Please, I need some help. (food, shedding)

[Compher]

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.

[llovelace]

Once you get the humidity in order he will begin having proper sheds.
How much does he weigh?
Does he have a hot spot, with a thermostat?
How are you measuring the temps/humidity?

[Compher]

Once you get the humidity in order he will begin having proper sheds.
How much does he weigh?
Does he have a hot spot, with a thermostat?
How are you measuring the temps/humidity?

I didn't mention it, but when I was in possession of him from Sept 2010 to June 2011 the humidity was fine, and he still had bad sheds.

I'm not sure of the weight, I don't have a scale, I'll pick one up soon. He has a hide sitting on top of a UTH, surface temp is regulated by a thermostat and is around 90 F. This is where he spends all of his time.

I'm measuring the temps with 2 analog thermometers, 1 digital thermometer. and the Humidity with 2 analog hydrometers and a digital hydrometer.

But yes, this snake has had around 8 unsuccessful sheds in a row (never a good one) with all the ones that I was around for having proper humidity.

[Daybreaker]

To add, I have wonderful sheds, and all but one of my snakes are in tubs (even the one in the tank, a corn, has never had a bad shed). Might want to look into a tub setup if you don't see improvment for his shedding. Tubs just maintain humidity so much better than a tank setup, and the temps are always spot on as well in them.

Feeding once a week is fine, it just depends on what size you're feeding. I have one snake who will only take smaller meals so I have her on a 5 day instead of a 7, and all my little ones are on a 5 day as well.

Agreed with llovelace, if we know how you're measuring temps, his weight in grams, and to make sure your husbandry is good we can better help you.

[Daybreaker]

^ I would try misting more when he's going to shed next and see how that goes.

Does he have something in there that he can rub on to help him get started (something not sharp of course)? Maybe that will help him too.

[Compher]

^ I would try misting more when he's going to shed next and see how that goes.

Does he have something in there that he can rub on to help him get started (something not sharp of course)? Maybe that will help him too.

yeah he has a lot of coarse (but not sharp) material in the set up. However it seems that when he rubs, the skin tares off in pieces. (in the morning there is always pieces about an inch long stuck to everything coarse).

I'm pretty sure the husbandry is fine now. Ground temps around 90 on warm side, 75 on cool side. and 75-80 ambient air temp. Humidity is around 50% when not during shed cycle, and 75% during shed cycle.

[purplemuffin]

If there are still pieces of shed on the snake, I would get them off now by using the pillowcase trick. Put the snake and a damp towel in a pillowcase and put the pillowcase in the tank and let the snake chill out over night. I have NEVER had shed still on a snake after using that trick.

You might just invest in a moist hide if he has trouble even with good humidity. When the snake goes blue, up the humidity in a place where the snake likes to hide out. He's forced to be in a humid environment which will help the shedding process!

[llovelace]

Get an accurite didgital thermo/hrgrometer, analogs are very inaccurate, they may read 60% humidity, but in actuality the humidity is like 30-40%.

[Compher]

Get an accurite didgital thermo/hrgrometer, analogs are very inaccurate, they may read 60% humidity, but in actuality the humidity is like 30-40%.

I do. I have 2 analogs and 1 digital of each for a total of 6 measuring devices.

[Compher]

If there are still pieces of shed on the snake, I would get them off now by using the pillowcase trick. Put the snake and a damp towel in a pillowcase and put the pillowcase in the tank and let the snake chill out over night. I have NEVER had shed still on a snake after using that trick.

You might just invest in a moist hide if he has trouble even with good humidity. When the snake goes blue, up the humidity in a place where the snake likes to hide out. He's forced to be in a humid environment which will help the shedding process!

I will try the pillowcase trick and the moist hide. Only problem is, with the exception of the eyes, it's hard to tell when the blue cycle is, as the skin generally doesn't turn nearly as blue/gray as images I've seen suggest.