Shedding Problem

[bothrops25atrox]

My Ball Python has never shedded in one piece, And I have soaked him before every shed, and i have a water bowl in his cage for him to soak in, can anyone tell me what the problem may be

[daniel1983]

Sometimes they just do not shed in one piece. Have you tried using a humid hide? Since I started throwing one in an enclosure during sheds, I have always had perfect sheds.

[mr~python]

dont soak him at all *until* he has a bad shed. i used to have the same problem when i first started keeping. i stopped soaking before sheds and just made sure my humidity was right (~75%) during shedding and mine have shed perfect ever since.

i do, however, make sure they can soak in their waterbowls as ive seen my female doing it a couple times before a shed and after large meals.

[Evan Jamison]

I just posted this on another thread yesterday, but it's relevant here too.

-Evan

[bothrops25atrox]

I started soaking him because he had a bad shed the first time, and every shed after that has been bad, it just comes off in pieces.

[hoo-t]

Repeated bad sheds are almost always caused by humidity that is too low. You need to ensure that the humidity in your snake's enclosure stays at 50% to 55% continuously, and that should be bumped up to 65% - 70% when you see the eyes go blue for a shed. The humidity in his enclosure can be accurately measured with an inexpensive digital thermometer/hygrometer from Walmart. If you'll describe your setup in detail, we can probably help you to get your temps/humidity more on target.

Steve

[bothrops25atrox]

I just have a basic 20 gal tank, with aspen bedding, large water bowl on one side and the hide on the other side, a heating pad under the side with the water bowl(but not directly under it) and a heat lamp diagonally above the water bowl, between the hide and the bowl, in the middle of the tank.

[recycling goddess]

balls need two identical hides. one on the warm side and one on the cool side. place your water bowl in between the two hides

having the light, can cause humidity problems, as can a glass tank. i'll let someone more experienced with these issues discuss them (as i use rubbermaid bins)

[hoo-t]

Here's a link for glass tank setup that should help.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=32800

You should at least cover most of the screen top of the tank to retain humidity. The method in the link will work, I just tape saran wrap over the top of mine, covering everything except where the light sits. I use clay pots as hides, and when I see the snake going blue, I thoroughly soak the clay pot in water, then place it back in the enclosure. This will raise the humidity in the tank, and create a "humid hide" at the same time.

Steve

[Sadie]

Consider stress and disease as well if the humidity explanation isn't working.