First Ball & Shedding

[AngelSnake]

My fiancée got our first ball. She is super chill. I love her (can't wait to get my own snake still).
Her name is Neytiri (yes we are Avatar dorks).

Quick question. Whats the average time for a ball shed. Her eyes have been cloudy fir like 3 days now and she wont eat. Just wondering if what I was reading that it takes 7-10 days for balls to shed is true.

Thanks guys
AngelSnake

[Aaron_S]

Yes it is true.

She'll come out of the blue phase and then shed a few days after that. Keep the humidity up.

[Zelg]

Like Aaron said, she'll come out of the blue phase and she'll look pretty normal. You might even wonder if she already shed, but you wont see a shed laying around anywhere. A few days later, you'll have it. Enjoy! Its a great process to watch. One time I was actually able to video my ball shedding inside of his hide. It was fascinating.

[AngelSnake]

She shed last night. She looks good. Hopefully she will eat today.

[Albert Clark]

Congrats! Nice...

[macandchz]

congrats on the 1st shed. i caught mac shedding once. it was fascinating to watch. it's funny. they usually do it when you are not around.

[AngelSnake]

We had to assist her. She wouldn't strike but once it was at the back of her mouth she coiled amd ate it.

[SnoopySnake]

We had to assist her. She wouldn't strike but once it was at the back of her mouth she coiled amd ate it.

What do you mean assist???? You only just got this snake and it refused food because it was in shed, and possibly didn't want to eat a second time because it needed more time to settle in. How did you assist?????

[AngelSnake]

Just opened her mouth and put the mouse in. We have had her for 2 weeks now.

[SnoopySnake]

At this point that was completely unnecessary. There could have been another reason that she wasn't eating, and two weeks is hardly reason to start assist feeding. Sorry if I sound harsh but it is stressful for the snake and like I said completely unnecessary at this point....

[Snake_eyes_88]

Definitely premature to start assisting as has been said... As long as they're not losing weight or condition I wouldn't assist at all.. My female brb went 9 months without eating and barely lost a few grams in weight...

2 weeks is like skipping breakfast to them so don't panic.

However if you've assisted while she was blue then be prepared for a stuck/bad shed as you will have had to manhandle the snake and stress it out...

[macandchz]

angelsnake-please get a good book on ball python care. they are picky eaters and go on hunger strikes. it is perfectly normal for them. mac went on one this winter for 2 months. it was hard on me-not him. read all the back posts on here. that will give you lots of info.

[AngelSnake]

We picked one up. She is eating very well on her own now. Up to fuzzies.

[AngelSnake]

UPDATE!!!!
Nytiri is doing amazing. She just took down a pinky and a fuzzy. Next week we start hoppers. She looks like she may shed soon.
Another random question:
Do you guys think s akes can "prefer" people or just be more comfortable with their scent?
I hold her no problem, she's very sweet but she only eats for my fiancee, which is fine it is his snake, but I was just wondering if anyone else had had something like this?

[blakkangell]

UPDATE!!!!
Nytiri is doing amazing. She just took down a pinky and a fuzzy. Next week we start hoppers. She looks like she may shed soon.
Another random question:
Do you guys think s akes can "prefer" people or just be more comfortable with their scent?
I hold her no problem, she's very sweet but she only eats for my fiancee, which is fine it is his snake, but I was just wondering if anyone else had had something like this?

I do think snakes can be more comfortable with certain people or feel safer around whoever handles and takes care of them most. Both of my snakes show signs of preferring me over my roommates. If your fiance handles her more than you do and is the one that feeds her then she probably associates him with food and acknowledges him as a safe creature.