New BP Owner, Concern from my little guy

[JeffJ]

I wouldn't suggest repti-carpet. Bacteria will have a field day in his tank. I would give paper towels a try - you might like them. And they really don't look all that bad in a glass enclosure.

OK temp gun is a good thing. I must have missed that. Sorry. Regardless the sticky gauges are still inaccurate.

I don't see any harm in the waterfall. Most BP's (as far as I know) aren't soakers unless they have mites

Also to keep humidity in a glass enclosure you could do something like this...



I went to walmart and got some thick(ish) vinyl from the sewing dept and cut it to fit over the screened portion of the enclosure and cut out holes for the light/air circulation. I rarely use the red heat lights....mostly cold winter nights

that setup looks like a great idea. im going to try that thanks. as well as the paper towel, although i think it would have just as much of a housing effect for bacteria. i clean the tank weekly. so either or i guess. and im thinking the water fall is a better idea the more i think of it... as we know moving water causes humidity thanks for all your help.

one last question. do you thin khis lack of ambition and general lack of activity in the last 3 days is due to this bad shed? and is there anything you can suggest besides the stickies to help him out? im getting worried about skin/scale issues.

[STORMS]

that setup looks like a great idea. im going to try that thanks. as well as the paper towel, although i think it would have just as much of a housing effect for bacteria. i clean the tank weekly. so either or i guess. and im thinking the water fall is a better idea the more i think of it... as we know moving water causes humidity thanks for all your help.

one last question. do you thin khis lack of ambition and general lack of activity in the last 3 days is due to this bad shed? and is there anything you can suggest besides the stickies to help him out? im getting worried about skin/scale issues.

If you get the humidity issue fixed it should all come off with his next shed. I wouldn't worry too much about it. As long as there is not too much moisture (wet) on the substrate scale rot should not be a concern. I believe he would have to be sitting in a sopping wet enclosure for a lengthy amount of time for scale rot to be an issue. Some one please correct me if I am wrong

I can't really see his bad shed having to do with his current inactivity... When you say he is inactive, is this during daylight hours? If so, no worries. BP's are nocturnal and for the most part you really won't see them during the day - they like to hide, it's just what they do. However, if he is inactive at night (mine are usually out & about from midnight to about 4:00am) then that could be caused by something more. Has he had a vet checkup? Fecals? Or it could be husbandry related. To be honest, each snake is different, so I'm not entirely sure.

[JeffJ]

If you get the humidity issue fixed it should all come off with his next shed. I wouldn't worry too much about it. As long as there is not too much moisture (wet) on the substrate scale rot should not be a concern. I believe he would have to be sitting in a sopping wet enclosure for a lengthy amount of time for scale rot to be an issue. Some one please correct me if I am wrong

I can't really see his bad shed having to do with his current inactivity... When you say he is inactive, is this during daylight hours? If so, no worries. BP's are nocturnal and for the most part you really won't see them during the day - they like to hide, it's just what they do. However, if he is inactive at night (mine are usually out & about from midnight to about 4:00am) then that could be caused by something more. Has he had a vet checkup? Fecals? Or it could be husbandry related. To be honest, each snake is different, so I'm not entirely sure.

he was checked by a vet and given a clean bill of health. he hasn't pooped while i owned him but did a few days before i got him. so he hasn't had a fecal test however the breeder is also a close friend of my parents and i trust her when she says that all her snakes are parasite free and in great health. once he poops i will have it tested though. usually he becomes a lil more active around 11PM but he hasn't since the shed went bad. since its around his neck and top and base of his skull im wondering if its uncomfortable for him. im going to try your suggestions, and also im going to feed him today because i know he is hungry he eats like clock work. get that humidity issue fixed up get it to around 70% and see if he cant get it off him self. its very close it just seems it may be in an awkward position to start removing it. i know he is still trying because when he is moving he is thrashing his head about and rubbing frequently on his cave water bowl and stick.

thanks allot for you help and not blasting me for being a little bit of a newbie

[STORMS]

he was checked by a vet and given a clean bill of health. he hasn't pooped while i owned him but did a few days before i got him. so he hasn't had a fecal test however the breeder is also a close friend of my parents and i trust her when she says that all her snakes are parasite free and in great health. once he poops i will have it tested though. usually he becomes a lil more active around 11PM but he hasn't since the shed went bad. since its around his neck and top and base of his skull im wondering if its uncomfortable for him. im going to try your suggestions, and also im going to feed him today because i know he is hungry he eats like clock work. get that humidity issue fixed up get it to around 70% and see if he cant get it off him self. its very close it just seems it may be in an awkward position to start removing it. i know he is still trying because when he is moving he is thrashing his head about and rubbing frequently on his cave water bowl and stick.

thanks allot for you help and not blasting me for being a little bit of a newbie

I know you read the sticky on shedding...By chance did you try the damp pillow case trick? I had to do that for a bad shed my newest girl had and it worked like a charm. She also had old skin stuck to her head and neck. Just a thought...

Glad I could help Good luck with him

[JeffJ]

I know you read the sticky on shedding...By chance did you try the damp pillow case trick? I had to do that for a bad shed my newest girl had and it worked like a charm. She also had old skin stuck to her head and neck. Just a thought...

Glad I could help Good luck with him

That was my next thing to try, ive been a little bit wary of the damp pillow case just because im worried he will be come to cool and pic up some sort of RI.

[STORMS]

That was my next thing to try, ive been a little bit wary of the damp pillow case just because im worried he will be come to cool and pic up some sort of RI.

He won't be in there long enough to have to worry about that
Give it a try - I think I ended up doing the pillowcase 2-3 times before all the stuck shed finally came off. I spread it out over a few days. So be patient and if it doesn't all come off in the 1st try..give it a day or so and try again.

Good luck

[JeffJ]

He won't be in there long enough to have to worry about that
Give it a try - I think I ended up doing the pillowcase 2-3 times before all the stuck shed finally came off. I spread it out over a few days. So be patient and if it doesn't all come off in the 1st try..give it a day or so and try again.

Good luck

thanks i will try that out.

[cinderbird]

I think its awesome that you're trying to help your snake. I'll tell you what I know

the search feature on this site is amazing, there are so many threads filled with lots of useful information.

1. a basking spot of 100 i much too hot for a BP. 90-96 is fine.

2. There is an excellent sticky on how to raise humidity in glass tanks using seran wrap, duct tape and tin foil.

3. sand as a substrate -- sand is a pretty inappropriate substrate for most reptiles, contrary to popular belief. Sand has a ton of dust, as well as gets in the nostrils of the snake and from what i understand irritates the sales and such, and also dosnt do much for humidity. Aspen, cypress mulch, coconut bark, etc that are much more appropriate for balls. From what i understand, balls dont really bury in their substrates. Papertowels, newspaper and other kraft papers are also great substrates.

4. As for the shed, a little stuck shed is not a problem at all . As long as the shed does not circle anything (such as the neck or tail tip) your snake will be fine. There are a few stickies about dealing with stuck sheds if it bothers you that much. Snakes can have a layer or two or three of stuck shed without it really being an issue. My Honduran milk snake came to me with at least 3 layers of eyecaps, she has since shed properly and is now fine.

Sorry if some of this is repeated info from other posters.

Good luck with your snake

[JeffJ]

I think its awesome that you're trying to help your snake. I'll tell you what I know

the search feature on this site is amazing, there are so many threads filled with lots of useful information.

1. a basking spot of 100 i much too hot for a BP. 90-96 is fine.

2. There is an excellent sticky on how to raise humidity in glass tanks using seran wrap, duct tape and tin foil.

3. sand as a substrate -- sand is a pretty inappropriate substrate for most reptiles, contrary to popular belief. Sand has a ton of dust, as well as gets in the nostrils of the snake and from what i understand irritates the sales and such, and also dosnt do much for humidity. Aspen, cypress mulch, coconut bark, etc that are much more appropriate for balls. From what i understand, balls dont really bury in their substrates. Papertowels, newspaper and other kraft papers are also great substrates.

4. As for the shed, a little stuck shed is not a problem at all . As long as the shed does not circle anything (such as the neck or tail tip) your snake will be fine. There are a few stickies about dealing with stuck sheds if it bothers you that much. Snakes can have a layer or two or three of stuck shed without it really being an issue. My Honduran milk snake came to me with at least 3 layers of eyecaps, she has since shed properly and is now fine.

Sorry if some of this is repeated info from other posters.

Good luck with your snake

thanks, im more worried about the bad shed bothering my little buddy then anything els. i have read and been told that they find it quite irritating and it can cause scale defects and irritation. i would like to get his habitat up to the 70% humidity range and get some better thermal regulation according to suggestions here. Ultimately, i guess my concern is for his health and well being mentally an physically. i don't want to stress him either way. and i did accept the task of caring for him properly and to the best of his needs when i bought him. so no reason not to, that would be just cruel.

[JeffJ]

I built a rheostat at work today with some spare electrical sockets, a dimmer and some in dustrial grounded electrical cabling. its working quite well, i put in a 50W bulb in my heat lamp from a smaller enclosure i wasnt using and i have the temps spot on with no more 100*F basking spot

picked up a 30lb bag of aspin substrate for $8 dont really know if thats a deal, but the betstoe owner's son offered me a bag of what they buy in bul for there in house caages.

ill post pictures in a little bit thanks allot guys and or gals for your help.

if a moderator or admin wants to move this to the husbandry section no hard feelings it seems to be more themed this way now.