Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Six year old ball python that I've had since birth, no problems up until now other than the standard frustrating fasting periods that balls are famous for.

About 3 months ago, she had a rough shed - by that I mean she didn't get it off in one piece and I had to help her pick it all off. She did this a couple of times when I first got her as a baby, but she's been pretty good since.

Then about 2 or 3 weeks later, she goes into shed mode again. Same deal - can't shed in one piece. We get through that and 3 weeks later she goes into shed mode AGAIN, and lo and behold the process repeated itself AGAIN.

Basically, she won't stop shedding. Normal time between sheds is 2 - 3 months, now she's going 2-3 weeks. The cage set up and temperature hasn't changed and she has a humidity box.

Any ideas what's going on?

Sorry - should be "shedding", not "sheeding".

Where's that edit button?

you said your cage setup had not changed.. did you change your substrate? I've heard somewhere before that a snake can shed continuously if it has some kind of alergy to substrate?? I've never seen that happen myself, and can't confirm that's possible or not.. however, if the animal is on something else than newspaper, try changing substrate to newspaper for a while and see if that helps.

Good luck,
Bristen.

Have you soaked her??

Put in in the tub with warm water for 30+ mins
Keep your eye on the temp adding warm water as needed.
You may want to get some shed ease. It works.

Some Snakes will do this a hard shed if the skin is not removed.
It will trigger another shed.

Let the snake soak and use a hand towel in the tub to wrap the snake after it has soaked to push its way thru to remove the old skin.

Soaking is the key to your problem.
Works every time.