Sheding

[Derek5stone2006]

Hey everyone!

I am new to owning a ball python and I'm brand new to this site.

My snake seems to be in the begining stages of it's shed. The eyes were clouldy and now they are clear. I noticed this morning her skin looks loser and more wrinkled. I have looked to make sure this was part of the process but I have not found an answer that is complete to what I'm looking for. Can anyone let me know this is okay or not? I put a wet cloth in there to raise the humidity.

Thanks a lot,
Derek

[Texas Dan]

Hey everyone!

I am new to owning a ball python and I'm brand new to this site.

My snake seems to be in the begining stages of it's shed. The eyes were clouldy and now they are clear. I noticed this morning her skin looks loser and more wrinkled. I have looked to make sure this was part of the process but I have not found an answer that is complete to what I'm looking for. Can anyone let me know this is okay or not? I put a wet cloth in there to raise the humidity.

Thanks a lot,
Derek

yeah, you'll be good. Their eyes change color almost a week before they shed. I dunno if it's different for each one, but once the eyes go blue, there's like a 4-7 day window, something like that where they'll shed.

Just make sure to keep the humidity above 50%. Some people say more, but i keep mine at 50% all the time, 24/7 and never have problems.

[piper]

Whats the humidity at now?

Is the snake in a tub or an aquarium?

By what I have read, the humidity may be a little low.. Few things I have done before because I have one in an aquarium is put a damp towel over top of the aquarium, take a margarine container or w/e, poke holes in it and put the damp facecloth in that. I wouldn't put a damp towel or facecloth right in the aquarium because this can cause bacteria.
Obviously misting as well works. What type of bedding do you have down? Do you have lights above or heat below? Lights can soak up the humidity pretty bad.

Cheers

[Derek5stone2006]

The snake is in an aquarium and I do have lights above it. I will try the towel above the setup. Thanks for the tip of Not putting the cloth in the tank, that didn't even cross my mind.

[JohnNJ]

I wouldn't put a damp towel or facecloth right in the aquarium because this can cause bacteria. Obviously misting as well works.

Never thought about putting a wet towel in the tank but I do have wet sphagnum moss in a dish.

Wouldn't the misting cause bacteria? What about an increased chance of scale rot due to the moisture collected at the bottom of the tank?

[Texas Dan]

As far as the sking being loose and all, I thought that's something that happens when they are shedding? I've noticed it before, and right after the shed it looks nice, tight and shiney.

And yeah, I didn't think about the cloth in the tank. You know,if you were to just change it everyday (don't forget). I dunno why that would be that bad...

[piper]

Never thought about putting a wet towel in the tank but I do have wet sphagnum moss in a dish.

Wouldn't the misting cause bacteria? What about an increased chance of scale rot due to the moisture collected at the bottom of the tank?

That's why I asked what he was using for bedding. I use papertowel and don't spray directly on the papertowel i moist a towel and put it on top, and mist lightly.. I have my other in a tub and generally don't have to worry about the humidity at all.

I believe if you have to constantly mist all day everyday, just to barely keep the humidity up, than it's time to figure something out because in my opinion, I'm far from a professional but THAT would cause scale rot.. I have never had the issue (knock on wood).

[Derek5stone2006]

my bedding is crushed corn cob. The humidity was low it was a touch under 50% but it is on the rise and nearing 65% now. I have noticed the snake is very wrinkly now, this happened within the past few hours... So would this be safe to say it's getting close to the shed?

[Texas Dan]

my bedding is crushed corn cob. The humidity was low it was a touch under 50% but it is on the rise and nearing 65% now. I have noticed the snake is very wrinkly now, this happened within the past few hours... So would this be safe to say it's getting close to the shed?

Quick question.. I know you're worried and all, but are you taking it outof it's hide to check? I know once my snakes enter shed mode, I don't see them for days, maybe more. I mean.. out of their hides. So I can't say for sure if that's supposed to happen, but I would just leave it alone for a bit. And just wait to see if it sheds.

If your temps/humidity are ok, then you should really have nothing to worry about.

If you've never had your snake shed before, it can seem like it takes forever. It'll happen. Probably tomorrow you'll wake up and there will be some shed, and your snake will look nice and shiny.