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"Shedding problem?"

mster Jul 26, 2005 12:21 AM

Hi my ball is having a really difficult time shedding, only bits and pieces are oming off. I think he is stressed out but is their anything I can do to help him?

If you can help thanks!

Replies (5)

Jbuggs500 Jul 26, 2005 01:32 AM

Raise the humidity in the enclosure and misting him will help..

Liann Jul 26, 2005 08:06 AM

>>Hi my ball is having a really difficult time shedding, only bits and pieces are oming off. I think he is stressed out but is their anything I can do to help him?
>>
>>If you can help thanks!

I bought mine a little sterilite canister and used my husband's dremel drill to cut out a hole in the lid big enough for him to crawl in (the snake, not my husband ). Inside I put some moist sphagnum moss (moist newspaper or paper towel would work too). The point is to create a very humid little hide box. I put the "humidity box" in the tank with whoever might be having difficulty. It usually does not take long (as little as an hour sometimes) for the snake to shed completely. Sometimes I will let them hang out for a few days in there, but then I remove the box so that it doesn't start molding. What type of enclosure do you have your BP in? It's possible that the overall humidity isn't high enough. I started out with a glass tank and a screened lid with my first BP and without plastic wrap over 3/4's of the lid, it was almost impossible to maintain enough humidity in the tank. The plastic wrap worked well though.
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Amber

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ladywhipple02 Jul 26, 2005 10:10 AM

I find that a warm bath works as well (not TOO warm though). Let your snake soak for about ten-fifteen minutes... the little pieces will start to come off on their own. Works for me, anyway...
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ecb Jul 26, 2005 04:57 PM

I use a LARGE dogs water dish (the kind with holes in the bottom (you would recognise it if you saw it) and I keep water in there, and kep it on the warm side, if my Guy has a bad shed (has not happened in a while) I soak him in the water from that dish, its warmer than the air, but not hot.
BAD sheds come off in strips and rolls (like stockings) but once a good shed happens, it seems to keep happening (from my VERY limited experience)

Good Luck

ecb
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Elizabeth (ecb)

Make this world a better and more beautiful place that You have been in it
*Edward W Bok*

toshamc Jul 26, 2005 11:48 AM

Bump the humidity in his cage and leave him alone. If, when he is done shedding he still has a lot of shed on him you can soak him and then put him inside a warm wet towel and coax him to crawl through it (apply a little bit of pressure) and the shed should come off fairly easily. Don't mist the snake most snakes find that annoying and it will stress him out more.

Next time when you see him start his shed cycle bumb the humidity and leave him be - you can also put a humid hide in his cage (some don't use them tho).

Yes stress can also make him shed wrong - whatever you think you may be doing to stress him out (too much handling, or whatever) stop doing it. Bad sheds happen - don't stress it!
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Tosha

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