A Shed I Raised My Eyebrow At

[shootingstar26]

Hey Forum

I have a ball python (big surprise) and it shed. Let me tell you about it.

Did it just kinda shed without making a fuss, like usual? Absolutely not. When I woke up this morning, it looked like a battlefield. One hide had the lid toppled over and moved a bit to the side; pieces of shed EVERYWHERE, and I mean that literally, it moved its other hide a little bit as well, shed in the water bowl, on the foliage, on both hides; and as if I didn't have enough cleaning to do, it left me three presents (also on the foliage), and some urates. Three presents.

Is that normal?

Also: for the second time in a row, my ball python has a little stuck shed on its head (luckily no stuck eyecaps). The rest of the body if fine, no stuck shed anywhere else. Is it fine to leave it that way?

One last question. Is there some sort of affliction which turns the vent orange? Are there good examples (i.e. pictures) anywhere? There is a picture in the book I have, but I want accuracy. Realistically, I don't really think it looks like the picture in the book, but better to know now than later if it is something I should look out for, if it turns up.

[bads15]

right off the bat i would have to say check your humidity. it sounds like its too low. your snake is rubbing up against everything trying to get the shed off and is having trouble.
as far as turning the vent orange, a pic would help in answering that question.
keep in mint after they shed sometimes their vents can look irritated. sometimes blood will be evident as well.
john

[shootingstar26]

Is 70% too low? It flunctuated when in shed; by flunctuate I mean it ranged from 65%-75%

[Kaorte]

If your humidity was actually 65-70% then your snake would have had a complete shed.

What kind of hygrometer are you using?

The poop everywhere is normal after a shed. Also, they will sometimes leave a few drops of blood that comes from there vent where the shed rips off, completely normal. So if you see a little bit of irritation there, it is likely from that.

[loonunit]

I have a couple animals that just have a hard time shedding, especially in winter. I'd buy another humidity gauge and check your temps, but it might just be a seasonal thing.

The vent is probably just irritated from all the extra rubbing and, uh, pooping. Check it in a couple days to see if it's gone back to normal.

Better check for retained eyecaps and make sure your bp got the last bit at the tip of the tail off.

[shootingstar26]

I'm using a digital hygrometer/Thermometer I found at Rite-Aid.

There are no retained eyecaps, and last bit of the tail came off too. It's just the head that seems to have shed badly.

[SpyderGirl]

I'm using a digital hygrometer/Thermometer I found at Rite-Aid.

There are no retained eyecaps, and last bit of the tail came off too. It's just the head that seems to have shed badly.

That happened to me when I first got my bp and was still trying to get the hang of things. I give all my snakes a bath once a week. A good soak in Luke warm water( not cold but not hot either) for like 5 or 10 minutes will help soften the skin. Do NOT pull off skin. It will come off on it's own. Also made a bag out off an old towel I had and put a handle on it. So I give a bath then put him in his bag, hang it around my neck and finish cleaning his stuff. I have only myself for help so I had to figure something out lol. Hope this helps good luck on your next shed. I'm sure if you get your humidity down pat all will be well

[shootingstar26]

Thanks! But should I do anything right now for it?

[SpyderGirl]

Thanks! But should I do anything right now for it?

You sure can! My spider girl just shed this morning but still had some skin hanging off her butt. So I gave her a nice bath ( which she really enjoys) and just laid a wash cloth on my lap and when I pulled her out I put her on the cloth and wiped her dry. Skin came right off! But I didn't pull it off... You really don't need to do that. In fact if it's on his head just give hima bath and put him back. He will rub it off himself. Have a good time in the bath!! Lol

[Elise.m]

I'm not sure if this is the case, but it happened to me.

My pinstripe had to go through 2 sheds in order to figure out how to get the shed off his head. The humidity was perfect, he just didn't know how to quite go about it I'm guessing... The third shed he had was a complete one. So it might just take some time for him/her to get the hang of it. I've started misting the enclosure the night before I think they're going to shed though. Rather be safe than sorry.