Shedding period

[intherough]

My ball has been showing signs he is going into shed soon, this will be his first shed since i have had him.
His belly has gone very pink in the last three days and he has got very edgy.

Just curious how long does this process take? Can i do anything to help him?
He has an RI at the moment too so will this need any extra requirements?

I have already raised his humidity to 80%

[stratus_020202]

I don't know about the RI, but you don't need humidity at 80% for shed. I'd drop it down to between 60 & 70. Unless it's high because of his RI.

It will probably take about a week. Here is a sticky on the shed process: http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules/...warticle&id=57

In my experience too much humidity can cause the shed to tear easy.

[MsPrada]

I kept my girls humidity at 80% for her shed, constantly. She shed in one complete piece and when I touched it and stuff it didnt tear easily. I'm sure thought that this can be different for different people and snakes and set ups. 65%-75% was recommended, but I spoke to a few people with snakes of their own and tried the 80% and it worked well.

[Beto510]

you might need to keep a VERY CLOSE eye on the humidity as it might worsen the RI i suggest havin a moss hide so that he can go whenever he wants and regulate his own humidity but wait for the experts to dial in

[trott]

Yeah, watch the Hum. with the RI. I get complete sheds with all mine at 60%. Too much Hum is worse than being a little low. And it usually takes 7-10 days but that varies.

[stratus_020202]

Yeah, watch the Hum. with the RI. I get complete sheds with all mine at 60%. Too much Hum is worse than being a little low. And it usually takes 7-10 days but that varies.

I was going to say, I haven't heard of a lot of people who go above 70%. With my 6, and the many sheds I have seen, I have better results between 60 and 70 than 70 to 80.

[Patricia]

Just curious how long does this process take?

I'd like to know, too, as ours doesn't match that great care sheet posted here. Ours first went pink 3 weeks ago. Blue eyes earlier this week, clearing up last night/today. I'm expecting a shed by the end of the week, but the entire process takes 3-4 weeks!

[stratus_020202]

I think it really depends on the snake/age. The pink phase is the longest/hardest to recognize. The best thing to do is get them into sunlight, or some kind of natural light. The bulb in my snake room make them look pink before they actually are. I usually go by the dark pink when i'm measuring days, not a slight pink.

Mine also get really lazy when they go into a real dark pink. Usually 5-7 days they go into a blue phase, and about 3-4 days of that they will clear up, two days later they shed. I would have to go with 2 weeks for the whole process.

Of course, like i said, every snake is different. babies shed faster, as well as a snake that is hurt. The best thing i have ever done is get an iherp accout. www.iherp.com

It is really easy to track all of your animals. It's free too. I track weight, poops, eating schedules, and you can track a shed all the way from pink, to blue, to clear. It's really easy.

[Patricia]

Thanks for the info about iherp.

[intherough]

Brilliant web site, thanks for that Stratus!