Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Are BP's supossed to shed in one piece?

Mine never has. the himidity is too low I guess. It ranges from 20 - 36%. (EVEN with a humidifier)
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0.0.1 Ball Python
0.0.1 Checkard Garter Snake
0.1.0 Green Anole
1.0.0 Red Eared Slider
1.0.0 Russian Campbell Drawf Hamster
0.3.0 Love Able muts

Yes a ball should shed in one piece - occasionally they might not, if your ball never has that is a problem. Humidity should be at least 50-60% every day and bumped up to 70-80% during shed. There are ways to accomplish this if you want to describe your set up - we can find a way to tweak it to help with humidity. Please remember that humidity is just as important to a snakes as heat.
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Tosha

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7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.2 frogs rescued from pool skimmer

Heating: 8" dome reflector with a 100wat bulb (90 degrees in the day time)

The enclosure is custom. I didn't build it, bought it with the snake in it. It's 2' tall 2' wide and 13 and a half inches deep. It's made of glass.

There are aprox 5 holes in the enclosure. 4 on the top and one on the bottom. I use the ones on top to lock the lid on. The holes are about a quarter of a inch in diamter.

The lid I built. It is a frame with metal hardware clothe stapled to it. The mesh is half inch gaps.

I have a water bowl which I keep water in. Two Pieces of wood for climbing. Several rocks to help in shedding. Two hides, a half log, and rocks stacked to make a cave. The hides are on oposite sides of the enclosure, cool end and warm end.

I bought a humidifier on ebay with out relizing it didn''t have a circleure output. So I haven't made anythign to get the humidifier to feed into the enclosure.

Thanks for the help.
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0.0.1 Ball Python
0.0.1 Checkard Garter Snake
0.1.0 Green Anole
1.0.0 Red Eared Slider
1.0.0 Russian Campbell Drawf Hamster
0.3.0 Love Able muts

Heat lamps aren't really great for balls they don't need the light and under belly heating is best for them and lamps suck the humidity out of the enclosure - instead try using an under tank heater on a rheostat or thermostat.

I am assuming the lid covers the entire top of the cage - wire mesh or screen will not keep humidity in - try covering the top with peg board or plexiglass.

Not sure what your substrate is but cypress mulch does wonders for keeping humidity right. And make sure you have a large enough water dish.

Other than that it sounds like a good set up.

Hope this helps.
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Tosha

Quote " " End Quote

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.2 frogs rescued from pool skimmer

What temp does it need to be in the enclosure?

I am using paper towles as a substrate. I know they give NO advantage except wasy clean up.

I have a uth on the bottom of the tank already.. but it only raises the temp a few degrees.

Would eco earth be a good substrate? (compressed coconut fiber)

Do I have to go to a nursery to get what you recommended?
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0.0.1 Ball Python
0.0.1 Checkard Garter Snake
0.1.0 Green Anole
1.0.0 Red Eared Slider
1.0.0 Russian Campbell Drawf Hamster
0.3.0 Love Able muts

You can increase humidity with regular misting, especially during the shedding cycle.

You can get cypress mulch at nurseries or any garden/landscaping supply store. Cypress mulch can also be bought at a petstore but you will pay much more for it than you would at a nursery. Last time I bought mulch I paid about $8 CDN for a huge bag, last me a long time too. It would probably cost me about $24 for the same size bag at the petstore.

You should have a backgorund temp of about 80 degrees with a basking spot (hot end) around 90. Make sure you are measuring temps around ground level.

Remember that heat rises with the mesh top your heat and humidity are rising right out of your cage - once you get it covered up you'll notice a big difference.

I've heard people use the Coco Fiber and like it - I have not personally - but think it would work just as well. One thing I've noticed is that if you buy the cypress mulch produces at the petstore 9 times out of 10 I find bugs/mite in it - not so much if you buy it at home depot. It's also much cheaper at HD.

Your set up is small enough that if you just cover the top and have a decent size water dish you should be fine even using paper.
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Tosha

Quote " " End Quote

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.2 frogs rescued from pool skimmer