crinkly skin?

lilyskip · 09-16-03, 03:28 PM

I noticed that Huxley's skin crinkles sometimes when he curves his body. Is this a sign that he's not eating enough (his spine isn't emaciated or anything) or is it dehydration or an upcoming shed? He eats an adult mouse once a week, and I'm going to try to find small rats this week, although all the ones I've found so far are really big. Humidity's at about 48%, and his last shed was anywhere from 3-5 weeks ago (while he was being boarded). He last ate on Saturday. Temps are 83 and 89.

Jazz6279 · 09-16-03, 03:37 PM

Hi there,
I could be wrong but I thought the normal everyday humidity level should be approx 60% and when in shed should be increased to 70%+
It sounds like he's eating enough so I wouldn't have thought it would be caused by under feeding, but i'm sure one of the experts will be able to enlighten a bit more.....
Fiona.

elevation24 · 09-16-03, 03:45 PM

I don't know if this is what is causing it but I agree, your humidity seems low.

**Andy_G** · 09-16-03, 03:49 PM

Anywhere between 40%-60% is a good humidity for a ball python, and 70+ while in shed for successful sheds. If you use a lamp, it could be drying the snake out no matter what the humidity in the tank is. A picture is needed to know whether there is a problem or not. It is normal for a ball python to have very small folds in the skin when coiled very tightly, but if these folds stay when the snake straightens out, dehydration is usually the case. In other words, post some pics and don't sweat it because it sort of sounds normal!

Invictus · 09-16-03, 04:40 PM

Many boids have crinkly skin. It's what gives them the flexibility to eat prey that is double their own girth. Our BCIs have what seems to be loose, wrinkled skin, but that's just the way they are built.

lilyskip · 09-16-03, 08:23 PM

yeah...his skin isn't crinkly whne he's not curled up, so i guess that makes sense. also, the humidity's been really high here because of all this rain...it was about 78% in his tank yesterday, so I got rid of some of his water in the bowl to balance it out.

thanks for your help guys!

Jeff_Favelle · 09-16-03, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Many boids have crinkly skin. It's what gives them the flexibility to eat prey that is double their own girth. Our BCIs have what seems to be loose, wrinkled skin, but that's just the way they are built.

Really? That's news to me. Maybe I have magically plump Boids? Or maybe all those dang lights are drying out your animals and you have a beef jerky farm going on over there?

HetForHuman · 09-16-03, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jeff_Favelle
Really? That's news to me. Maybe I have magically plump Boids? Or maybe all those dang lights are drying out your animals and you have a beef jerky farm going on over there?

LMAO Jeff

I do have to say that none of my BCI's have crinkly skin.

Invictus · 09-16-03, 09:49 PM

I'd like to see what you guys define as not having crinkly skin. If you're telling me that their skin doesn't have folds or crevasses when they bend their bodies, especially up near the neck, I'm going to call bullsh*t.

sapphire_moon · 09-16-03, 10:21 PM

Both my snakes skin crinkles when they curve close to their bodies. They have fine humidity, eat plenty, have access to water....I think it's normal....You might want to increase a basking spot to about 92-93 degree's. I try and keep my cool side and hot side about 10 degree's apart (hot side-90 cold side 80) You get the point.........Doesn't your belly crinkle the slightest when you bend over?? I'm sure it does....

Jeff_Favelle · 09-17-03, 12:05 AM

Ok then.....here's a few snakes in various positions and ages. Please show me the crinkles and/or folds. I don't see any, not even in the curves where they are folded. Ditch the lights man. They must be affecting your eyes!

emroul · 09-17-03, 12:10 AM

Good one

Hard to see any "crinkles" there.... GREAT pics BTW =)

Jeff_Favelle · 09-17-03, 12:24 AM

Why thank you!

**Andy_G** · 09-17-03, 08:25 AM

On your BRB, there are small visible folds at the lower coil of the two on the left side of the pic, barely noticable, I THINK this is what they mean??

Jo060 · 09-17-03, 09:53 AM

see, the thing is thoes snakes you have are pretty big. Now when you have a fairly young BP like Lilyskip, then there will be folds as does mine. So, its normal....All snakes the ages of yours lilyskip have them...No worries perfectly normal. As he gets bigger/wider they will get smaller and less visable. Its just like when you twist the loose skin on your arm it crkinles...right? Ok, well same thing with the snakes.
Hope this helps!!!