New BP owner looking for some advice

[thehonestpirate]

I recently bought a snake off of someone nearby, it's a baby, about 14 inches in length, He told me that she had eaten last Sunday, she is shedding right now and my question is, how long do I wait if her head and neck isn't shedding, it's been two days since i've had her and i dont know how long she had been shedding prior to that, when I got her she had the same amount of skin left on her head and neck. I am trying my best to do misting and keep the humidity high for her to shed but it doesn't seem like she is having any luck. I know that I shouldn't handle her due to the move from her last owner right? I also have been struggling to keep the humidity up above 40% but I have been doing my best, I have sheet moss all around the set up to help to keep that humidity up and half the screen top is covered in aluminum foil. I have a large bowl of water in the middle that is always half full of water as well.

[coldbloodaddict]

Sounds like a stuck shed.... Put the snake in a damp snake bag or pillow case for an hour or so... The shed should come off as she crawls around the bag.

[thehonestpirate]

Okay, do I clclose off the opening of the pillow case? And is it okay that I just got her? She seems very timid as it is, I don't want to offset her from her cage if it's going to stress her out

[celixo]

First what tank or housing is the snake in?
40% is low and if that is you trying I'm worried about the days you might forget. I'd try giving the snake a nice warm bath. Normally that does the trick. It won't matter though if your humidity is too low every shed will be problematic.

As for handling. It is a rule of the thumb to let the snake adjust to the new environment for a little but be aware that every snake is different. Some need longer others adjust very quickly and are sweet as pie. Just read body language.

[coldbloodaddict]

Okay, do I clclose off the opening of the pillow case? And is it okay that I just got her? She seems very timid as it is, I don't want to offset her from her cage if it's going to stress her out

Yes or other wise the snake would come out in 2 seconds and no shed would come off... she'll be fine.

[thehonestpirate]

cel, I have her in a 20 gallon tank right now. Now that I think about it, the humidity level may be innaccurate, I have the humidity guage right under the basking lamp. I should probably move that. I upgraded her basking lamp so that her basking area is around 90 degrees and that's when the humidity started falling. that may be why. That would affect it correct?

[thehonestpirate]

Also, I just put my hand near her in the cage and she looked scared, she started breathing heavily, should I wait to pull her out?

[coldbloodaddict]

Also, I just put my hand near her in the cage and she looked scared, she started breathing heavily, should I wait to pull her out?

No.

Is your humidity gauge digital?

[thehonestpirate]

No it is not, i'm a little tight on money for the next few weeks, college books killed me financially. So I should pull her out even though she's stressed?

[celixo]

20 is fine. Just always keep a side covered. Since Heat Rises her belly isn't going to be as warm as needed. I normally keep my humidity gauges on the side without an UTH(under tank heater). None of my 6 BP have basking light. I never really understood where the basking light started, they are in mammals hides most of the day in the wild.
If you feel she is already very stressed out. Don't push her. So long as she hasn't retained her eye caps. Placing her in a warm bath tomorrow and letting her roam her tank with the soften shed (for me) always does the trick. maintaining gradient heat & proper humidity is a balancing act in the glass tanks. So really keep up on it and get a UTH if you don't already have one.