Wheezing

[allison27ca]

My 8mo old ball python is shedding again just after her shed 1 mo ago. Is this normal? I also noticed she is wheezing. Anyone had this happen before?

[Aaron_S]

the shedding depends on the food schedule. Sometimes they'll shed frequently due to a growth spurt.

For the wheezing, what are your temps? Cool side and hot side? Is the snake gaping to breathe? Any mucus around the nasal area?

[gonesnakee]

As stated in PM young Pythons do go thru growth spurts. I'll say it again here to share with all that sometimes rapid shed cycles are also caused by things such as injuries or parasites. It is part of a snakes natural self healing process. Shedding temporarily removes external parasites (mites/ticks) & it also helps heal wounds faster with new skin forming. Sometimes when in shed pythons will make RI like sounds due to loose skin. It always kind of freaks a person out. If it is having other issues as suggested by Aaron there could be an RI issue though. Good temps for a BP are 80-85F cool & 90-95F hot. For minor RIs a bump up in temps will usually clear them up in a week or 2. Mark

[allison27ca]

Thanks for your reply. Being a new snake owner I thought she couldn't be shedding so i stuck her in a warm bucket of water (thinking she was dehydrated ..oops!) I'm guessing she was hissing (not wheezing) bcuz she is in her shed cycle. Her eyes weren't fully murky but getting there.. Poor lil thing. This explains why she has not come out of her rock in 2 whole days. She is shedding cuz she has grown alot in just the last 2 weeks. Lasst feeding i fed her 2 mice instead of her normal 1, plus the last 2 weeks i have fed her twice a week.
In the warm side it is usually 85 deg. don't know the cool side. guess i should get another thermometer to monitor it. (Her tank is 25gal.)Also how do you keep the humidity up? Her terrarium is usually 20%!!! I am constantly spraying her cage with water. Any tips?
Appreciate the response! Cheers!

[PDXErik]

Constant spraying. Control how much open space is on top, cover part of a screen lid. Invest in one of those pump style sprayers you can find in most pet stores to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome :P

Keep the warm side in the low 90s, the cool side in the low 80s and you should be fine. Keep the humidity around 60-70%. My ball sheds once a month, you can practically set a calendar by it.

Good luck, they're great animals!!