Does he look ok? Still hasn't shed ??

[Smith123]

Any advise guys? He still hasn't shed, he's looking wrinkly on his sides and is a little dry to the touch! It's been around 10 - 14 days at least since he cleared up, a good 3wks since he was in blue? Is he not going to shed? As previous he did shed his nose and I think his eye caps too when he cleared up ages ago but nothing since. I've given him 2 baths since I was advised on here last week but no change, I must his tank every now and then too .
He also refuses to use his warm hide at anytime? Even after eating, which he continues to eat every week. His cool end hide is around 75f ..... I've added pics to show you.






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[SRMD]

What is his current humidity, keep misting every few hours, you could try adding some wood surfaces for him to scrape along, you could also try adding a hide box with some moss substrate, and if you're having bad sheds then replace he substrate with something that holds humidity better (orchid bark, cypress mulch etc)

Get a warm damp towel let him slither through it apply gentle pressure.. If this helps then continue to do it.. If it doesn't then just leave him in there and try out the suggestions listed.

I also use a wooden viv and a ceramic heater and was having humidity problems, so I bought some orchid bark and now the humidity is fine! I will also be buying a Perspex glass sheet for the bottom of the tank to stop wood rot.

How are you measuring temps with a digital thermometer? Consider buying a temp gun also, then you can compare the temps between the thermometer and the temp gun. If he is never using the warm hide it could be hotter than your thermometer is telling you, where do you have the thermometer probe placed?


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[Smith123]

My humidity ranges from 48% in the warm end (where he never is) up to 60% in the cooler end so I presume my humidity was ok otherwise I would of sorted it out before he went into shed. Is this not high enough? He never leaves his cool hide except for food! Which he then digests on the cool side too, every time ? I've read they usually go to hot side to digest as they need the heat but mine doesn't seem to!
I doubt he would move to a humid hide but I could try that, where would I place it in the viv ? Should I continue to bath him? I just didn't want to stress him out too much?

yes I have a temp gun as well as probes , inside his warm hide its 85f but the roof of the hide is 94f , the ambient just to the side of the ceramic is 84f ( you can see the probe hanging down taking that reading, it's attached to stat probe both hanging around 2" from floor)
Thanks

[SRMD]

My humidity ranges from 48% in the warm end (where he never is) up to 60% in the cooler end so I presume my humidity was ok otherwise I would of sorted it out before he went into shed. Is this not high enough? He never leaves his cool hide except for food! Which he then digests on the cool side too, every time ? I've read they usually go to hot side to digest as they need the heat but mine doesn't seem to!
I doubt he would move to a humid hide but I could try that, where would I place it in the viv ? Should I continue to bath him? I just didn't want to stress him out too much?
Thanks

Don't bathe him, try putting the humid hide more on the warm side if it is lacking humidity there, also I would re check all your temps if he is never using the warm side.

Try and get your humidity levels up to be about 70-80% when you see your BP go into pre shed.

For all round good humidity you need to change your substrate as this will provide better overall humidity, how big is that viv?

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[dr del]

Time for the damp pillowcase treatment I'd say.

And I would definitely raise the humidity for the next shed - the snake is the best guide there is in these situations.

[SRMD]

Time for the damp pillowcase treatment I'd say.

Yes I had forgotten about that!


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[Smith123]

So is my 49%-60% not ok under normal conditions ?? How high does it need to be!!
I would rather not use loose substrate as don't like the risk of him eating it! But I will change it if it solves the issue, after plenty of research before I got him I thought my humidity was spot on!
Does he look bad to you guys? I am worried about him but he continues to eat, what will happen if he is left to his own? Will he sort himself out in time?
ive checked and double checked his temps and humidity with numerous different devices so I'm just completely confused and feel I've made some mistakes with temp and humidity!
He was in a tub when I bought him and I wanted to continue this but my ambients in my house at winter is around 65-68 so the heat mat and tub did not cut it unfortunately ....
Thanks

[SRMD]

Most people will have normal humidity at about 50-60% not shedding maybe lower, and for a shed some people bump it up to 70-80%.

I wouldn't worry about the substrate as long as the rodent is dry, and just check as he swallows no substrate is stuck to the rodent

Check this out:
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=28794

As drdel said try the damp pillow case treatment.


From a previous shedding issue thread:

You could try putting him in a tied wet pillowcase overnight in his enclosure to see if his attempts to escape manage to loosen the head area a bit.

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[Smith123]

So by all accounts my humidity is fine except for maybe not upping it enough during the shed cycle, after reading that thread he should have shed probably a week ago! How do I know it's ready to come off? Just because it's due? Because he is dry and wrinkly? Should I put him in a pillowcase today ? Wet and warm and put it in his viv?

[SRMD]

So by all accounts my humidity is fine except for maybe not upping it enough during the shed cycle, after reading that thread he should have shed probably a week ago! How do I know it's ready to come off? Just because it's due? Because he is dry and wrinkly? Should I put him in a pillowcase today ? Wet and warm and put it in his viv?

Yes just increase humidity when going into the shed cycle, and yes if your snake has gone through all of them phases, yes you can try that and see what happens.


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