Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Do some balls just have bad sheds regardless of what you do for them? My yearling has never had a one piece shed while in my care. I know I should have a humidity gauge in there but I don't. I keep her heat at 95 in the hot side and @80 on the cool side. Those temps are at the bottom of her tank where she stays. She has a water dish that is plenty large enough for soaking and it has a wood 'jungle gym' over it so that it isn't exposing her to being right out in the open to soak. She never goes in the dish for a soak though. She absolutely HATES to get wet. So when she goes blue I add a rubbermaid bowl with damp moss or paper towels to her enclosure and she refuses to go in there too. I put her in and shut the lid and she climbs right back out. I will also put lukewarm water in the sink and place her in there for about 5-10 minutes. But she will only stay in if I hold her. Her name should be 'Princess'. So when she shed it comes off in large pieces and always all of it comes off but I am just curious why it never comes off in one full piece.

On another note she was gray this week and yesterday her eyes cleared back up noting to me that the shed is coming soon. I was in town and said what the heck I will get her weekly meal while I'm in here and she did not even hesitate to eat it. And this morning when I got up she is about 1/2 way shed. I hear most people saying that theirs won't eat while shedding. Maybe she is just a pig. LOL.

I have also checked her very well for any external parasites that could cause a bad shed.
Thanks for any advise
April

April, sometimes no matter what you do they have bad sheds. It sounds to me like you give your snake a great home. Bad sheds are a part of having snakes

There are ball pythons that will eat in shed, most don't, but I've had quite a few over the years that will eat in shed.

-----
gail

_____
SBF

Here is my take on the situation!

Go out and buy a 7 dollar digital hygrometer from wal-mart. That should be a minimum requirment in the tank anyway. Get some heavy duty velcro or something to stick it to the side of the tank and get your humidity where it should be and you would more then likely see her shed in one piece.
I would almost bet that the humidity levels in your tank are to low especially if you run a lamp during the day.

Good luck and nice lookin ball you have!
-----
Mike & Wendy

2.0.0 Siberian husky, Jackrussel/schitzu
0.0.1 Ball Python
1.0.1 Leopard Gecko
1.0.0 Beardie
4.0.0 Beta's
3.1.0 Future Herper's

AMEN!!!

Allright, I knew I was going to hear about it for not having a humidity gauge. I understand where you are coming from. The one I did have stopped working and sometimes you don't have $7 to go out to Walmart to get another right away. The question is general. Do some balls have bad sheds regardless of what you do for them?

Thanks
April

I'm not a pro at balls or any other snake but in my opinion if the humiditys are kept up and when the snake starts to go into shed bump them up to around 65 or 70 percent and I wouldnt think any snake would have a problem. As I said before im not a pro and i only have one ball but if the snake is well hydrated and has good humidity levels i dont see why it would have a problem.
I noticed you said you soak yours for 5 or 10 minutes in the sink. I would suggest going out and getting a rubbermaid or something and filling it up just enough to cover half of the snake body and leaving him in there with a clear lid so you can watch him for around 15 to 30 minutes a month. That will help ensure he is staying well hydrated.

One thing is if you spray your enclosure be sure to keep the water away from your meter. Sometimes water can get stuck in there and fry or mess it up.
-----
Mike & Wendy

2.0.0 Siberian husky, Jackrussel/schitzu
0.0.1 Ball Python
1.0.1 Leopard Gecko
1.0.0 Beardie
4.0.0 Beta's
3.1.0 Future Herper's

Thanks,
I am afraid to leave her alone in a tub of water. Because when I say she HATES it, I really mean it. She does not like to be wet. She will trash about trying to get away unless I am holding and petting her. I don't want her to harm herself just to avoid a bad shed. In the past she had a really stuck shed and I sat with her and some damp paper towels and helped her peel it. She was so happy like getting a massage.

She's spoiled. I think her name is Princess. She was unnamed until now.

Well it sounds like you love your snake alot and thats awesome! If she doesnt like the water try getting a tub and putting in a soaked towel and let her crawl around in that to get some moisture.
I know the first time i gave mine a soak he ddint seem to like it either but i put the lid on and he calmed down rather quick! I ofcourse sat and watched him the entire time. I DO NOT recommend to anyone that you ever saok your python unattended! (just had to add that!)lol
All pyhtons are different tho.
Sounds to me like your doing a fine job of being a mom and you dont have to much to worry about! Definitly go out and buy a hygrometer tho, you and princess will sleep easier!
-----
Mike & Wendy

2.0.0 Siberian husky, Jackrussel/schitzu
0.0.1 Ball Python
1.0.1 Leopard Gecko
1.0.0 Beardie
4.0.0 Beta's
3.1.0 Future Herper's

Even over in Africa they have bad sheds, and the humidity there is what it's supposed to be. That is after all their natural habitat.

I've seen perfect conditions and snakes will shed in bits and pieces. Not always, but it does happen.

Have you ever seen a show on Animal Planet or Discovery that is about snakes and see snakes in their natural habitat shedding in bits ... I have. It's part of life.

Steve Irwin goes into his snakes cages at his zoo in Australia and helps snakes shed that are having bad sheds.

In my humble opinion, it happens.
-----
gail

_____
SBF

Thanks Gail!

i have seen that gail
and i have seen steve irwin helping the snakes, his reticulated python was the one i saw him help i think.

devi has had her share of bad sheds, and i had the humidity up to 70, she shed bad.....
then she ended up with scale rot, took her to the vet and he said let it drop to 40 or 50%, i thought he was nuts, but i tried that let it drop to 50% and then her sheds are fine.

another thing to consider is in their habitat if they are in a realk humid area, they can leave if they have to to go to a dryer spot, in a tank that is kept at 70% humidity they are stuck there.

Yes ... I saw the retic show too

I use to have boas and I found that boas rarely had bad sheds ...
It seems to be a ball python thang
-----
gail

_____
SBF