My young Royal, shedding....

[Bu666]

Hi, my new Royal male is in shed at the moment. Being new to snakes i'm keen to know i've done as much as i can for the little fella.

I've put a moss box in the warm end and this has raised the humidity a bit, is currently running between 60 and 70 (most of the day its about 6

He's been hiding in his 'warm end' hide (an upside down plastic food container with a door way cut in it)

From what i can see he's not moved for a good week now.

I'm not sure if he's coming out at night or not??? I've lifted up the hide just to check he still looks ok and he's curled up really tight with his head kinda buried in the middle of the coil.... he's VERY defensive too....


He's a definate dull colour and his eyes are very opaque (noticed slight dimples in the middle of the eye caps last night when i looked)

He's simply not moving. I don't know if he's using the moss box i've put in to help him with his shed.

I'm concerned that if he just stops in the hide he's in now he's not gonna shed, surely he needs to be rubbing on his hide or water bowl to pul the skin off???? His skins gone quite loose looking and 'wrinkley'

I've seen some folk say that they spray the snake when in shed.... do i use luke warm water for this??? He's got a large waterbowl (big enough for him to fit in) and the water is changed daily. I don't know if he's going in it though??

Maybe i'm just worrying over nothing..... I don't want to pick him up and handle him to help him shed as he is being very defensive and i don't want to stress him out. He's approx 4months old.

Also, he's due a feed tomorrow, he refused his feed last week, shortly before going into hiding..... i just put this down to him going into shed. Is it worth me offering him food tomorrow or is this likely to just stress him out?????


Any advice would be very welcome.

[dr del]

Hi,

It might be a good idea to spray the tank but I wouldn't spray the snake itself as they tend not to like it much (well mine don't).

How long is it since he went blue and then cleared up?

As to the feeding some eat in shed and others do not - how do you feed him and what with?


dr del

[RoyalGuardian]

Ball pythons are very reclusive by nature. They are oppertunistic eaters in the wild because they usually wait in their burrows for prey to come to them. ball pythons are not active snakes unlike corns and such. They are most content when hiding. and as for him being defensive, how would you like a giant lifting your house up? I'm just saying you gotta think from the snake's perspective. How long have you had this little guy? What are the temps in the tank. Are there extra things to climb on/hide in? are three sides of your tank blacked out? From my experiances I would put some fake plants in his cage it will help him feel more secure( some people use wadded up paper balls but I go to hobby lobby and pick up some fake plants 50% off!!) I would try some of these and see if it makes a difference!

[SecurityStacey]

When Stan goes into shed he holes up in his warm hide until its completely over too.

Has he gone dull and then cleared up? When he clears up it will only be a day or so until he finishes shedding.

As for worrying about him being in that hide when he sheds - trust me - when he needs to he will come out and rub himself on things and what not and get his shed completed.

Sounds like you are doing a good job with humidity and all that - now just wait and see how he does.

[Bu666]

Hi, His cool side is between 25 and 28deg c and his warm side is between 29 and 32deg c (dependant on ambient temperature in the living room where his viv is)

He has 2 x hides, one in the hot end and one in the cooler end. He has a large water tub, easily big enough for him to 'swim' in.

In addition to these he has 3 x artificiall plant/bushes dotted around his viv. I think i've done all i can for him.

I've had him a couple of weeks. prior to bringing him home he was eating 1 x medium white mouse per week.... he started going into shed within a few days of me getting him which i think explains why he's not fed whilst with me yet.

Thanks all for your advice. Its appreciated.

[Kaorte]

Same thing is going on with my BP too. I haven't seen him out of his hide for almost a week. I know he will be out in a few days though.
It is kind of strange though, its like I don't even have an animal in my viv. Haha

[Basketball303]

everything is fine mine does the same thing you should probably read the sticky on a bad shed just incase something does happen it's a very stressful time for both a beginning snake owner and the snake but be patient and you should see a shed in a couple of days if he still hasn't cleared up

[Bu666]

Hi everyone, ok so i got up this morning to find that Henry my 4mnth old Royal has finally shed his skin.

It hasn't all come off in one piece, there was some in his 'hot hide' (along with some poo) some on his cool hide which has a rough surface, some behind his water bowl, again, rough surface, some IN his water bowl, and some under his wooden log..... looking at him he's ultra lively this morning.... there's still a bit of skin to come off the back of his neck and the top of his head but it looks like a work in progress..... if he aint got that last bit off by tonight i'll give him some help with it.......