Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everyone. I'm new to this forum and I'm a new snake owner. I bought a baby ball python at a reptile expo at the end of April this year. He shed his skin the day after I got him, but he hasn't shed since then. So my first question is: What is a normal time period between sheddings for a baby ball python?

Also, his skin appears to be flaking in a small spot on top of his head, but nowhere else on his body. It has been this way for at least a month. Is that something I should be concerened about? If so, what would cause that?

Thank you.

Hi "destro"! Welcome to Kingsnake.com!

Snakes shed their skin at the rate they grow, not at a certain set of days/months. Of course, they'll grow according to the rate they're fed. For the first few years or so this averages to about 3 - 4 times each year and slows to about 2 times per year as adults.

Some snakes can shed as much as 6 times per year the first year or two, depending on their feeding habits and the amount they're fed. A snake's feeding habits is directly affected/controlled by their caging environment (conditions) and their genetics.

Low humidity is the leading cause of shedding problems - shedding in pieces, stuck sheds, stuck eye caps, etc...

I don't know if the flaking skin on the head of your ball python is stuck skin from it's last shed or if it's an area of skin that was damaged, broken, or weakened somehow to where it's the first place its new shed is starting to come loose. If it appears to be leftover from the last shed I suggest soaking it to loosen it and slowly peeling it off. However, if it's the beginning of a new shed soak it and make sure the humidity level is where it should be in the cage but don't peel it by hand, let the snake rub it off when it's time for it to come off.

A decent size rock or piece of wood should be placed in the cage to give the snake a rough or semi-rough surface to rub against in order to shed it's skin.

If any of this is elementary to you, I apologize and don't mean to insult your intelligence in any way.

For faster replies to your questions concerning your ball python I suggest posting in the Ball Python forum that's located under Snake Forums / Pythons: Ball. Here's the direct link to the forum: forums.kingsnake.com/forum.php?catid=79

Have a good one!
HH
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

Thanks, HH. I don't think this is leftover shed, because I didn't notice it after his first shed. Everything seemed to come off right the first time. So I'm just going to soak him and make sure the humidity is high enough in his cage.