Update: My BP is shedding!

[VesuviusVicki]

Well, I think I know the reason my bp is acting like a vegetarian. I checked on him today and he has a big shed on him. I noticed like you guys say that his eyes were milky but he is so new and he hasn't eaten or anything so I figured it was his new environment. Anyway, is there anything special I should do? It has been very humid and it sitting about 55-60 degrees right now. I can add pics later if needed.

[gibbrishclown]

I think they say to increase humidity to 70% during shed.

[VesuviusVicki]

I think they say to increase humidity to 70% during shed.

Ok thanks. I sprayed in there so maybe that will help? Any other suggestions. And stupid question here but how often do they shed. Cause mine is a new baby!

[frankykeno]

Usually a humidity of around 60% is fine for a good shed. Don't worry so much that it all comes off in one piece, as long as it all comes off without you having to mess with the snake. Normally after you see the eyes go "blue" there will be another stage where the snake appears to have gone out of shed and looks normal again, however, it's still in shed. About a day or two after the return to normal appearance they'll shed. If you haven't read this, it's a wonderful link to look at and learn about the whole process...

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=28794

Snakes shed when they need to but usually young BP's shed about every 4 to 6 weeks depending on their growth.

[VesuviusVicki]

Usually a humidity of around 60% is fine for a good shed. Don't worry so much that it all comes off in one piece, as long as it all comes off without you having to mess with the snake. Normally after you see the eyes go "blue" there will be another stage where the snake appears to have gone out of shed and looks normal again, however, it's still in shed. About a day or two after the return to normal appearance they'll shed. If you haven't read this, it's a wonderful link to look at and learn about the whole process...

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=28794

Snakes shed when they need to but usually young BP's shed about every 4 to 6 weeks depending on their growth.

OK thank you for the link, that was very informative. Two more questions: He is through with his shed now and out of his hide. The shed is in one piece right beside him. Should I just pick it up and take it out? Also how long should I wait to try to feed or handle him after his shed?

Thanks!

[frankykeno]

Yep just reach in and grab the shed. You can handle your snake and feed it anytime you want after a shed. I usually like to get mine out and check that they eyecaps and the tip of the tail and so forth are all cleanly shed.

[VesuviusVicki]

Yep just reach in and grab the shed. You can handle your snake and feed it anytime you want after a shed. I usually like to get mine out and check that they eyecaps and the tip of the tail and so forth are all cleanly shed.

Thanks!

[VesuviusVicki]

Well tried to feed him again. He just did his typical one strike and then left it there. I don't think he likes f/t or else he is just not hungry yet. 2 mice thrown away.

[smasharama13]

Well tried to feed him again. He just did his typical one strike and then left it there. I don't think he likes f/t or else he is just not hungry yet. 2 mice thrown away.

It has been very humid and it sitting about 55-60 degrees right now.

The first thing you need to do is get your environment right. 60 degrees is too cold. The snake needs the environment to be warmer to digest it's food. It is a cold blooded animal and relies on the ambient temps for energy and will not eat unless it can digest it's food. If it were to eat and the temps dropped, the food could sit inside your snake and rot make it very sick and possibly dead.

After your temps are right try again. If that doesn't help there are a few things to try.

#1 you have to be patient. Don't handle him while it still hasn't eaten for you yet.


#2 wait for 2 days after you tried feeding him last with out handling and then try again with your f/t mouse.

You want to make sure it's heated up good. I usually take mine out of the freezer and let it thaw for a few hours right on top of the snakes enclosure to pre-scent the cage. After a couple hours, I heat up so water in the microwave (2-3 minutes depending on microwave). Then I put the mouse in the bowl for 10 minutes, re-heat the water and flip the mouse over and wait another 10 minutes.


#3 If your snake still won't eat, wait for a few more days (3 or 4). Then try again. It's important not to handle your snake in between attempts! .


A picture of your enclosure with your thermometer in it would help us understand your snakes environment better. Before you said you didn't know where to put the thermometer, and were instructed to go get an accurite from walmart for about $10. they have and indoor/outdoor one that works great to monitor both the ambient temps and the hot spot temps.

You want to place the probe directly on the base of the enclosure, under the substrate, and directly above the UTH (Under Tank Heater). It will also give you a good humidity reading.





To re-cap: Get your temps right, don't handle the snake until you've successfully fed, make sure the mouse is heated up, but not cooked.


Oh yeah, and once it has eaten, don't handle it for at lest 24 hours. 48 is better.

[VesuviusVicki]

Sorry if that was confusing. The 60 was not degrees but humidity. :eek: Thanks for the part about not handling between eating attempts. Do you know if there is a thread that tells you about how long to heat up feed? We are doing small mice.