Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi can anyone tell me the signs on when a ball python is getting ready to shed please and what to do and not to do while its shedding regarding handling ,feeding and so on and if anyone has any pics of ball pythons getting ready for a shed please post them please

this place is great

graham

go to the top of the page where you are reading this and click on Care Sheets/FAQ/Features and look for Ball Python. That should tell you almost anything you need to know. If you still have questions after reading that, post them specifically andyou WILL get replys. As for shedding, they turn dull and there eyes turn a milky blue color, thentheir eyes turn black again (this is a good time to let them go for a swim in shallow warm water) and they shed within a day or two of the eyes going black. Hope this helps.
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~~~ Krystal - Future breeder of Pythons, Geckos, we'll see what else later! Specalizing in Ball Pythons and Leopard Geckos ~~~ www.geocities.com/krystal19_85 ~~~

Krystal pretty much nailed it. You may first notice your snake's skin become duller. Then the eyes will turn milky for a couple days, then a few days after that, the snake will shed.
The whole process takes 7-10 days. This is a very uncomfortable process for the snake and during this cycle it's best to just leave them alone.
When I notice my snakes are in a shed cycle I will mist their cage at least once a day to increase the humidty. I usually don't handle them or feed them at this time. I've never had to soak them prior to a shed. On occasion I've soaked them if for whatever reason they didn't completely shed I will sometimes soak them afterwards.

>>hi can anyone tell me the signs on when a ball python is getting ready to shed please and what to do and not to do while its shedding regarding handling ,feeding and so on and if anyone has any pics of ball pythons getting ready for a shed please post them please
>>
>>this place is great
>>
>>graham

As has been noted, dull, blue, opaque anyway. Once you notice yours going into a shed I would be sure he has a moss box....big enough to get into through a hole in the lid and half full of damp spaghnum moss. Raise the humidity and let him be. He will be grumpy since once they go opaque their eyes are obscured.
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Sonya