New ball python owner/shedding

[maggieehunt]

Hey, I got my 2 month old ball python about two weeks ago and it's time for his first shed! His eyes are foggy and belly pink but now he is starting to shed on his face. It's been skin hanging off his face for two days. He's having trouble getting the skin off and so I've been misting him with water and did a soak in warm water but he's still having trouble getting the skin past his face! His skin is also really wrinkley and looks like he has super loose skin is this normal?

[Phantomtip]

Do you have something for him to rub against? Also what's the humidity level? Even misting him won't help if you don't have a high enough humidity level.

[maggieehunt]

Yeah he has a rock house thing and a rock with a plant out of it! But I'm not sure what the humidity level is the pet store guy told me I just needed a thermometer! I'll go by an pick one up today and see what it is

[200xth]

Has he actually shed or not yet?

If he has shed, this is how to fix a bad shed:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...hed-No-problem

If he has not actually shed yet, I would not continue soaking him. I would just raise the humidity level for now.

Don't get an analog humidity device to measure it...they seem to be relatively inaccurate. Instead, get an electronic one. Bonus is it should do both temp and humidity levels.

Something like one of these should do well for you:
http://www.amazon.com/AcuRite-00325-.../dp/B004K8RF10
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Acu-Rite-I...mometer/896347

[Phantomtip]

BPs need humidity. Not just misting. Go get a digital thermometer hygrometer at the hardware store or walmart. They are pretty cheap and accurate. The analog ones are not. If his humidity is lower than 40% raise it to at least 50%. It will make it easier to shed. Also they like some humidity. Pet store people are not very informative on how to care for these sweet creatures.

[maggieehunt]

Thank you guys so much! I'm definitely going to get the digital thermometer hygrometer at at hardware store!! He hasn't shed yet, hes just trying to get it off his face and is having a hard time! He hasn't started working on his body yet! Another quick question, I've only had him two weeks so I've only fed him twice. He LOVES to eat it only taking him a few minutes to take the pinky down. When should I move up to feeding him two pinkys? and when after that should i move up to the bigger mice? Thanks so much!

[Saber402]

A pinky is not big enough!

You should be feeding 10 - 15% of the snakes body weight each week. You need to certainly be moving up to bigger mice. My little guys are already eating rat pups and they aren't much older than yours.

You will also need a digital scale to weigh your BP. Walmart has them from $15 - $20. Make sure it can read grams. You can get that when you pick up the Acu-Rite thermometer/hygrometer. It's only $12.99 there.

Good luck!

[Crazymonkee]

If he's on mice, go with hopper mouse or small adult mouse. A scale is not necessarily needed. Get something as wide as the widest part of your snake or a lil bigger.

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[maggieehunt]

Oh gosh I feel bad I did not know he was going hungry! No wonder he loves eating so much! I will definitely move up to the small mice! Another question I have is he has a small white spot on his head. The pet store owner told me that it was just a scale messed up from when he was shedding last. He said it would go away, but it hasn't yet. Do you think that is what it is? I do not think it is anything dangerous because he is friendly and always in a good mood lurking around!

this is him all wrinkly trying to shed! you can kind of see the white spot on his head!


here you can see his head a little bit better!

[Crazymonkee]

It will most likely go away after a shed or two.
Definitely get the humidity up to 65-70 for a successful shed

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