My poor python is having problems, I am currently waiting for a poop so that I can take it to the vet to check for everything. However, until then I need to ask some questions about his particular situation. I read the FAQs and it has answered some of my questions, however there are others that go unanswered and I hope that someone can help me.

Let me start by giving this history of this animal.

My (now ex) girlfriend and I purchased this python from a pet store back in September of 2010. It was really small, I would assume it was only about 1-2 months old at the oldest.

During the time we had him, we started him with "Fuzzy" mice, and moved him up to "Medium (10-15 grams each).

During the time I was around him (from Sept 2010 to June 2011) He has been eating a 10-15 gram mouse once a week. Now for the important part. This particular snake has NEVER had a full good shed. I'd say that from Sept to June he shed about 5-6 times, every time it came off in small thin pieces (think of human sunburn pealing). Every Time. The humidity the week before shedding was always around 60-75% and the temperatures were at the recommended settings.

We broke up in June and she kept the snake. About a week ago (October 2011) she called me and wanted me to come pick it up because she didn't want it anymore. I was glad to get the snake back. When I went to pick it up, I had discovered that she got a new tank for it. Had BAD substrate (very thin tiny wood chips) that was spread so thin on the bottom that whenever he moved he would push it and be on the glass! Also the tank was bigger with a mesh top which held no humidity (neither did the substrate). There was no hydrometer, no thermometers. Nothing. So I went and got better substrate, a digital hydrometer and thermometer, and 2 analogs of each. Covered 3/4 of the mesh with plastic, and the humidity and temps are ok.

However the food was not. She was still feeding it 10-15 gram mice and it's now about 15-16 months old. The night I got him, he was just constantly looking for food. (she said she fed him the day before I picked him up) So I fed him again with all that I had (10-15 gram mice, the stores were closed). The next day I picked up 40-45 gram Rats. He took one instantly and had no trouble.

I noticed that his eyes were in the "blue phase" so I increased the humidity to 70-80% hoping that he might finally have a good shed. I kept the humidity there for about a week. Now today happens, the shed begins and like every other time that he has shed, it's small thin pieces of skin just like before.

Has anyone ever experienced this? Is it possible that a snake just "doesn't" have good sheds and lives an entire life having bad ones?

Also is the food ok now? Do you think he was malnourished from having small food only once a week?

Like I said any information would be appreciated. I want this snake to have a wonderful life.

Thank you.
And I am waiting for poop for a vet visit which is definitely happening in the near future.