Shedding & Pooping: Two Questions

[LtHoneybun]

Hello! I'm back with two simple questions, being a new BP owner.

First of all, I think my Ball Python is nearing the first stages of getting ready to shed. He shed two weeks prior to being shipped to me and it's been about four more weeks. His colors have dulled dramatically and I don't think it'd happen that quickly in only one month (in terms of coloring changing due to the snake maturing).

Anyways, my question is: when ball pythons are getting close to shedding, do the rim of their eye start to look a little blue? I know that when they're really close to starting to shed their eyes completely cloud over, but what are the eyes supposed to look like before that stage?

Second question is about pooping. My dad is getting increasingly concerned about my snake not pooping since we got him. I feed him every Friday and last Friday I fed him two mice fuzzies instead of one (he had been restless and I was testing to see if still being hungry after feedings was the cause). I've fed him four times since I got him.

My dad keeps insisting I shouldn't feed him until he poops or do another soak until he does. I've read that it can take Ball Pythons a while to poop, but even his girlfriend said she looked it up and insisted people say every one to two weeks. He doesn't have a sausage butt. Basically, what should I be doing here?

[paulh]

Question 1: Can't help with that. Keep watching the eyes, and you will learn the answer.

Question 2: Keep on as you have been. Soaking, etc. is unnecessary, unless the snake seems dehydrated. Ball pythons poop less often then many other snakes. And fuzzies are a low residue diet, so it is taking longer than might otherwise be expected to fill your BP's gut to the point where he will poop. This is especially true if your snake wasn't fed well before you got him and his gut was nearly empty. Give the little guy some time; he will poop when he is good and ready.

By the way, I would not be surprised if he shed in the 2-3 weeks. If he doesn't poop before shedding, he will probably poop when he sheds. After that I'd increase his meal to a hopper. IMO a hopper has more nutrition than fuzzies, and a hopper has more fur than a fuzzy so more residue for a poop.

[MD_Pythons]

Aren't fuzzies too small for bps? I thought they could take hoppers right out of the egg? It seems like op is feeding prey that's too small to me.

[LtHoneybun]

I might be, which if I am, it wasn't intentional or me cutting corners. I did worry he wasn't feeding enough, which is why I fed him two last Friday.

[rufretic]

He’s not pooping because he is using everything you’ve fed him, your prey size is way too small. A ball python should never be on a mouse fuzzy. Right out the egg hoppers are perfect size and after 2-3 hoppers I already move them to rat fuzzies so they don’t get used to mice. Once you start feeding an appropriate sized meal, he should start pooping a little more often but they really don’t go that often even when they are fed correctly, it’s amazing how efficient their digestion is. Weigh him and then feed him according to the chart the other member just posted, that should get you on track.

[LtHoneybun]

Alright! Thank you.

[Tonald Drump]

Q1: Yes, the eyes go white/blue FAR more than the rims. When they're "in blue" both his/her eyes cloud over entirely. Once the blue layer starts to go away, you can expect a shed in the coming week.

Q2: I agree with rufretic, your prey size is way too small. Maybe take it up a notch, try feeding him small adult mice, or large hoppers if that's too big. If you feed appropriately sized prey, he should poop about 2-4 days after feeding. Shedding also affects it, most BPs won't poop during shed, then after shedding they explode

Hope you find BP keeping entertaining, and look forward to your BP's fresh colors after shed!

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