Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've never had a snake before, so I don't know if this is normal or not... I noticed my ball python's eyes where blue (normally blackish brown) a couple days ago, and his skin was pale, so I knew he was getting ready to shed. But I checked on him this morning and his skin was normal again and his eyes are still blue, but not as blue as before. What's that mean??

Perfectly normal
Your snake will turn blue and get darker during the shed phase. Then a couple of days before the actual shed takes place the snake will clear up and appear to have already shed. This confuses many new snake owners.

Do you have a humidity box for your ball? They usually have bad/partial sheds if the humidity is not high enough.

Make a humidity box by using a plastic container of some kind that will allow your snake to get in and out of. It should have a small enough hole to allow the humidity to be retained. Inside you will need some damp sphagnum moss. Not wet, but damp. If your snake needs it, he will use it, if not, he wont. But atleast it will be there.

A plastic butter tub can be used, and works pretty well. (depending on the size of your snake) If it is a pretty good sized ball, then a small sterilite container with a hole cut in the side should suffice.

-----

Good luck and Happy Herping
Brian

Your snake will most likely shed in a few days. It is quite normal for a snake to go "blue"...then clear up to almost normal, then shed within the next several days. Enjoy your new snake. Make sure it is getting humidity levels that are right for the species. That helps to make for a good shed. Duffy

The cage I have him in now has way too many air holes to keep the humidity at a good level, but I'm going to buy a bigger and more enclosed one asap. I'll make a humidity box like you suggested, but if I can't find sphagnum moss, would a small towel be ok?