Reptile & Amphibian Forums

my new ball changed, when i first got him he was cute and energetic even active in the day. now for the past few days he sits in a corner on the cold side of the tank, he breathes really hard and the only time he moves is when i handle him. he should be shedding now, his eyes got cloudy then cleared up but he hasnt done anything about it. i am taking him to the vet very soon because im pretty worried, does anyone know what this could be? i dont have very high hummidity in his tank but im working on it, could it be low humidity? respiratory infection? parasyte? disease? stress?
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my addiction:
2 ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
1 amelenistic corn snake (maizy

What are your temps?
What is your humidity?
How are you measuring these?
What substrate, how many hides, how old, it is CBB, CH.

That info will help us to help you figure out what might be wrong.
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Nita Hamilton
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Ball Pythons

temp 85 hot side(i turned it up higher its almost 90 now)

humidity...? i have her in glass tank

substrate: carpet

hides: 2 half logs, and a tuppererware container with alittle water and a hole in the lid

i have no idea if she is cb, cbb or ch
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my addiction:
2 ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
1 amelenistic corn snake (maizy

shes probably two months old at the maximum
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my addiction:
2 ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
1 amelenistic corn snake (maizy

How are you measuring temp? With a strip or dial thermometer? My personal experience is that those dials are NOT a reliable way to measure your temps (in fact, I find them downright crappy).

It sounds like you aren't measuring humidity. You really should invest $12 in a digital thermometer/hygrometer from WalMart. The brand is AcuRite and you can get it in the hardware department with all the other outdoor thermomemters.

This you would put in your cool side of your tank, then run the probe to the warm side (it reads two temps for you). It also measures the ambient humidity in the tank. I actually mounted mine inside the tank, at the bottom with Velcro, as my snake would knock it over if not.

It's hard to maintain humidity in a glass tank, but can be done if you have the proper tools for monitoring it. Covering the screen top with a towel (or even Glad press & seal) can help keep the humidity in the tank. I have a tank myself, and humidity is the biggest challenge. If it weren't for the AcuRite, I'd be clueless.

Robin

I agree with you on humidity in glass cages. I always used a humid hide in my aquariums. I don't use aquariums though anymore.
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Nita Hamilton
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Ball Pythons

Well humidity I think is your biggest thing right now. Best thing would be to cover 3/4 of the top of the aquarium with a towel. Take a small tupperware container fill it 1/2 full of damp sphagnum moss, I've used a small damp cloth or towel as well, and cut a hole into the lid of the container and place it in the enclosure on the warm side. That should take care of the shed. When they need to shed but can't it is like wearing shoes that are too small, it hurts them, not to mention the excess skin in the nose etc can make breathing difficult. When I had my snakes in aquariums when they went blue I would dump their water dish to up the humidity and they would shed ok. But the humid hide I mentioned above works very well.

Has your baby eaten yet for you? Is it from a Pet store? If it hasn't eaten and is having trouble shedding CH wich it most likely is if you got it from a pet store, you could be in trouble. I got in some CH babies this year and some were pretty rough. Some couldn't shed they went blue, cleared up and still couldn't manage on their own even with the towel method. If your snake still can't get her shed off but manages to get some of just take a warm damp towel and gently holding her rub softly at the edges of the shed that have pulled off and you should be able to help her get it off. Feel free to email me if you are unsure or want any clarification.
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Nita Hamilton
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Ball Pythons

sorry i guess i was just to worried about my new addition to the family.she has eaten 2 juvenile/adult mice and a few pinkies

i gave her a bath and a few hours later she looked like a normal shedding snake. i was getting worried because after her eyes cleared she went 2 days not moving around and looked like she wasnt in a shed, how long should i wait before using a towel?

what kind of tank holds humidity good?
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my addiction:
2 ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
1 amelenistic corn snake (maizy

they work best. If her shed starts coming off in pieces then use a towel. It should come off in one rolled up piece.
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Nita Hamilton
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Ball Pythons