Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a semi-newborn brb and it has been feeding well over the past week and a half since I got it. As of now, the skin is dry and wrinkling so I can see that it is shedding. The snake seems healthy because it flickers its tounge at a normal pace but seems to sometimes roll into a ball similar to that of a ball python. I am wondering whether this is a normal habit for a shedding baby brb or perhaps it is sick. Please let me know if anyone can help. Thanks.

- Ryan

Ryan,
....The wrinkly skin is not normal. It indicates that your snake is dehydrated. Are you keeping this snake like you would a Boa Constrictor or a Ball Python with temperature in the 80s to 90s and humidity like indoor household humidity? Have you got it in a smallish tank with a screen top and more than 10 watts of heating? If so THAT is the problem. BRBs require extremely high humidity and medium warm temperatures. Most of us keep little BRBs in enclosed cages and try to get near 100% humidity and temperatures in the low to mid 70s. At temperatures very much above 80 with humidity less than 70% little BRBs will quickly dehydrate and die. To get your snake back to the normal hydration you should soak it in 75 to 80 degree water for an hour or two. Even when getting ready to shed these snakes should still have skin that feels silky rather than dry and scaly. If you get the temperature and humidity right little BRBs are bullet proof and will shed their skins in one complete piece. BRBs do not usually roll up into tight balls like BPS but they will often coil up with their heads under their bodies.
Good luck,
Jeff

>>I have a semi-newborn brb and it has been feeding well over the past week and a half since I got it. As of now, the skin is dry and wrinkling so I can see that it is shedding. The snake seems healthy because it flickers its tounge at a normal pace but seems to sometimes roll into a ball similar to that of a ball python. I am wondering whether this is a normal habit for a shedding baby brb or perhaps it is sick. Please let me know if anyone can help. Thanks.
>>
>> - Ryan

Thanks Jeff...you always seem to know what to do.