Loose looking skin?

[Blueraven99]

Hi all,

I fed my snake on Tuesday of this week. Today I handled him for the first time since and his skin looked a little bit loose. He is my first. I have not been around snakes for a few years. He is very young. I have been feeding him one hopper every six days. I think that may be too small for him and another member here commented the same. So next week I plan on upgrading his feed size.

Anyway, he was a bit grumpy today so I did not have him out long. But I noticed his skin creasing a bit and, as I said, it looked loose. He has not had a shed with me yet. Is this simply a food issue? He needs bigger prey or is it something else?

I have him in an overstocked 20 L tank, cypress mulch mixed with eco earth substrate. An UTH heating pad with thermostat that stays at 92. Cool side ranges from 75 to 82 depending on house temp. I fight to keep the humidity between 50 and 60. I mist and use a damp towel.

I do not have a scale yet to know his weight as of yet.

I included a photo for size reference.

Thank you all.

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[Yodawagon]

Looks fine to me.

[Ax01]

based on that picture he looks fine. based on your description, loose skin can a sign of an upcoming shed. he might turn blue and eyes go milky soon.


a more pressing sign of an underweight BP is a visible spine that peaks. the creases where his body bends/curves in that ball is normal. he doesn't look starved, but could move up to a larger prey. he looks like he can begin taking small adult mice with ease.

[Blueraven99]

Thank you. I am going to buy him adult mice today. Possibly will feed him his last hopper this weekend. He is acting a little moody and hungry. I will look for signs of shed.

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[redshepherd]

When I got my first ball python, I also thought that his skin looked loose/saggy... turns out, it was just because he was a little underweight and needed to start on bigger meals. Being moody is also be a sign of needing bigger meals, assuming his eyes aren't clouded over for a shed.

[Blueraven99]

Thank you. I went and got him adult mice today. I agree with you all that his feed was too small. I'll attempt to fees him his last hopper this weekend and then start with adult mice. His eyes have not gotten milky. How often should a young snake shed? I've had him almost a month with no shed.

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[Yodawagon]

Thank you. I went and got him adult mice today. I agree with you all that his feed was too small. I'll attempt to fees him his last hopper this weekend and then start with adult mice. His eyes have not gotten milky. How often should a young snake shed? I've had him almost a month with no shed.

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I'd would guess within the next 2 weeks.

[Blueraven99]

Thank you. I'll keep an eye on him. Up his food and check him out thoroughly when handling, watch for milky eyes.

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