well its true about the clear stage after the blue stage but another thing to look for is. . . when i had my first ball python about 3 years ago i had him go blue then clear i waited about 5 days then no shed, i waited another 5 days still nothing this continued for about 2 weeks then while i was cleanin some poop out i noticed something stickin up from under the substrate i pulled at it and guess what i found . . . it was a long piece of shed turns out the little guy burrowed under the aspen shavings to get the shed off under the substrate and it stayed there burried, i felt a little silly but you learn from experiences