Shedding issue

[Zincubus]

Hi ...

I'd put some Orchid bark / Reptibark in as substrate as it holds moisture well and will help with humidity ..

As for the lid a towel never worked for me ... I stuck a sheet of plastic over the top of the mesh and sealed the edges to keep the moisture in .. sprayed frequently ..

Ideally two identical or very similar hides that give a comfy fit (not too spacious) .. the hides need to have one opening to provide a sense of security..

I've never seen a Royal /Ball python soak in a bowl so mine have small water dishes and I fill the open space up with branches, bark pieces and fake foliage / plants .

All that's assuming the surface temps are acceptable ..


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[Zincubus]

So we've tried soaking some more, still only a few bits of skin here and there. And he's still SO skinny. This is our timeline:
10/28 purchased Levi from reptile store
10/29 he ate his live rat fuzzy
11/2 got a scale, he weighed 85g
11/3 First weekly feeding, he ate the small f/t mouse we had (yes, I'm ordering frozen rats online since no one around here seems to have any that are the right size)
11/10 weighed 96g, didn't eat this week, assumed it was since he was going into shed.
Today he's back down to 89g. I'm guessing this is not a normal fluctuation?
Think I'm gonna call the shop I got him from tomorrow.

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How did you soak it incidentally and for how long ??
Hopefully not too warm/cold water .

Did it ever put its head under water ?
How deep was the water ?


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[Blam18]

Okay, went and bought cypress mulch.

I'm confused when you say you put branches and bark in the water bowl... so how does the snake soak in it if the bowl full of stuff?

We soaked him about 10-15 minutes in lukewarm water and kept the heat lamp over him, but I didn't want the water to get too cold. It was just deep enough to cover 1/2 his body. He did dunk his head in the water several times....does that mean hes's dehydrated or sick?

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[Zincubus]

Okay, went and bought cypress mulch.

I'm confused when you say you put branches and bark in the water bowl... so how does the snake soak in it if the bowl full of stuff?

We soaked him about 10-15 minutes in lukewarm water and kept the heat lamp over him, but I didn't want the water to get too cold. It was just deep enough to cover 1/2 his body. He did dunk his head in the water several times....does that mean hes's dehydrated or sick?

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Sorry ... No idea what you mean about putting branches / bark in the water bowl ?? I meant I don't put in huge water dishes as Royals hardly choose to lie in them - in my experience .

They just go all over the Viv to fill in all the spaces / voids .. Royals dislike open spaces ..

When I soak ( only very occasionally if they look a little dehydrated or if I get one with a bit of old skin still on it ) anyways I put it in a sealed container with air holes and fill it up so it's above the body and head . That way they can easily keep their head above the water but tend to spend some time under water , sometimes for quite a while when they settle down after a minute or so . I put a towel over to darken it a little .

Anyways after 25 to 30 minutes they always look much plumper and healthier , even better colour . I had one that hadn't been feeding and it ate the very next day .


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[Blam18]

Sorry ... No idea what you mean about putting branches / bark in the water bowl ?? I meant I don't put in huge water dishes as Royals hardly choose to lie in them - in my experience .

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Oh, okay. I re-read your post, I just misunderstood. The reason I have such a large water dish in there now was to try and help the humidity.

I re-soaked him again today. Well, a little anyway. I put him in a sealed Tupperware container with holes in the lid. The water's deep enough to cover half to 3/4 of his body. I used water that's just warm to the touch and then I set the Tupperware container into his tank under the heat lamp. I watched him for about 15 minutes and then I left the room. I came back another 15 minutes later and the little twerp had escaped the sealed lid. He does not seem to like it. He still looks the same. We were able to get a couple more bits of skin off, but not much.

From a couple of your guys' comments, is his skinniness more due to dehydration than diet (assuming no parasites)? Are there better ways to make sure he's staying hydrated?

He does not seem to be a fan of the cypress mulch. He's slithering around on his branch and water dish and trying to stay off of it. Must be strange switching from smooth soft paper towels to a jagged, rough, splintery substrate. Seems rough for their bodies, but everyone recommends it so I'm sure he'll get used to it! Just like nature, right?

[Blam18]

No suggestions?
Here's his new setup (he's in his "sauna" in the one pic). We've actually put in more large branches, too, so it's not so open, jut didn't get pics yet.

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[MattEvans]

I honestly think there is too much human intervention. If you are sure its not a health problem such as parasites. Personally id say no more soaking, if your husbandry is correct id leave it alone. Allow access to clean water and work on getting food into him. My snake has taken a week after clearing out of blue to actually shed. I really think you are stressing out your snake forcing it shed pieces before its ready.

[Blam18]

I don't know where anyone said we were forcing anything....after his soak there were a few small bits hanging off that we removed, that's all. I was soaking because he seems dehydrated, too, but don't want to do it much cause, as you noted, it can stress him out. That's why I was asking.

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[MattEvans]

I don't know where anyone said we were forcing anything....after his soak there were a few small bits hanging off that we removed, that's all. I was soaking because he seems dehydrated, too, but don't want to do it much cause, as you noted, it can stress him out. That's why I was asking.

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Unless it was stuck from a previous shed, it shouldnt come off in pieces. And if its pieces of his current shed, naturally they would start coming off his face first as its their instinct to start the rubbing there. Just the way im reading the progression of this thread I think the interference factor is way to high. Snakes have been shedding there skin long before humans have been around. Just as long as you are 100% sure of your husbandry. It really shouldnt need that much help.
I do think he looks thin but if he eats consistently his hydration and apperance will drastically improve.

[nightscavenger]

I made mention in another thread about what I had to do with some of my other bp, was to increase the moisture, I put a 10in x 10in bark for help with them pulling the shed. And when I seen the eyes start to clear up, I put them into a 90 degree tub with the cap on, well yes I have holes for oxygen, and left them in there for about 20 minutes a day until I seen she’d release then I would leave them alone on the bark and almost to a perfect shed, just every now and then I would have to assist them in removing an eye cap or two.


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