Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought my ball python in December from a pet store that really needed to unload him. He was a former breeder i think but he is a few years old and past his prime or they were trying to breed Albinos or something, either way they didn't have the space for him, so i got the snake, a cage, all the stuff to go in the cage and a heat pad for like $60. It's my first snake (but not first Herp) and i think they're great pets.

Anyway -- Cut to a couple weeks ago and he shed for the first time. I helped him out as much as i could by putting stuff to rub up against, i kept his water bowl full and sprayed him/the cage 2x a day, and he still managed to do a pretty piss-poor job of shedding. The problem is that since then the snake has constantly been in a foul mood. I first noticed after he stopped shedding that whenever i would hold him he would hiss a little bit. Last week he actually hissed at me and opened his mouth, so i figure i'd put him back to let him cool off. He didn't. In fact the other morning i must have startled him a little bit and he actually struck at me, so i haven't messed with him since.

Now this seems really strange to me. I am not rough with him at all, he was in a pet shop for a few years. Now whenever i go near his cage and look at him, he opens his mouth to me. I think right now he is blind in one eye because, as i said earlier, he didn't do a good job at all shedding. I tried to get it off him a few days ago with a wet tissue but he didn't like that too much.

I'd really appreciate some input. Thanks a lot.

First of all - most snakes undergo a period of stress when they are moved to a new location, cage, etc. This will effect them in many ways including how well they shed, eat and their overall attitude. Provide him with a good environment and he should eventually start coming around (and shedding properly).

He may just be highly stressed, leave him be for a while let him calm down get used to his environment, if he's in a high traffic area, try covering up his cage, after about a week try to handle him. Not to much handleing, just a couple of minutes a few times a week with a gradual increase, pick a time when you see him already out of his hide so you don't disturb him and you know he's feeling comfortable.

There is also the possiblity that this snake just has a bad personality or there is something wrong with it. Take him to a competent herp vet and have him checked out just to be sure. It seems to me that the you got a "too good to be true deal" the pet shop was apparently trying to get rid of the snake for some reason.
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Tosha

5.9.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and currently un-named)
0.1.0 Siberian Husky (Kita)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope)
7.9.5 Fish (1,2,3,4...)
0.0.1 Frog rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.2 Lizards rescued from pool skimmer

I would have thought that to be true as well, but considering i've had him for about two months now, handled him regularly, and he has never shown any signs of aggression, it seems kind of strange. He is alone for most of the day, he sits in my brothers room and the only time he goes in there is to sleep and on occasion watch TV. Thanks for the input.

Did he finally shed all the way, or does he still have patches? Did he retain eye cap(s)? Does he have places to hide? Are temps and humidity right? When was the last time he ate? Do you wash any other scents off your hands before handling him? Was he handled much at the pet store, or did they just leave him alone?
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Edited on February 14, 2005 at 21:17:56 by phwyvern.

Did he finally shed all the way, or does he still have patches?
Just about. There are a few loose scales on his head/neck area.

Did he retain eye cap(s)?
Just one, i tried to get it off with a damp tissue and he hissed and recoiled.

Does he have places to hide?
Yeah, he's got a little shoe box he likes to stay in. It's not much, but there isn't a great deal of room in the cage. I leave him alone if he is in there.

Are temps and humidity right?
They should. He has a heat lamp and a heat pad under his box. I spray him/his cage about twice a day.

When was the last time he ate?
A mouse last week.

Do you wash any other scents off your hands before handling him?
Not usually no. I suppose that might account for some of it.

Was he handled much at the pet store, or did they just leave him alone?
He was at the front of the store, and the biggest BP there so i would assume so.

OK, the patches and eye cap may account for his behavior. Take a warm wet washcloth and a bunch of patience and just finesse them off. He won't like it at first, but he may change his mind about it once he realizes what you are doing. Just move slwo and easy, and remember that with the eye cap he may not be able to see on that side and that could be what is stressing him. Another idea is to put him in a wet pillow case (on the heat pad) and let him slither around in there for a while.

Both heat lamp and UTH? How hot is that? I only use UTH and flexwatt on mine, no heat lamps and my crew is fine with that. In fact they spend at least half the day on the cool side with just that.
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Edited on February 14, 2005 at 21:16:47 by phwyvern.

Just a word of caution before you start ---> make sure it is actually a retained cap not a dented cap before you go trying to remove it, be very careful you could end up doing more harm than good.
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Tosha

5.9.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and currently un-named)
0.1.0 Siberian Husky (Kita)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope)
7.9.5 Fish (1,2,3,4...)
0.0.1 Frog rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.2 Lizards rescued from pool skimmer

Yeah make sure there is an eye cap before you try to remove it.

If in doubt, leave it there, it will come off next time he sheds.

If you decide to remove it, give him a bath first for 20-40 minutes, this will help greatly. Then take a piece of scotch tape and fold it over sticky side out. Gently rub the tape across the eye cap, from the front moving to the back of the snake. This is by far and away the easiest way to remove an eye cap I have ever used. It usually works the first time. Don't use tape that is too sticky or you could pull scales off that aren't supposed to come off, just gently rub across the eye cap, do not stick it on there and pull off. better to use less force and several tries, than too much force.

Hope that helps...

The scotch tape method should be tried dead last, after the bath, wet pillow case, wet warm washcloth, etc. Personally, with my snakes, I would rather leave it on until next shed than try the scotch tape.
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Edited on February 14, 2005 at 21:16:03 by phwyvern.

Works every time...period. Just have to have some experience with snakes...good luck

method. In over 25 years of keeping reptiles, I have never had to do it nor do I know anyone who has. There are too many (better) options.
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Jay A. Martin

Takes 30 seconds instead of several hours and I have never had a bad experience with it...nor do I know anyone who has. Just make sure there is an eye cap to remove before you start. I beleive I first tried it after seeing it on breeder's website (corey woods?), so you probably do know someone who does it.

Additionally, you spend way less time screwing with your snakes eye so you will stress it out a lot less. If anyone has ever had a bad experience with the tape method, please speak up...I would like to hear it. If you are just speculating that it is not safe, then there is no reason for you to post anything.

If you are just speculating that it is not safe, then there is no reason for you to post anything.

I have heard of instances where damage was done. One case in particular was when infection set in after some adhesive, unbeknownst to the owner, remained on the snakes eye. Now, how many are going to admit damage done to a reptile? Few if any. I'm an experienced keeper. Most of the people I know are experienced keepers. We have never done it because it IS NOT necessary. Stress in a bag? Right. How about the stress an inexperienced keeper causes trying to remove a non-existent eye cap? Snakes can't say "Ouch!". Just because you have done something "YOU" feel is safe, does not make it so. I'm not trying to slam you here. I personally feel it's not the best approach. Neither does my experienced vet.
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Jay A. Martin

Your entitled to your opinion...however wrong it may be