Ball python shedding problem (URGENT)

[TreeBoaGuy]

So my ball python has some stuck shed on its belly. I soaked the snake to get most of the shed off, and it worked except for about a 4" patch under the belly and under the chin. I have continuously soaked her, and I just cannot manage to get this shed off. Will it come off with the next shed? What else can I try?
Thanks a lot!

[bcr229]

If there is not a complete ring of shed around the snake then leave it alone. Keep the humidity up and your ball python should get rid of it in the next day or so.

The biggest concerns with stuck shed are typically retained eye caps and ensuring the tail tip is clean. If these are fine then your critter will deal with the rest of it.

[TreeBoaGuy]

If there is not a complete ring of shed around the snake then leave it alone. Keep the humidity up and your ball python should get rid of it in the next day or so.

The biggest concerns with stuck shed are typically retained eye caps and ensuring the tail tip is clean. If these are fine then your critter will deal with the rest of it.

There is no complete ring, just a strip going from the bottom lip to about 4 inches down the belly. All on the ventral scales

[Lyssa981]

A strip of stuck shed on his neck is not a big deal, although your snake my find it itchy. Chances are if you raise the tanks humidity and provide somthing to scratch against he'll take care of things on his own. I have been adding a wet hide (basicly a plastic tub just big enough for Sampson to curl up in filled with moss that is kept damp) to increase the humidity. It has worked wonders for his sheds.

[ballpythonluvr]

If there is not a complete ring of shed around the snake then leave it alone. Keep the humidity up and your ball python should get rid of it in the next day or so.

The biggest concerns with stuck shed are typically retained eye caps and ensuring the tail tip is clean. If these are fine then your critter will deal with the rest of it.

This is good solid advice. Please stop soaking the snake. That is only going to make things worse in the long run.

[kitedemon]

The snake most of the time will sort it out itself. The concern is mostly for a complete circle as the shed dries and shrinks. This is serious if it is around the middle the tail tip also as if it remains it can have the blood flow cut off too. This is the concern complete circles. If it is patches there is no danger even a single eye cap I would leave alone, multiples are the issue not one.

The important part is now to fix your humidity so this doesn't repeat next shed.

What is your RH and what is your ambient air temp?

[TreeBoaGuy]

The snake most of the time will sort it out itself. The concern is mostly for a complete circle as the shed dries and shrinks. This is serious if it is around the middle the tail tip also as if it remains it can have the blood flow cut off too. This is the concern complete circles. If it is patches there is no danger even a single eye cap I would leave alone, multiples are the issue not one.

The important part is now to fix your humidity so this doesn't repeat next shed.

What is your RH and what is your ambient air temp?

I keep it around 60% when not in shed and 80% when in shed. Basking temp 90* ambient air temp 81* I just was out of town for a few days and didn't get a chance to mist before she started

[Albert Clark]

So my ball python has some stuck shed on its belly. I soaked the snake to get most of the shed off, and it worked except for about a 4" patch under the belly and under the chin. I have continuously soaked her, and I just cannot manage to get this shed off. Will it come off with the next shed? What else can I try?
Thanks a lot!

All the replies are spot on as to the way to resolve this stuck shed issue. I would just add to the OP to make sure there is no underlying issue affecting the ventral scales. Issues particularly like a irritation, a early scale rot condition making the shed more difficult to get off. Just a heads up and something to watch for. Stay in peace and not pieces.

[kitedemon]

I keep it around 60% when not in shed and 80% when in shed. Basking temp 90* ambient air temp 81* I just was out of town for a few days and didn't get a chance to mist before she started

You should not have shedding issues 81/60% is all you need there is no need to increase beyond this. I have noticed many don't understand what ambients temp is but assuming this is correct there should be no issue. If these are the conditions are what you had when the shed failed it mght be time to check the hygrometer. Digital units are very fragile and become inaccurate. I have units that after 6 months are reading more than 35% in error.