My baby female ball is shedding her skin for the first time since I have owned her. From what I read, it is supposed to all come off in a straight shot, like one long piece of skin. This isn't the case. She has been shedding slowly over the last two days, and only random chunks are shedding off, not all together. Can this be dangerous? Or what could be cauing it? I have a large enough water dish for her to chill in, an undertank heater at one end, with a cooler end at the other side of the tank to ensure proper thermoregulation. I spray down her area every other day to maintain some humidity, and once I saw she was preparing to shed, I sprayed it down daily. She also has a basking light on the warmer end of the tank. If it is not temperature or proper humidity/moisture, what else can it be? Or do balls just not shed like other normal snakes do. Any words of advice would be appreciated. Thank you.
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Shedding oddly, can this be dangerous?
Replies (5)
what are you keeping the temps at? what do you keep the humidity at? and how's her eating?
I had this problem with one of mine when we first got her but when I got her she had a res. infection and mouth rot she wasn't taken care of properly by the previous owner.
I keep the temp at the cooler side of the tank at approx. 77-80 and the warmer end about 87-90. The humidity normally ranges from 30 to 50% and she eats like a champ. I has her to the vet a week after I got her and she is in perfect health. I bought her from a personal friend that breeds balls and takes care of them very well.
The humidity should be 60% or higher and I would get rid of the basking light. Ball pythons don't need or like lamps. Now that it has had an incomplete shed I suggest soaking her. I soak my snakes when needed in a rubbermaid container with enough water to just cover the snakes back. A quick dip doesn't work very well, soak for an hour. I soak my adult BP's for at least 4 hours. I don't have any problem with this stressing out the snakes or them getting tired and in my experience the retained shed always comes off with just soaking.
Laura
Alright, I'll give that a shot. I appreciate the help.
Alright, I'll give that a shot. I appreciate the help.
