How can I help my Ball have a full shed?

Question

He has never had a full shed. This is the first shed since I've had him. He is in a 55 gal peat/sand/moss mix. Substrate pretty dry-afraid of blister disease. Use shed spray frequently (suggested by a zookeeper), but still didn't work. Suggestions?

Answer 1

mist it with some special spray that helps shed there skin. you can get them a pet stores

Answer 2

You're not Lance Armstrong are you? Oh ball python, I dunno...

Answer 3

Ok, obviously you haven't done all your research on a ball python. You're NOT suppose to have a sand mix in the cage, your ball python can ingest the sand and the sand can damage the inside of a BP's stomach and later will case health problems. You have a better chance of your snake getting sick from the sand then him having blister diseases. I would first recommend to remove the sand, moss if fine or you could try the Care Fresh or the Dust Free Cellulose Cat Litter, it is good for your snake and if he ingest it, it would dissolve in their stomach. Also it is odor control.

After that don't spray his tank frequently since sand isn't soaking the water. Humidity is needed but not to much. Just keep the cage around 80-88F and humidity around 60-70%. I don't even soak my snakes' tanks and they are fine because when they shed, I soak them in a plastic container for 4-5 hours, also it wouldn't make them dehydrated. I also soak all of them a few times a week for about 10-20 mins since I don't worry about humidity too much. Or you could just mist the tank once in a while but like like every day, every hour or something like that.

If you want your snake to shed whole, try soaking him in a plastic container for about 4 hours a day(remember to put holes in it) and do that everyday until the day he shed off his skin. Sometime it might take longer. I do that to all my snakes, and not once my snakes didn't shed whole.

Hope this could help, and just email me if you have any other questions, I don't mind helping(sorry if this is kinda of not in details enough, I had a busy day) Link on ball python below.

http://www.reptilerescueca.org/Ball.html

Answer 4

All I know is do not feed it when you see the first signs of shedding as well as do not handle or disturb your python while it is shedding.

Answer 5

i always had a humidity problem with mine when i had them. Came off in bits. I'd soak my ol girl and manually remove the skin. When they're close to shed time, soak em. And keep misting the tank too.  

Answer 6

Your ball needs moisture to shed.  During the pre-shed and shed period, you should mist the tank daily with a bottle or cool steam steamer and increase the humidity about 10%.  He also needs a large ceramic crock he easily fits into, so he can soak (fill about 1/2 full, so it doesn't overflow when he crawls in).

If he's not soaking on his own, you can use a bucket with a top, or plastic shoebox type container with lid.  Drill holes from the inside towards the outside (so there is nothing sharp for him to rub his nose on) along the top of the container and in the lid.  Put enough luke warm water in to just cover the snake (up even with his back but don't drown him), and let him soak 15-20 min. once daily.  Pat him dry with a paper towel, and return him to his tank.  Repeat daily until he sheds.

Incomplete sheds are usually a moisture problem.  If after doing all this, his shed is still incomplete, it could be an indicator of a more serious problem going on, and you might want to take him to the vet.

If you don’t already know of a qualified exotics/reptile vet in your area, google: “Herpetological Society” -or-

http://www.herpvetconnection.com/  for the one closest to you.

Good luck, and I hope this has been helpful.

Answer 7

How big is the snake?  Anyway...to answer your question...HUMIDITY!!!  Change the bedding to cypress mulch.  Your snake will not get blister disease.  Lowe's carries large bags of shredded cypress mulch for like...$3 a bag.  Pet stores rob you BLIND for that stuff!  Change the bedding and mist the tank daily.  

Another personal method I have has actually worked miracles with my snakes.  I recommend you try it.  Go to your local pet store and pick up a medium 8 watt heat pad, and set it up on one side of the tank, preferably opposite of the water.  You will also want to find a plastic container large enough for the snake to curl up in, and cut or melt a hole into one side of it.  Personally, I used the plastic igloos intended as hiding places for small animals.  Now, set up your tank's bedding as normal, then place the container over where the heat pad is set, and bury it under more bedding, leaving the opening exposed.  My baby ball pythons absolutely LOVED it! So does my adult tegu.  It's dark, warm, VERY humid (95%), and they feel secure.  It can be a small hassle to get the snake out when you need to, and you won't see them a whole lot...but the snake will be HAPPY!!  And that's what's important...right?  :)   Give it a try!

Hope this helps!  :)