another bad shed thread

[tballer25]

Hello all,

I just joined and have read a lot of good information about shedding and bad sheds. However, I still have a few of my own and just want some reassurance. Here's a little background info:

I have had my baby bp for just over 5 weeks. I was told that he was 1 month old and would shed after 1-2 feedings. I had fed him twice, and was waiting for a shed. He didn't really show the signs, so I fed him a third time. Luckily, he has always eaten when presented food. I was due to feed him yesterday, but on saturday I noticed that he was beginning to shed. This started making sense to me because he was hiding much more often than usual a few days before. I made sure to spray the tank a few times that day and have been doing so every day since then. He still hasn't gotten rid of the shed. The good news is that one of the eye caps is off, but the other is still on. . He also shed by the tail, but the rest of his body is spotty, with a good 90% of the shed still attached.

I am an absolute noob with this, but I have done some research. I purchased the enclosure kit that they had at my local reptile store. My setup is a 10gal tank with an "open" style lid (like a fence, dont know the actual term), a have a small water bowl that he fits in completely if he rolls himself into a ball, but i think it's a little small, a large wood hide that I have in the middle of the tank, an undertank heater on half of the tank, a lamp with a red bulb (stays on all the time), and cypress mulch as the substrate. I have two thermometers; the hot side one shows about 85 deg with 30% relative humidity, but it is close to the bulb, so that is probably giving me a bad humidity reading. The second thermometer is on the cool side, and about 73 deg with 40-45% humidity, unless I spray the tank. When I spray the tank it'll go up to 60+, but it almost immediately drops within 30 min.

I am sorry for the long read, but I just got carried away. Hopefully I can get some help with what I need to change/what I can do to help my little guy get rid of his shed. I am scared to death about soaking him!

One last thing, since yesterday, he has been pretty active and he isn't "scared" of me. I heard that when they still have the caps in their eyes they are defensive. He seems curious as ever!

Thank you all in advance!!

[satomi325]

Hello all,

I just joined and have read a lot of good information about shedding and bad sheds. However, I still have a few of my own and just want some reassurance. Here's a little background info:

I have had my baby bp for just over 5 weeks. I was told that he was 1 month old and would shed after 1-2 feedings. I had fed him twice, and was waiting for a shed. He didn't really show the signs, so I fed him a third time. Luckily, he has always eaten when presented food. I was due to feed him yesterday, but on saturday I noticed that he was beginning to shed. This started making sense to me because he was hiding much more often than usual a few days before. I made sure to spray the tank a few times that day and have been doing so every day since then. He still hasn't gotten rid of the shed. The good news is that one of the eye caps is off, but the other is still on. . He also shed by the tail, but the rest of his body is spotty, with a good 90% of the shed still attached.

Don't worry about the eye cap. Do not mess with it. You could damage his eye.
Just get your humidity up for the next shed and it will come off.

I am an absolute noob with this, but I have done some research. I purchased the enclosure kit that they had at my local reptile store. My setup is a 10gal tank with an "open" style lid (like a fence, dont know the actual term), a have a small water bowl that he fits in completely if he rolls himself into a ball, but i think it's a little small, a large wood hide that I have in the middle of the tank, an undertank heater on half of the tank, a lamp with a red bulb (stays on all the time), and cypress mulch as the substrate. I have two thermometers; the hot side one shows about 85 deg with 30% relative humidity, but it is close to the bulb, so that is probably giving me a bad humidity reading. The second thermometer is on the cool side, and about 73 deg with 40-45% humidity, unless I spray the tank. When I spray the tank it'll go up to 60+, but it almost immediately drops within 30 min.

Since you have a screen top, all the humidity escapes through the top. You need to contain the humidity. Also, the bulb sucks up humidity like a sponge.

There are a few things you can do:
1) Cover 90% of the screen with: Tin foil, plexiglass, or a damp towel.
2) Use a larger water dish (larger surface area = greater evaporation)
3) Push the water dish to the hot side of enclosure
4) Make a humid hide (Use a Tupperware container. Cut a hole (door) into it. Put damp paper towel or damp moss into it. Then the snake can go in whenever he chooses if he ever wants a humid micro climate.


Your temps need to be adjusted slightly.
The hot side needs to be closer to 88-91. And the cool side needs to be around 80. No lower than 75. Anything below 75 can give your snake a respirator infection.

Do you have your heat pad hooked up to a thermostat?

I am sorry for the long read, but I just got carried away. Hopefully I can get some help with what I need to change/what I can do to help my little guy get rid of his shed. I am scared to death about soaking him!

One last thing, since yesterday, he has been pretty active and he isn't "scared" of me. I heard that when they still have the caps in their eyes they are defensive. He seems curious as ever!

Thank you all in advance!!

Put him in a warm damp towel for 30mins-hour. His movements should create enough friction to remove the rest of the shed.
This method is a lot less stressful than a bath. And be sure there are no open seams or loose thread for the snake to catch or get stuck on.

Good luck

[BHReptiles]

I can't agree more with what Nikki said. Here's how I deal with a bad shed (mind you, I rescued a baby ball python who had a 100% stuck shed, so I know this method will work): Dampen a wash cloth with warm water. Place your snake in the center of the washcloth and wrap it up like a burrito/canoli/etc. Yoou want to leave the ends open. Then, while applying just a little bit of pressure, allow you snake to pass through the wash cloth. If some skin is still there, repeat as necessary. Also, don't worry about the eye caps! They will come off with the next shed, assuming you fix your humidity issues.

[satomi325]

Put him in a warm damp towel for 30mins-hour. His movements should create enough friction to remove the rest of the shed.
This method is a lot less stressful than a bath. And be sure there are no open seams or loose thread for the snake to catch or get stuck on.

Good luck

Whoops. Meant to write pillow case. Not towel. But a damp towel works too.



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[tballer25]

thank you! I tried the towel, but he wouldn't stay in there! He was not liking it because the towel got cold very fast. It's in the 50s outside, so keeping the towel cold is pretty tough. I eventually soaked him in the sink, and that worked out pretty well. Most of the shed is off now, with the exception of half of his head (right behind his eyes) up to about 3-4 inches back. I was trying to lightly rub his neck where it was still loose, but he really didn't like that. :/

I am probably just going to leave it like that for now. He seems fine temperament wise. Thanks again for all the help!!

[BHReptiles]

I would let him settle down for a couple of days. Then you can try to get rid of that last bit of shed, but be sure not to go near the eyes. You don't want to damage them.

[tballer25]

I would let him settle down for a couple of days. Then you can try to get rid of that last bit of shed, but be sure not to go near the eyes. You don't want to damage them.

The shed is pretty close to his eyes on the top of his head. I don't plan on going anywhere near his eyes. When I grab directly behind his head with two fingers (gently), he immediately retreats and obviously doesn't like it. I will see if I can get a picture of what is left. How bad is it if I just leave what is there for the next shed? It really isn't too much.