Snake doesn't know how to shed....HELP!

[ziggy7]

We rescued a three year old ball python from someone who had him in a tank that had hides...nothing to rub up against....no temp or humidity gange, etc. Took him to the vet and got a clean bill of health...seems to have retained eye caps which we are treating w/mineral oil...previous owner removed them w/tweezers...gotta love that.

Anyway...here's my question...his eyes went blue...his belly went pink...temp and humdiity were great in the tank but he is at the point where the shed is pulled away from his skin but he just does nothing to help it along. We have been soaking him as well. Do you think he just doesn't know how to get it off and is used to just having it fall off over time? I'm not used to this since our other snake rubs himself all over the place until the job is done.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance

[xdeus]

Snakes have been doing this for millions of years, so I think it's pretty much programmed into them on how to shed. Also, they don't require anything special to rub up against. Most of mine have perfect sheds that resemple a rolled up condom when complete... all done within their hides.

Just relax and let nature take its course. If he has a stuck shed, you can place him in a damp pillowcase for a couple of hours in his cage. He'll get the rest off, or you can easily pull it off when he comes out. Just make sure he's not sitting under a heat lamp or directly over an UTH.

[frankykeno]

A lot of ours shed in their hides too. I just find a rolled up shed ball, occasionally with a stinky surprise center. I once caught one of mine when I lifted the hide and she was just wiggling in there. Kind of looked like a woman trying to wiggle out of waaaaaaaaay too tight pantyhose LOL.

The BCI we fostered (that Becky has adopted) did have issues like that though. He would go into shed and just curl up and refuse to move or anything. We did have to shove at him a bit to get him to move around a bit and get things going. Once he started though he was off to the races and shed perfectly, just for some reason he'd stay motionless for a week if we didn't intervene at some point.

[mr~python]

hey! i think i can use this nifty picture i have!

vanessa shedding a few months back. nifty huh guys? lol.

[frankykeno]

That is such a cool pic Marshall! I've never caught one of ours shedding and thought to run get the camera silly me! Have you ever entered that in the BPOM?

[mr~python]

no, i never thought too. i dont think it would win though, do you? i guess i should probably give it a shot.

[frankykeno]

Well even if you don't win Marshall it's great for so many people to view that excellent picture you took. It's really well done and a great subject matter and she's such a lovely female BP. I think you should enter it.

[mr~python]

ok, then i will enter my nifty picture! thanks Jo!

[recycling goddess]

i love that pic marshall... i agree... put it in the contest!!!!

[lisa77]

My corn is the same...I have to encourage him to move to start his shed..he just loooooves his hide too much !