Shedding Some Light on Shedding

[metzgered]

We gave a ball python (named Sphere by our son) to our 8 year old son for Christmas, 2005. We were told by the seller that Sphere was approximately 8 months old when we purchaed him in early December. Sphere has been healthy, docile, and growing fatter on a frozen mouse/week. The snake is about 20-22 inches long and lives in a 20 gallon long tank.

I have a question about skin shedding. Sphere has shed twice before this current time. The first time his skin was discarded in one long continuous piece. The second shedding was similar, except there were 2-4 large segments. This shedding, however, has lasted for 3-4 days and is only gradually falling off in many, many small pieces. Sphere doesn't seem disturbed or sickly. But I'm wondering whether there are any possible health issues involved, or is each shedding simply a random and unique event?

Thanks in advance for any input,
Metzgered

[pollywog]

Hello, when the shed comes off in multiple pieces it is usually due to a low humidity level. Make sure you have a large water dish in the enclosure, big enough for the entire snake to fit into. To get the stuck-on pieces off yourself, put you snake in a sink of warm water and gently rub from front to back until the shed is all gone.

[kronic2005]

Adding a water dish big enough for the snake to soak most likely wont help your problem. Ball pythons don't like to soak as much as other snakes. They spend about 18-20 hours of the day hiding. You want your whole tanks humidity to be increased, for a good shed to happen your snakes skin has to be hydrated and kept healthy the whole time between sheds. I assume your using a screen lid. You may want to look into making a custom lid for your tank (i.e. get a custom piece of plexiglass cut to the required size and drill a few nice sized air holes.) Or you could look into using rubbermaids. I hope some of this helps.

[metzgered]

Poliwog and Kronic2005,
Thanks for the information. Do both of you think that I should try the warm water soak for this shedding (most of the old skin is still there from the back part of his head thru about 3-4 inches of his body?

Does 'using a Rubbermaid' simply mean to keep Sphere in a plastic tub with a top with airholes?

Thanks again,
Metzgered

[Ssnakee Master]

Hi, I'm new on sSnakeSs.com. How long have you bin on sSnakeSs.com? I'm Ssnakee Master!

[onlykelly40]

Hi, I'm new on sSnakeSs.com. How long have you bin on sSnakeSs.com? I'm Ssnakee Master!
I just joined today. I was given a python by someone woh was obviously afraid of the snake. The cage was NOT kept up. You can imagine the rest. Today I read an article (http//:anapsid.org/burm/html). It was kind of negative. In regards to how fast they grow and what to do with them after they are to large to handle.. ...
very disheartening to say the least.

[snakemanjohnny]

Poliwog and Kronic2005,
Thanks for the information. Do both of you think that I should try the warm water soak for this shedding (most of the old skin is still there from the back part of his head thru about 3-4 inches of his body?

Does 'using a Rubbermaid' simply mean to keep Sphere in a plastic tub with a top with airholes?

Thanks again,
Metzgered
Dont keep the snake in a plastit box.Lev it in its cage and change the top.Awire top is fine but the cage does have to be humid Every now and then the snake will have a perfic shed and other times it will come off in peices. dont worry about the snakes health by the shed as they are alwasy different. soak it in warm wter and rub fron head to tail and it will come off. I hope this helps
Snakeman johnny
Her is a pic of my baby berm

[reptiles4me]

Try placing a damp towel over the screen top or in his warm hide (make sure you check it frequently for mold). You can also mist the cage daily. I agree with snakeman that it's not an indication of bad health. We always want the perfect shed but my feeling is that as long as it comes off without a whole lot of effort, and there are no eye caps left, it's all good.