Snake has dry skin - not dehydrated or shed?

[Cassiopeia]

I got my ball python in early September of this year. She seemed perfectly healthy. I keep her in a 20 gallon tank with a 75 watt heat lamp (night bulb so the light doesn't bother her) and a heat pad both controlled by a thermostat (set to 90F). The humidity remains between 50% - 60% and the temperature ranges from 80 - 85F degrees on the hot side of her tank. She also has a water dish that is large enough to soak in if needed and easy for her to access. She is young (somehwere between a baby and a juvenile) and hasn't shed for me yet. I was thinking it may be because she was underfed when I got her. I had her on fuzzies for a while and even that was too small but I didn't want to shock her with something too big. Now she is on hoppers (appropriate for her weight). She shows no signs of shedding either (no blue eyes, no pink stomach, etc) and her skin seems to be flaky a bit yet I haven't seen flakes. She seems dry and her skin on her stomach seems shiny and thicker. She eats normally and aside from only flicking her tongue out half way rather than completely, is acting fine. I have soaked her briefly in warm water a couple weeks ago but she still is like this (and I don't want to soak her too often for too long as it can be bad for them). What could this be? Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

[Reinz]

Sounds like she was on a minimal maintenance diet before you got her, thus little to no growth, meaning no shed yet.

Don't try to force it, and no need to soak her. She will soak on her own if needed.

My male Coastal did not shed for the first 100 days I had him. Before that, the previous owner did not tell when he shed last, so who knows how long it took him to shed? He was also being fed mice and should have been on at least a Medium Rat!

Sounds like you are doing things right, especially feeding.

Be patient, your snake will know when to shed.


Mack the Knife after his shed.

[Cassiopeia]

Thank you so much!!! This is very likely because I got her from a pet store and they probably had her on a minimal maintenance diet. After her first feed on hoppers a few days ago she already looks a bit bigger She had just finished a shed when I first got her so it may be a while before she sheds for me. Again, thank you so much! And what a handsome guy!