Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Our B/P just shed this weekend. Despite spraying daily, and lining his hide log with a wet papertowel(wetting it daily), and soaking him twice for about 5-10 minutes each (he wouldn't stay in the sink any longer that that). He still shed in pieces. I helped a couple of the pieces off on Sunday by soaking him again and just rubbing gently with my finger. Is this normal for the young ones to shed in pieces?

My question is this. It looks like he may have a piece left on one of his eyes. I have read about the q-tip and oil method, but how do you hold their head, since they are so headshy?
Thanks alot---this form is so helpful.
Other than that, our b/p is doing well. We got him on 7/20/03, and he has eaten for us 3 times now, and he doesnt care who's watching or what time it is. I gues were lucky about that.

Most ball pythons will shed pretty well if humidity is 50%. Ones I have that I have concerns with I will add a little moist sphagmum moss to their hide on the warm side. That does the trick. I would check your temps make sure that they are right. (90 hot spot 80-85 cool end). I would avoid handling the snake around shed. I have used shed ease on one that had a difficult time or on my brazilian rainbow boa or green tree. It seems to work well. But in theory you don't need it. I would leave the eyecap alone. It will come off next shed. Maybe next time it goes in blue add some sphagmum moss and maybe mist him/her with a bottle of shed ease water to make sure the shed goes well. Most balls with eyecaps will still eat fine. And if it is young it will reshed soon enough.
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Derek Affonce
DeKeAff Exotics
dekeaffexotics.com

Thanks..
Where do you get that type of moss?

The eye cap need to come off. If any scales if left on a snake body it will lead to an infection and its like a little burning feeling on the snakes skin. You need to get all snakes eye caps off. That is the most important thing to come off. As for what to get it off with put a very wet warm towel of the eye for about 5 mins make sure you hold the head not tight big enough to hold the the cloth on. Then wipe the eye with the something very soft do this untill it all comes off . As sanke owners we need to know this stuff. I have had my vet tell me this a few times. Good luck
cody

You can damage the eye pulling a stuck one off. My vet has told me to leave them.
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Derek Affonce
DeKeAff Exotics
dekeaffexotics.com

A retained eyecap is not a big deal. Many will tell you to leave it until the next shed which is perfectly fine. Usually, infection takes place in dirty conditions or the retained piece has been retained multiple times (i.e., 3 sheds and it never came off).

This is what I do:

1 32qt rubbermaid
1 undertank heater
1 damp pillowcase

I put the snake in the pillowcase and put it in the rubbermaid. The heater is off to one side. Leave for about 1-2 hours. The snake WILL move around in this bag. In doing so, it will remove any remaining skin.

This method has NEVER failed for me.

DO NOT USE TAPE!
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Jay A. Martin

Remember to use CHEAP pillow cases. Expensive pillow cases with a very high thread count can actually become air tight when wet. Sounds weird I know, I was told this about 10 years ago by a friend who worked in the bath and bedding department of a department store. It does make sense though.

Mark

>>A retained eyecap is not a big deal. Many will tell you to leave it until the next shed which is perfectly fine. Usually, infection takes place in dirty conditions or the retained piece has been retained multiple times (i.e., 3 sheds and it never came off).
>>
>>This is what I do:
>>
>>1 32qt rubbermaid
>>1 undertank heater
>>1 damp pillowcase
>>
>>I put the snake in the pillowcase and put it in the rubbermaid. The heater is off to one side. Leave for about 1-2 hours. The snake WILL move around in this bag. In doing so, it will remove any remaining skin.
>>
>>This method has NEVER failed for me.
>>
>>DO NOT USE TAPE!
>>-----
>>Jay A. Martin

That's an excellent point. My wife will only let me use old pillowcases. Also, I don't wet it entirely. It's usually enought to wet it about 50% as the snake will move all over the place.

The reason for the heat and moisture is for humidity to loosen the skin. The pillowcase is actually used for friction to gently rub off the skin.
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Jay A. Martin

I guess the humidity thing also works for us humans too. I know when it gets real dry here in va, my skin turns into elephant hide. After I take a shower my dead skin rolls off very easily.