Strange Behavior

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

What the others have said about the shedding problem is true but my question is.. Have you weighed him since getting him? I mean did you weigh him when you got him and then weigh him now to see if he has lost weight.

I ask because in the before picture he looks nice and plump.
The after picture he looks like he has lost weight. If this is the case (IF) then he has not been getting enough food. This can also lead to a bad shed.

[MitsuMike]

What the others have said about the shedding problem is true but my question is.. Have you weighed him since getting him? I mean did you weigh him when you got him and then weigh him now to see if he has lost weight.

I ask because in the before picture he looks nice and plump.
The after picture he looks like he has lost weight. If this is the case (IF) then he has not been getting enough food. This can also lead to a bad shed.

No I have not. He prob has lost weight. When I first got him he didn't eat for 2 weeks, then the first time he ate a rat pinkie and a mouse fuzzy, then the last time I tried to feed him he only ate 1 fuzzy mouse. So since thanksgiving he has eaten only 1 mouse fuzzies and a rat pinkie. After the soak he will be fed the next day a nice 10 gram mouse.
Also the pic of him before was after he just ate. haha

[MitsuMike]

It's just sooo weird cuz my normal is just pounding down food already on 20 gram mice with no issues and my pastel is on fuzzies (once I got him eating) and now a bad shed. Poor little guy having all the probs.
BTW both in the EXACT same set up in the same room with same temps.

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

Try giving him something a bit bigger that moves more. I have a little vanilla female that I couldnt get to eat. She was so young I was getting worried. Then I offered her a big mouse hopper which looked almost too big for her and she took it. She just didnt want anything smaller than that. Now she is on rat hoppers.

That might be the problem. Help him get this shed off and offer him a live mouse hopper or weanling. Baby balls should have no problem taking these. One that moves alot more than a fuzzy. Only one though. Since he hasnt eaten very regularly you should not stuff him since it may take the digestive system time to catch back up.

After a few weeks of regular feeds he should be doing alot better. Sometimes it just takes something a little bigger and more active to get the baby balls eating. Don't try switching to frozen thawed until you know for sure he has no problems eating.

[Chocolate Muffin's]

Yea I think I'm just doing to do it first thing tom morning. Just to clarify this is sorta what I need to do right?
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=43403
Also any advice on the eye lids? I know a q tip is best to take it off but my snake is a baby and head shy....should it come off with the soak? And from what I can tell his eyes are clear and normal.....did they already shed?

Hi Mike,

his eyes will always go back to being clear 24 hours before he sheds. So thats 100% normal.When you soak him, hopefully is eye caps will come off with the rest of the shed around his face. (Its much like rolling backwards out of a plastic bag or tube) If you find that he doesn't get all of the head shed off, you have a couple of options. But lets wait and see because once that warm water gets between the two sets of skin, he may get the whole thing off, in once piece, and the point is moot.

He really is a sweet little snake. Keep us posted on his progress.

[MitsuMike]

Try giving him something a bit bigger that moves more. I have a little vanilla female that I couldnt get to eat. She was so young I was getting worried. Then I offered her a big mouse hopper which looked almost too big for her and she took it. She just didnt want anything smaller than that. Now she is on rat hoppers.

That might be the problem. Help him get this shed off and offer him a live mouse hopper or weanling. Baby balls should have no problem taking these. One that moves alot more than a fuzzy. Only one though. Since he hasnt eaten very regularly you should not stuff him since it may take the digestive system time to catch back up.

After a few weeks of regular feeds he should be doing alot better. Sometimes it just takes something a little bigger and more active to get the baby balls eating. Don't try switching to frozen thawed until you know for sure he has no problems eating.

Yea I tried a live adult mouse one time and scared the crap outta him but he took the rat pinky no issues. He was started on F/T but I don't mind switching over. I could get a live rat pinkie (large) prob like 10-12 grams. Would that work?

[MitsuMike]

Hi Mike,

his eyes will always go back to being clear 24 hours before he sheds. So thats 100% normal.When you soak him, hopefully is eye caps will come off with the rest of the shed around his face. (Its much like rolling backwards out of a plastic bag or tube) If you find that he doesn't get all of the head shed off, you have a couple of options. But lets wait and see because once that warm water gets between the two sets of skin, he may get the whole thing off, in once piece, and the point is moot.

He really is a sweet little snake. Keep us posted on his progress.

Thank you! He is the most calm and friendly one even though he is a scaridy cat. Soaking him right now actually. 10 min left til I take him out. Letting him sit for 40 min.

[SixSnakes]

That shed should mostly just fall off. I also think he's rolling over was shed related. By the pics, it looks bad and very uncomfortable! Keep us posted on how it goes

[MitsuMike]

OK..........he seemed to just be dehydrated. He is plump again and not wrinkley but he is still a dull ghost color. Eye lids seemed to have "cracks" in them. Here are some pics couldn't get the eyes but it has cracks in them for sure.
No skin came off btw. Skin feels normalish again.
Used a 6 qt tub with holes in it. Cover it with a blanket and let the heating lamp bake on top. It was misty in there.
Pictures

[dr del]

Hi,

The soaking rehydrated the stuck shed and made it look better alright.

But you realy are going to have to get it off him if you want him to get better.

Once he is out of a good soak like that it might be worth rubbing at his nose gently with a washcloth to see if you can get the shed started.

Normally I would say putting it in a pillow case would start it but I think you said in the other thread that you had already tried that?

The rolling over has me really concerned - you haven't been treating for mites or anything have you?


dr del