Ball Python *Shedding* Questions?

Question

My ball python looks as if he's about to shed, and as this being my first time owning a ball python, I'm not sure what to expect.

How can I BEST keep hydration in his tank?

We're using coconut husk bedding with a 75 watt day-glo heat source. In accompaniment with that, I saturate his bedding daily with water. Its about 86 degrees (F) in there during the day, and 80 at night.

He's eating two mice a week on Thursdays, and he's eating them without a problem, but lately I've noticed he's becoming lethargic (for him) while in his cage. He sleeps in a ball in the corner and we have to pick him up to get him to move around. Its very unusual to see him curled up like that, as he usually sleeps splayed out.

He's normally active when he's out of his cage, so we know he's healthy and happy.

His skin is a dim brown and very dark black, and his eyes are beginning to develop a cap (thats how we know he's about to shed, or is preparing to). How can we make him MOST comfortable during this time?

Answer 1

you saturate the bedding? that's a good way to get mold growing, leading to respiratory problemms. cover part of the tank with foil to help keep in the humidity. make sure there's enough water in his dish to completely cover him, and he should be fine. you can mist the tank with a spray bottle too. when he sheds, make sure the old skin has the eyecaps and the tip of the tail on it, these are the major problem areas.  

Answer 2

keep the humidity up in his cage about 60% or higher.

mist him twice a day.

Answer 3

Please, please visit this website for care on you ball python.

http://www.vpi.com/publications/the_ball...

Your substrate should not be damp at all. Make sure you have your temperature where you think you are keeping your temperature at during the day and at night. At my clinic we always advise herp. owners to get a temperature laser point gun (either Pro Exotics PE2 or Big Apple Herp temp gun). Most people only get ambient temperatures on there reptiles. You need to know the temperature of where your python spends most of it's time. I am afraid you are keeping it too moist for this species and then you may be keeping it too hot.

Your snake should look an opaque before it sheds and the shed should come off all in one shed or you have something off in your husbandry. You should start misting the sides of your cage twice each day when you notice your snake go opaque until it sheds. After that there is no need to keep the humidity so high. A separate humidity box can be placed in with your during this time.

"Humidity

Ball pythons are native to generally temperate to arid areas. Depending on where you live, they may be fine with the ambient humidity. If there are any problems shedding, or f***s are dry when deposited or there is straining to defecate, check the humidity with a hygrometer and get it up to 50 percent. When shedding, they will need higher humidity: increase enclosure humidity to 60-65 percent, or mist daily during the shed. If you bathe them in a warm bath the day their eyes clear, they should shed completely within 24 hours."

http://www.anapsid.org/ball.html, Melissa Kaplan, 17 August, 2008.

I am concerned that the environment you have created will keep the skin too moist for your python during his shed and leaving it open for infection. Do find yourself a reliable exotics veterinarian in your area (ARAV.org) .  Keep asking questions it is the only way we learn.

Answer 4

I would get him a dish that he can soak in , to make the soon to be shedded skin softer , keep the humidity up and if you don't already , buy him a rock of tree with hard bark so that he can rub his nose against it so that he can break open the dead skin , hope this helped = ) carmelicious ~

Answer 5

keep a bowl of water avaliable for him to soak in this helps the skin come off easily, then while you have him out just kinda massage him and rub some of the loose and dead skin off to help him. after he is through shedding make sure he gets all the skin off especially around the tip of the tail if he doesn't get all skin and some remains this puts him at risk for tail rott, also him not moving in is cage is normal. ball pythons are the most laid back and good for first time owners, as long as he is moving while you hold him and even that isn't a big deal. as far as his tank it sounds like you are doing good just don't let the cage get to cold cause pythons will get lung infections keep humidity levels between 45 and 60 % good luck