Not Shedding!

[AkivaSmith]

I got my BP just over 6 weeks ago, and he has not shed yet. He is eating regularly. His temps are good, the humidity is always between 48%-62% usually about 54%. I have noticed one or two flakes the size of individual scales, but no sign of a shed.

What should I do? Should I worry?

[djslurp1200]

wait for the belly to turn to a pinkish color. This is a good indication that the snake will be going into shed soon. Once it does you will notice the tummy fading up into his/her sides will fade or turn like a bluish color as well as their eyes.


How big is your ball python? that will have a factor in how often it sheds as well

[AkivaSmith]

I have not done an actual measurement, but Fluffy is 4 months 10 days old and about 21" long. His widest body width is 7/8in. I haven't weighed him.

[djslurp1200]

ok so yeah, so it should shed around every 4-6 weeks...


Older ball's don't shed as much, but the young'ns shed more since they're constantly growing.

[frankykeno]

How often and what is your snake eating as far as type of prey and size of prey?

[AkivaSmith]

One F/T crawler sized mouse every Friday evening. He sometimes has trouble getting started, but he always gets it down. A couple of time he as bitten the mouse behind the head when he coiled. This then takes him about 10 minutes to get it turned around to swallow it.

[kurgan]

I think the consensus is that anything smaller than an adult mouse is too small even for a hatchling BP. Try him on adult mice or even rat pups and hopefully he should start to grow a bit faster and therfore shed more often