Ball Python not shedding.

[guywithaballpython]

I've had this BP for around 3 months now and he hasnt shed once. I usually have him on 75-78 temp on the cold side and 80-85 on the hot side (which he never visits) and I have a humidifer and keeps him at 60 humidity. He hasnt shown any signs of an RI and hes eating and hydrating perfectly fine, any tips?

[BeansTheDerp]

ball pythons should be shedding every 4-6 weeks. up the hot side to 90 degrees Fahrenheit and the cold side to 80. and make sure you have a plastic container with a cap with a hole drilled into it with moss inside that everyday is sprayed with water so that it's a bit more humid. make sure the hole is big enough for the snake to crawl inside. I really hope you can solve this problem! make sure you haver rocks in there and décor for him to peel off shed with. do a deep cleaning and search for baled up shed. if none of this works take him to a vet. something could be seriously wrong. I really hope you can solve this and wish you the best of luck!

[BeansTheDerp]

also make sure you have a temp gun. I find that the thermometers from Petco and PetSmart absolutely suck and only check the temp ON the heat mat not on top of the bedding. I also find that replacing underneath the hot side inside of bedding, paper towel, makes it easier for heat to travel through. it might look ugly but it's for your snakes health.

[guywithaballpython]

I have a rock like hide that he absolutley loves. His temp and humidity has always been good and hes never had problems

[ckuhn003]

ball pythons should be shedding every 4-6 weeks. up the hot side to 90 degrees Fahrenheit and the cold side to 80. and make sure you have a plastic container with a cap with a hole drilled into it with moss inside that everyday is sprayed with water so that it's a bit more humid. make sure the hole is big enough for the snake to crawl inside. I really hope you can solve this problem! make sure you haver rocks in there and décor for him to peel off shed with. do a deep cleaning and search for baled up shed. if none of this works take him to a vet. something could be seriously wrong. I really hope you can solve this and wish you the best of luck!

With all due respect, I don't necessarily agree w/ the 4-6 weeks and the need to take a snake to the vet because it hasn't shed. Just for info, I looked at my records and on average my BP sheds every 70 - 100 days and I've had him for almost 5 years.

[BeansTheDerp]

With all due respect, I don't necessarily agree w/ the 4-6 weeks and the need to take a snake to the vet because it hasn't shed. Just for info, I looked at my records and on average my BP sheds every 70 - 100 days and I've had him for almost 5 years.

good to know! some ball pythons shed at different times and I didn't mean right away of course. I meant if they never shed even with the appropriate changes.

[dakski]

BPs and snakes in general shed at different rates based on age, growth, and health. Younger snakes grow more and shed more generally.

Your snake will shed when it is ready.

If the sheds are bad that’s another story. Not shedding frequently is nothing to worry about IMO.

[Bogertophis]

ball pythons should be shedding every 4-6 weeks. up the hot side to 90 degrees Fahrenheit and the cold side to 80. and make sure you have a plastic container with a cap with a hole drilled into it with moss inside that everyday is sprayed with water so that it's a bit more humid. make sure the hole is big enough for the snake to crawl inside. I really hope you can solve this problem! make sure you haver rocks in there and décor for him to peel off shed with. do a deep cleaning and search for baled up shed. if none of this works take him to a vet. something could be seriously wrong. I really hope you can solve this and wish you the best of luck!

I don't agree with this ^ post either- snakes grow at different rates. Young snakes eating smaller prey take longer because the younger prey isn't as nutritious as more mature prey that provides more minerals & protein. Watching a young snake grow is rivaled only by the joy of watching paint dry.

And the cold side should not be 80* either. The cold side is fine where it is, but the warmest area should be 86-88* He is most likely visiting the warm side at night when no one's watching.

Taking a snake that is slow-growing to the wrong but well-meaning vet could in some cases cause misunderstanding & more harm than good. Vets practice reptile medicine (chemical & surgical interventions) in most cases, but snake "husbandry", not so much. If the vet misinterprets the information he's given, he might prescribe medication with adverse side effects, & it sure wouldn't be the first time.

Vet visits also add stress to your snake's life, & that alone makes them more prone to illness, just as it apparently does in humans & other creatures.

Let's not panic someone by telling them there "could be something seriously wrong", okay? I know you're trying to help, Beans, but you need more experience before giving this kind of advice, okay?

Oh, & just so you know, many snakes are pretty adept at shedding even without rocks etc.- many actually rub against their own coils & leave a tightly-rolled bundle that resembles a ski hat when they've finished. Even the large BCI that I had for years did that most of the time. Using rocks (etc) to rub against are usually the last ditch effort when the snake is having trouble with a shed that's too dry to remove easily.

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To the OP "guywithaballpython":

You did say he's eating, but what size prey are you feeding him? He may be underfed... That would likely explain his lack of growth & shedding.



The cold side is fine where it is but I do think the warm side would be best if raised to 86-88*. A snake's metabolism depends entirely on temperature, so keeping him a bit too cool won't facilitate his desire to eat, much less his digestion or growth, & if he doesn't grow, he doesn't shed. It's up to YOU, he cannot control the heat, that's on you.

He is most likely visiting the warm side at night when no one's watching.

[Bogertophis]

I've had this BP for around 3 months now and he hasnt shed once...

How old is the snake? (we have no way of knowing if you got him as a hatchling or as an adult)

I have a rock like hide that he absolutley loves. His temp and humidity has always been good and hes never had problems

Only ONE hide? That may be why you never see him on the warm side, AND why he's slow to grow & shed. Ever think of that?

Snakes instinctively prefer "safety & security" over & above the proper temperatures, so IF your snake only has a "hide that he absolutely loves" but it's on the cool side where he won't digest well, guess where he'll be staying? On the cool side with the hide he likes.

Suggestion: get another identical hide, & have one on the cool side, the other on the warm side. That is the only way you'll know what temperatures he prefers, & I bet he starts using the warm side & growing better.

This is a very simple fix, but if you ignore this, you may in fact end up with an unhealthy BP, & I'm sure you don't want that...not when it's so easy to prevent.

[Ball_Pythons4life]

I agree with Bogertophis. Just the other day I was cleaning out my bps enclosure and underneath one of her hides in the middle of the tank was a super balled up piece of skin, and I doubt she even left it during the whole shed process. There's no set time on when they should shed, but as long as he/she keeps eating and pooping like normal you should be just fine. If hes/shes an adult he/she will shed far less often than a juvenile.