ball python shed question

[MarkLeishman]

My ball is currently in its shed * this is my first shed *
So the question is
Ive got a rock against the wooden vivarium with a space so the snake fits in,
Id did a test to see if i took the rock out and put the snake on it to let it go over the rough edges and it kept going off the rock onto the carpet
so it was going over the rock then on the carpet
Is this advisable to keep picking him up when hes fully off the rock and putting him back on to try help with the shed?
Hes been through blue eyes etc
His head is starting to shed/belly but its been about 4 days since he started to shed

[satomi325]

4 days is a a long time. Your humidity might not be high enough for him to shed properly.

I have nothing but a water bowl in my rack tubs. So my snakes don't use or need logs or rough things to assist their sheds because the humidity is good. They always shed in a nice whole piece.

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[nimblykimbly]

4 days is a a long time. Your humidity might not be high enough for him to shed properly.

I have nothing but a water bowl in my rack tubs. So my snakes don't use or need logs or rough things to assist their sheds because the humidity is good. They always shed in a nice whole piece.

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Same here. If my humidity is ever too low, their shed has come off in pieces and stayed stuck on their bodies. It should come off in one big piece, like a sock. You shouldn't have to help them with this at all. You might want to try soaking him/her, or I've had better success by putting them in a pillowcase/snake bag that has been wet down with very warm water and then lightly rung out, so it's still damp. I put them in, close the bag so they can't get out, put them on or very close to their hot spot, and leave them in for 45 min to an hour. They usually have it all off and stuck inside the bag when I pull them back out! good luck!

[MarkLeishman]

Same here. If my humidity is ever too low, their shed has come off in pieces and stayed stuck on their bodies. It should come off in one big piece, like a sock. You shouldn't have to help them with this at all. You might want to try soaking him/her, or I've had better success by putting them in a pillowcase/snake bag that has been wet down with very warm water and then lightly rung out, so it's still damp. I put them in, close the bag so they can't get out, put them on or very close to their hot spot, and leave them in for 45 min to an hour. They usually have it all off and stuck inside the bag when I pull them back out! good luck!

So i just get a pillow case and put warm water on it? How warm should the water be?
My heat source is a heat lamp
Wouldnt it get too hot?

[KMG]

78-80 is what I use when needing to soak a snake. Remember if it feels warm to you it is probably to hot for a snake.

In the middle of the cage would be fine.

[nimblykimbly]

So i just get a pillow case and put warm water on it? How warm should the water be?
My heat source is a heat lamp
Wouldnt it get too hot?

This is how I do it - I use snake bags (you can use a pillowcase, preferably an inexpensive one with low thread count, the tightly woven ones allow for very little airflow when wet) I get it wet with hot water, then lightly ring it out so it's fairly damp still, but not with water dripping off. As I unfold it and open it up, it cools. I ALWAYS check and make sure it's not still overly warm or hot to the touch (barely warm is good) before I put the snake in. Close off the top by tying it shut or using a string (make sure you can easily loosen it later) I have a UTH or back heat heat tape, depending on the set-up (display tank or racks) Check your hot spot. If it's at the temp it should be (low 90s-ish) you should be good, if you are concerned, place the snake just outside of the hot spot, but not too far away where the wet bag will get cold. I put mine as close to the hot spot as possible. You can check on it every 10 - 15 mins if you'd like, check the bag with the thermometer, or to make sure it's doing okay and see if it has the shed off. I leave mine alone for at least 45 mins or so. So far, it has taken all the stuck shed off with no problems Clean, shiny, happy snake when I take it out of the bag!

Hope this helps!

[ironpython]

I'm no expert by any means but I gotta tell ya you learn pretty quick using these web sites and just from trial and error. For shedding I've found that when the belly starts to get pink they will be shedding soon so I put some sphagnum moss that I buy really cheap at Lowes in the hot side of my tub and wet it good when they shed its like a sock coming off every time.

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[KMG]

I keep moss in my hides. I mist it every few days during regular time and keep it damp during the shed times. This really helps in my glass tank give me great shed. I soak the moss and squeeze out most the water but it is still really wet at the first signs of a shed.

[Marrissa]

I use Eco Earth and while it's a real pain because it gets everywhere, it really helps my humidity a lot with my glass tank. I also have bits of moss scattered in it to help hold the moisture. I usually mist it once every day or two because the heat lamp sucks the moisture out of the Eco Earth.

[satomi325]

Yes. It definitely sounds like your humidity is too low especially since you're using a heat lamp. Heat lamps such up all the humidity in a tank.

To maintain humidity, you can do a few tricks:
1) Cover 90% of the screen top with a damp towel, taped down tin foil, or plexiglass.
2) Use a larger water dish and move it over to the hot side of the cage (wider dish = larger surface area for evaporation)
3) use a substrate that maintains humidity well such as coco husk or cypress mulch.
4) You can also add damp moss