Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been reading the forum for a couple of weeks now, and try as I might, I can't find what I need. Maybe you can help?

I am a first time owner (but my boyfriend has had snakes before, and we live together, so I'm not on my own in this!) and I have a beautiful normal BP. He (?) has shed once with us, and eaten 3-4 times. He's trying to shed now, and the process started and moved along a lot quicker than the first time. He got cloudy, and since I *love* him so much, I hold him all the time, and noticed the change right away. Within a week, his eyes were cloudy, and he was grumpy. Now, less than a week later, he is attempting to shed, but he's just not getting very far. He works and works on it at night, and he's getting it off in pieces. The first shed came off in 2 nice pieces, but this time, it's just not working.

I put some wet (warm) paper towels in his enclosure for him, but he didn't seem to mind. He has not gotten in his water bowl for a while, but seemed to dip into it the first night he started this shed.

I did read a thread where it was suggested to put a warm wet towel on him, and try to help him, but how long should I let him try this on his own? Isn't he horribly uncomfortable? It seems like he would be all itchy and stuff!

Thanks a ton! You guys are a great source of info! I would love to tackle breeding next year, and try to end up with an Axanthic. I'm not wanting to breed to be a dealer, but I love the coloration, and really want one!!

Thank you!
Muggle
Link

First, check your humidity level in the tank. Anything between 60-70% is good and usually the shed comes off in one or two pieces.

Second, when mine two ball pythons were younger, I would give them a bath. It seemed to help soften the skin and aid in sheeding. Also,people may not aggree with me but I have helped my snakes shed in the past by peeling the leftover skin away. My snakes would sit on my lap and allow me to do this. I think they were happy to get the itchy skin off.

I hope this helps.

how did you do that? Bathe your snake. sounds good to me. I think he would enjoy it.

Thanks for your help!! I'll play with him some tonight. I agree - he seems so itchy and not happy, but he lets me mess with him, and keeps bumping my nose, like "HELP ME!"

poor baby!

Muggle

>>how did you do that? Bathe your snake. sounds good to me. I think he would enjoy it.
>>

Don't count on him being thrilled with it. And if he thrashes totally in a frenzy I would take it as a clue that the water temp was off. I would aim for a lukewarm. If you have a thermometer...I go for what the ambient is in the tank and maybe up a degree or two. I found too that less stressful is a soaked warm wet towel (same temp warnings) in a container for half an hour to an hour.
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Sonya

I fill up a large bowl or the bathroom sink withluke warm water. The snake may struggle but it is only because there is nothing to hold on to. I will hold the snake and gently move the water all over the snake, just be careful of the head. Both of mine are head shy and are very particular about having anything on their heads.

Or I would hold them under the facet with a light water flow. My female, Angel, loves it so much that she will actually start drinking during her bath.

Hope this helps. If you have any more questions, you can email me at snakelady114@hotmail.com

Thanks, Snakelady! My boy is not headshy - he allows me to touch him on his head, as every time I get him out I check him over head to tail. He just hangs out, and lets me move him all over. I'll let him wrap around my hand tonight, and see what he thinks of the sink with some warm water.

talk to you soon!

Muggle
Material Witness

So glad to help. Let me know how it goes. He will feel so much better when he gets all of his skin off.

Talk to you soon.

Your safest, best bet is the "sweat box". It's not stressful or intrusive and gets the old skin off.
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Jay A. Martin

...once a snake tries to shed and gets to a point where skin remains after an hour or so, they usually give up. This can be a point where 10% or 90% of the skin remains. After this point you'll need to soak him in luke warm water for several hours or overnight. Then the skin will come right off. In future sheds be sure to keep the humidity up by spraying the cage, etc. SJM