Quote Originally Posted by Snakeky View Post
Hey everyone,

Thanks again for all the feedback. Just wanted to give an update since I last posted. So, it had been about six weeks and she hadn't eaten. She still hadn't shed since February, and her scales were still flaking everywhere. At this point I noticed her skin starting to feel wrinkly and loose and her scales dulling. I knew this could also just be an indication that she might be shedding, but in case it was dehydration, I just gave her daily soaks in her water for about fifteen minutes or so, which she seemed to really enjoy. Then I noticed her eyes went foggy and her belly was more pink so I thought great, she is going to finally shed... I left her alone for a few days and then her eyes went back to normal and no shed (I only later found out this is whats supposed to happen usually), so I upped her humidity a bit and gave her more soaks and then she finally shed, which helped a lot of the scale flaking issues, it's pretty much gone now. And the next day she hungrily ate a small rat (went down in her food size to ease her back into eating), and then a few days ago I fed her a second medium rat. So, all seems to be back to normal! Phew.

You can bet I def cried the first time she ate in six weeks lol. I was talking to some reptile expert overseas and he told me to just give up on her and that she's wasting away... But so far what I've learned about snakes, or at least my snake, is that instinct and intuition always come into play and that no one knows better about what your snake needs than your snake itself.
You really have to be patient when you keep snakes, especially ball pythons & other challenging species. I'm so happy for your good news! I know how it feels, believe me.

Six weeks seems much longer to us, waiting, than it does for a snake that's making us wait. Shedding (especially the "going back to clear part") sure confuses a great many new snake-keepers.

But that's how we all learned- with experience & patience. Sounds like she's on the right track now, but any time you want to talk over these confusing issues, that's why were here. Most of us remember the frustration of similar questions- believe me. I'm glad you didn't listen to that so-called expert that told you to give up on her- She's glad too...

The more snakes you know, or the longer you keep them, the easier it gets to read their issues.