. At this point I handled her more often and realized she had a pretty nasty mite infestation. Fantastic. So I re-did the entire setup, new substrate the wholeee deal. It took about a month to really get rid of all the mites. Now, I had been soaking her every three days and cleaning out the tank. Also I had been spraying and rubbing her with natural chemistry reptile spray. All the mites have been long gone by now, but her shed has been a little difficult. Its been about two weeks and she still has the eye caps and her shed has been very piecy, most of it is still along her back. Any tips for helping her out any?

[I-KandyReptiles]

What mite spray are you using?
I thought you couldn't apply PAM to the animal?

[CaitJaye]

Its called natural chemistry reptile spray. The directions are to spray directly on reptile and areas of the tanks where mites might hide (so everywhere). I was recommnded this kind because its easy on the reptile apparently and a friend has used it on his.

[kitedemon]

Poor sheds have a number of causes one being stress. It is likely that between the mites and stress caused by them and the treatment causing a poor shed. Husbandry also of course can have a big hand. The best advise is simple make sure your temps and humidity are correct (50-60%RH) and let her settle for a while. Typically a poor shed will self correct once the animal has a chance.

[I-KandyReptiles]

Since you have no more mites, stop soaking her and do NOT mess with her eye caps.

Ill usually let my bps have a soak in the tub with a wash cloth if they have a bad shed and only then. Most of the time, theyll be fine by the next shed.

[BHReptiles]

When my BPs have bad sheds, here's what I do:

1. Leave the eye caps alone. Usually they resolve themselves with the next shed. If they don't, I give them one more shed before going to the herp vet to remove them so I don't damage their eyes.

2. Depending on the size of the snake, I dampen a wash cloth or towel (obviously a towel for a larger snake, a wash cloth for a smaller snake) with warm water and place the snake on the cloth and wrap up the snake like a burrito. I then apply GENTLE pressure as the snake slithers out of the cloth. The shed usually comes off. If it doesn't, I do this one more time. If it's still not off, I wait a day or two and try again. Usually the skin comes off the first time.

[CaitJaye]

oh yea, I haven't soaked her since she had mites. Its been at least 2 weeks since I've soaked her. I was just explaining the care I was giving her during the mite issue.

Yea I don't wanna touch her eyes at all. I figure in the wild snakes aren't gonna have someone messing around with their shed, so it'll work itself out. But I just wanted to see if there was anything to make her more comfortable. Shes been her usual self other then the piecy shed, pretty active at night, eating very very well. (never any problems there ha)

I've never had a bad shed with any of my other snakes previously, but theres a first for everything. Funnn.