Stuck shed and feeding

[sinclair]

I just got my first ball python about 3 weeks ago. She just finished her first shed since I got her, and there is some left on the top of her head and around her nostrils. The humidity in the tank was around 50-55%, but I was able to raise it to 70-80% when I realized she was in shed, which was pretty late into the shed cycle. Should I just leave her for awhile longer at this higher humidity and see if it comes off, or should I do something to assist her? Also, is it okay to try to feed her while she has the stuck shed, or do I need to address that first? Thanks.

[IMG][/IMG]

[h20hunter]

Just want to follow along. My bp has shed okay but also has some along the top of her head and just along the top of her neck. I've got humidity up to about 80% with misting as well as getting her sprayed down a bit. She is eating and behaving normall but I of course want to do everything I can to help her along with that last bit. I've also soaked following the advice in the shed/soak thead and it worked out great for all involved. However...she doesn't soak with her head under water.

[Naom9Anne]

I bought a BP with a whole head stuck shed including eye caps, I have tried to assist but cannot get it off for love nor money so I am leaving him until the next shed. He is offered food every five days as scheduled

Damp pillowcase tied around half way down and left in the enclosure over night may help. **EDIT: with the snake inside the pillowcase**

[Spencer88]

could try a warm bath.

[sweballp]

If any of my balls does have a bad shed I soak it a couple of hours then assist them using a wet towel. I wind the towel around the snake and let the snake push through the towel, I do not use it to "rub" off any skin. I let only the snake apply its own body strength. Usually the snake get any stuck shed off in a couple of minutes, including eyecaps.

As for feeding, my pewter male sheds really bad each time for some reason and I have no problem feeding him even with stuck shed. But I do feed frequent, smaller meals.

/Sweballp

[sinclair]

could try a warm bath.

I tried the warm bath and letting her slither through a wet cloth. Some of the shed around the neck came off, but there is still some on her head and it appears that the eye caps are still on. It looks like there are cracks in the eyes in a radial pattern. Will the bath soften it up so that she can rub it off, or if it didn't come off in the bath will it require more intervention? Thanks for the help.

[satomi325]

You can just peel off the shed on her head. But if there are still eye caps on, don't mess with them. Just let them come off with the next shed.
And it's fine to offer food as normal.

[sinclair]

Just a quick update. I tried letting her swim in the bathtub and a little of the shed on her neck came off, but the shed on the top of her head and her eye caps are still on. I tried to pick at the shed around her head but it seemed firmly adhered. Should I just keep the humidity up and wait for the next shed? She ate on Wednesday with no problem.

[Physician&Snakes]

Just a quick update. I tried letting her swim in the bathtub and a little of the shed on her neck came off, but the shed on the top of her head and her eye caps are still on. I tried to pick at the shed around her head but it seemed firmly adhered. Should I just keep the humidity up and wait for the next shed? She ate on Wednesday with no problem.

If her functions are not being inhibited then it is likely ok to wait a bit. You might try some Zilla shed ease, I have had success with it before.

[Naom9Anne]

I'm not sure how well this picture shows my boys stuck shed on his head but I know it shows the extent of very stuck eye caps. I have a woman coming over to try to remove the stuck shed as she has a lot of experience. The skin on his head feels solid when I touch it and I cannot loosen any of it on his head without having to peel it off in the direction of his nose rather in the tail direction.

I would advise letting your BP get it off in the next shed as long as it isn't inhibiting their actions such as eating etc. I am simply seeking help as I am very worried about his eyes and the extent of the "grey" covering and I have tried bathing, pillowcase and upping humidity to no joy. This guy is still one of my best eaters, let's me near his head without too much trouble (occasional squirm) and is great to handle still; I'm being overly cautious as he came to me like this from the seller.