Molting

[Sonja]

We adopted a ball python a month ago. He's really awesome. His eyes have turned milky and he has the silvery look like he's getting ready to shed. I was curious about how long it takes and other than a little higher humidity what I can do to help.

[Reticsrule]

i dont know about ball pythons but my boas usually go through the entire shed cycle in about a week. its a natural process and unless you are concerned that the humidity is not high enough then i would just leve him alone until he sheds. if the shed is not in one piece then you know that you should increase the humidity the next time he sheds. hope this helps:)

[DOMI]

first off make sure your Python has a soaking dish or set up a hide with damp moss to help with the humidity. Secondly a rock or branch will help him shed as he will rub against it to remove the old skin.you will know he's about to shed when his eye's clear again, usualy a day or so after.
Good luck with him.

[Sonja]

Thanks for the help he shed a beautiful full skin what a cool snake. I was wondering if you feed yours at night when he's most active or anytime. The only thing the person who had him first said was she fed him once a month (which I would think he needs at least every two weeks) and she fed him straight in his cage.

[DOMI]

Ball pythons can be fed exclusively mice or small to medium sized rats (as appropriate for the size of the snake), and only need to be fed every week or two. Young snakes should be fed fuzzy mice every 5-7 days, older snakes should be fed increasingly larger prey and can go a little longer (i.e. 10 - 14 days). Use pre-killed prey as live mice can injure a snake - dangling the prey in front of the snake with forceps usually gets the snake interested


from
http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/pythons/a/ballpythons_2.htm

[Sonja]

Do balls yawn? I notice every once in a while he looks like he's yawning or stretching his mouth.

[gonesnakee]

Pretty much all snakes yawn & they seem to do it more just prior shedding. It seems to help them start loosening the skin around their mouth. Mark