Burmese Python dry skin?

Question

I brought a Burmese Python just over a week ago from a recommended reptile shop. He was kept in dreadful conditions there were 3 babies 1 male & 2 female with an adult male this looked more like a female by its size though. The Vivarium was kept at 100 oC it had cardboard on the floor and the babies seemed to have to climb over the adult to get to the water. My Burmese George seems to be settling down nicely now but he is very dry underneath he is on newspaper at the moment with a steady temperture he also has bark but seems to be rubbing his head on the paper there are no mites or anything on him i've checked. can anyone suggest some substrate which will help him

Answer 1

The head rubbing suggests that he may be trying to initiate a shed process.  You will need to provide a higher level of humidity for him now and overall in the cage. The one drawback of newspaper is that is can be very drying, actually drawing moisture out of the skin. Try adding a humid hide which is just an enclosed plastic container with a small entry hole and half filled with a good moisture holding substrate like cypress mulch or moss. Cypress mulch is a good choice as a substrate for the entire cage as well. It looks natural and holds humidity well. Covering a portion of the cage will help keep the humidity up inside.

Answer 2

Since your snake is having a bad shed take a plastic box, large enough for your snake to fit in it comfortably but not a whole lot of moving room.  Get the short boxes for soaking snakes…the box should be about the height to go under a bed.  I used to soak a burmese in one of these so you can get the big enough...again the snake doesnt have to have much moving room it wont hurt the snake to be in this for a few hours.  Drill several holes along the sides at the top for airflow.  Put about an inch or two of lukewarm water (about 80 Fahrenheit) and put the top on the plastic tub and “soak” the snake for about 3 hours (changing the water every so often if needed).  The reason to do this in a plastic tub with only an inch or two of water is because it's the humidity that this creates that helps the skin loosen and come off easier for your snake.  You may have to repeat this process a few days since it is a larger snake.  Also right after you "soak" the snake you can help some of the shed come off while it is really moist.  If the eyecaps don't come off with this shed don't worry about it too much they should come off with the next shed...however...if the eyecaps don't come off with a second shed then you might think about taking it to the vet for them to get them off...people do it themselves sometimes but for me mucking around the eye takes a professional because their eyes are delicate.  

Good luck.

Answer 3

ok if he is drying out you just need to raise the humidity and a good substrate would be eco earth blocks they are extremely cheap easily hold moisture they make maintance a breeze n overall your enclosure looks great with it you should be able to find it at any pet store they come as brick shapes that you let soak in water to loosen it up then you just wring it out n spread it throughout the enclosure also proving a soaking container with the water changed daily would make george a very happy python i'm not sure how big your enclosure is but if you could fit the soaking area inside that would be best so he could soak as he pleases also about the petshop if the snakes are living in those conditions i would hardly consider that a recomendable reptile shop usually if you see poor maintnance like that you know to stay clear i'm not sure where you are from so i don't know who is in your area but the best people to find this info from is other breeders

good luck

Answer 4

Raising the humidity would be great, especially since Burms come from humid areas. Misting with a newspaper substrate would be kind of wet and messy, so I suggest making a humidity box. This has worked great for me with snakes who experience shedding problems and dry skin. I like using a small tupperware container and filling it halfway with moist spaghnum moss. I cut a hole in the lid just big enough for the snake to get in. They can go in and out when they want and this works wonders for their skin, and it acts as another hide. I've also used cypress mulch and covered most of the top of the enclosure to keep humidity in. Good luck!