Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am a new Ball owner and can't quite get my humidity right for my python. I live in a relatively dry area and would appriciate any suggestions for upping the humidity. I know that it isn't enough right now because my python had his first shed and it came in many pieces and took a few days. I was also wondering if his apperance has to do with his shedding because ever since the second day of his shedding his skin has looked very bagging, almost deflated. I've seen snakes when they shed but he just looks very strange. Is this normal for Ball pythons? Any suggestions help! Thanks!

Ok...you live in a dry area and your snakes is having bad sheds. Now tell us about your set-up. Is it an aquarium with a screen top, a rubbermaid with holes, a custom, or what? Do you have a humidity gauage, what sources of humidity do you have,i.e., water bowl? Give us a rundown of your enclosure so we'll have some information to comment on.

It's a custom wood tank with slide doors in the front, and small vents on the side. I first had a small water dish but have added another large shallow dish of water to help the humidity. I have a wood substrate and a rock hide-hole for my python.

Are you using a light as the main heat source ?
If so,that may be drying out the cage.

What are the temps on the hot end and the cold end?
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3.12 Ball Pythons
0.1 Mutant Thayeri

I have a heating pad under one end and that stays warmer than his hide hole. It's hard to get an accurate temp on either side because I also have a light that turns on for 12 hours during the daytime (on a timer) that raises the temp throughout the day. I think I will try the pillowcase method mentioned above to get those last pieces off. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep the average humidity higher?

For now,just place a second water bowl on the hot side.
Also,it may be possible that the temperatures are to high with the combined heat sources.

One of those $25 temp guns are the best investment that one could make.It makes things SO easy.
You need to get the temp of the surface of the floor that is over the heating pad.Then you need to find out what the maximum temperatures are with the use of the light bulb during the day.

What wattage is the lightbulb?
Is it restricted with a rheostat?(dimmer)
Are you using a thermostat or rheostat with the heat pad?
..or is it heating pad for humans ?(Which is adjustable)

I only have 3 enclosures that are made of wood,and boy do i hate them.I cant wait to throw them out.
Humidity doesnt have a chance in them,especially with a heat lamp.So now i just use thermostat controlled pads.
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3.12 Ball Pythons
0.1 Mutant Thayeri

The heating pad is a reptile pad. It was getting to hot, so I piled another inch of substrate to keep the surface cool. I checked the temp today and on the hot side seemed to be about 86 F. I purchased a humidity sensor today at walmart also, but haven't tried it out yet. The light is an 18in reptile basking light I first purchased for my water turtles until I got a hood for their tank, and now I use it for my python.

P.S. I tried the pillowcase method and it worked wonders!! My baby is so beautiful now with such bold colors. I will try to get a pic up next week some time.
Thanks!

YIKES!

That could be a recipe for disaster.
Reptile heat pads arent really safe if used without a thermostat.There would be nothing to regulate it at all.
Which could be especially bad with a wooden enclosure.
Then there is Murphys law,which tells me that the animal is likely to burrow underneath the deep substrate anyway.

I promise,i am not trying to be mean or hurtful in any way.
I just want you to avoid these potential pitfalls.

A google search for a reptile thermostat with a probe should get you on the right track.

...and again.I can not stress enough how fantastic those little temp guns are.I was shocked at how hot i had been keeping my animals when i got mine.

Good luck
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3.12 Ball Pythons
0.1 Mutant Thayeri