Electrical tape stuck, and I mean stuck, to my Ball Python

[shew]

I used electrical tape to secure the cord to my therm probe to the glass inside my snake enclosure..well, last night he (baby ball python) was wrapped around the cord and had pulled some of the electrical tape off the glass. Tonight I pulled him out to clean he cage and noticed a 2" piece of tape stuck to him. I tried to pull off a little, but I stopped because I'm not sure if this will hurt him. Any advice on what to do here?

[th3jok3r]

try soaking him in warm water? where on his body is it stuck?

[dr del]

Hi,

Heres a set of posts containing advice about this;

I have used mineral spirits to remove duct tape before. However, last time I posted about that, Adam said he had used vegetable oil before. The veg. oil is probably a bit safer. I would dip a Q-tip in vegetable oil and wipe it on the sticky part of the tape. Continue to let the oil soak in and slowly and gently peel the tape off slowly. After that is done remember to remove all tape from the inside of an enclosure. My suggestion on attaching your thermometer would be to go get a piece of velcro, and stick it to the enclosure, and that should do the trick.

Mineral Oil or Olive oil be gentle and remove it in the direction the scales grow.

I agree baby oil would work the best...very slow work, use a Qtip and take your time so you don't rip anything.

Hey!

I joined the forum just to get this out. There is a safe way to remove duct tape without any damage done to the snake! Never just pull the tape off, it's dangerous...as we've all read about. All you have to do is slowly peel off part of the tape I mean a small corner, and take oil, i mean like mineral oil, EVEN VEGETABLE OIL and rub a little on/ alot, Just dont get it on the snakes head if possible cause it could sufficate it. The oil will make the sticky come loose and it will peel off without any damage, just make sure you keep oil on it, you can tell when it starts to pull too much, Add more oil. If you dont believe me try it on your self first, take some duct tape and tape it to a leg or something then take Veg. oil and do as instructed. It works and no other snakes should be harmed by this! Oh and you did a great thing to get your son another snake. If you ever need anymore advice Feel free to post and i'll answer with whatever i can! I may only be 16 but i know snakes! (corn snakes...lol) 8)

Hope some of that helps.


dr del

[th3jok3r]

yea i was gonna say gooo gone works wonders lol

[shew]

Thanks for the advice. I used olive oil and a q-tip...worked very well. Lesson learned. No more tape in the tank.

[Neal]

I would use olive oil for that, but try warm water first. Electrical tape doesn't hold up to water, so once it's wet it should come off with ease, if for some odd reason it doesn't, then do olive oil.

To secure your cord, what I would do is go to walmart, get the velcro tape, or whatever you call it that comes in a little roll(it's usually used to attach thermometers and other stuff to glass). Cut a piece, and wrap it around the cord, and put the opposite side against the tank. Although it will still come off if your snake messes with it, but atleast it won't hurt him.

[m00kfu]

I'd use hot glue rather than the velcro. If the velcro DOES happen to come off that tank, you've still got adhesive to deal with.

[Neal]

I'd use hot glue rather than the velcro. If the velcro DOES happen to come off that tank, you've still got adhesive to deal with.

I've never had the velcro ever come off, and my snake lays across the probe wires and ontop of the thermostat.

[blackcrystal22]

yea i was gonna say gooo gone works wonders lol

I'm not sure if goo-gones fumes are very healthy for the snake or its skin.

[Mexecutioner]

Wish I had of known about this problem before it happened to me I've had our 4 month ball python for just over a month now and have a wooden vivarium everything is great and the snake is happy with no problems I've been using duct tape to secure his plants to the side of his tank I've woken up one morning around 3am for the toilet I thought I'd just have a quick check on him and his tempretures I'm glad I did as he had been climbing on one of his plants and it had come away from the side of his set up for me to find him stuck to the plant and the duct tape struggling to move I felt so sorry for him I emidetly cut him free as much as I could from the plant and tape but the remaining tape was well and truly stuck his skin was stretch out a lot over the tape I soaked him in warm water and tried removing the tape with mo success at all untill I found a video on YouTube explaining to use olive oil and a earbud or a q tip as some call it and gently work the soaked earbud gently round the tape this worked with great affect and the tape was off in minuets with no damage to the snake I was so relieved and can say I won't make that mistake again ha