is my ball python dehydrated?

[Annarose15]

also... /sigh. I was told that bathing her when she was shedding in patches would help her, not hinder her. I won't do that again.

If she's unable to shed on her own (as in, she started to shed two days ago and still has a bunch stuck to her), then soaking helps loosen the dried skin. Soaking before she tries to shed iton her own is what causes issues.

I've never taken in rescues before -- maybe I should have thought that through before taking on a new species rescue. However, I am completely committed to getting them both in tip-top shape, I'm hoping that I can.

Hey, you have the right attitude and there's definitely no harsher teacher than experience! Just keep asking questions when you have concerns, and pictures are always a bonus. It sounds like you're doing great with them - we all have overthinking, overstressing moments when it comes to animals we care about, and I think rescues even more so.

[harleyquinn83]

yeah that's what happened. When I got her she was going through a shed, and her tail and head/4 inches past that --- just wouldn't shed. I didn't know what to do, so I asked people who had ball pythons what they do to get rid of the patchiness after a shed. They told me to bath them in warm water for about 10-15 minutes at 85-88 degrees. So, that's what I did..... It just continued to peel off in patches. I feel SO bad, especially if I caused more distress. I know she's uncomfortable because she keeps rubbing her face and tail against things in the tank. I didn't want to peel it off manually and cause more damage -- just looking for the best solution.

I will post pictures on Sunday afternoon.

Thanks so much for the replies. I have a lot to learn about this species.

~B

[The Serpent Merchant]

yeah that's what happened. When I got her she was going through a shed, and her tail and head/4 inches past that --- just wouldn't shed. I didn't know what to do, so I asked people who had ball pythons what they do to get rid of the patchiness after a shed. They told me to bath them in warm water for about 10-15 minutes at 85-88 degrees. So, that's what I did..... It just continued to peel off in patches. I feel SO bad, especially if I caused more distress. I know she's uncomfortable because she keeps rubbing her face and tail against things in the tank. I didn't want to peel it off manually and cause more damage -- just looking for the best solution.

I will post pictures on Sunday afternoon.

Thanks so much for the replies. I have a lot to learn about this species.

~B

You did exactly what you were supposed to do. It is very unlikely that you caused the bad shed... you probably couldn't have avoided it no matter what you did. 1 bad shed isn't the end of the world, it happens to everybody every now and again.

[pigfat]

Be sure to check out the bp care sheet! It will give you the rundown!

[Domepiece]

also... /sigh. I was told that bathing her when she was shedding in patches would help her, not hinder her. I won't do that again.

If they are already shedding in patches it is perfectly fine to give them a bath to get off the stuck shed. Just not if they havnt started shedding already or if they are getting ready to shed.

[kitedemon]

yes once the shed is finished (and incomplete) it no longer matters and to be honest a rescue is a different than a permeant friend. They need to be assessed quarantined and triage needs to occur, hydration takes priority over sheds anyway. Trauma, Temps, Stress, Hydration, Parasites, Humidity and Sheds. This is the order I loosely follow, clearly if there is something massive it takes over from others (a snake infested with mites that becomes important than stress for example.)

It sounds like the rescue is in good shape and may just have some odd scales here and there and has neglected some.

[harleyquinn83]

forgot to post because she shed that night and looked a ton better in the morning. All is fine.