patchy shed

kasandra_5 · 10-24-03, 02:06 AM

Hey all, I hope someone can help. I have a pretty young ball python, about 1.5 feet long, and he just shed for the first time since I got him, apparently he shed just before I got him about 2 months ago. Anyway, it wasn't a good shed it was patchy, it took him like 3 days to shed most of his skin and he still has a patch of skin right on the back of his head that doesn't look like it is going anywhere. He has a good apetite, I just fed him 3 fuzzies, and he ate 3 1.5 weeks ago. The humidity is 50% on the side of the tank that has the water dish and 82degrees on the other side of the tank where I have a heat lamp. I also have a columbian boa in with him (it's a large tank) and the snakes are relatively the same size, my boa has never had a problem shedding, she has shed twice. What should I do? Could he have parasites or what?

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Jazz6279 · 10-24-03, 02:39 AM

I could be wrong, but isn't a young BP supposed to shed every 4-6 weeks? If its been over 2 months since his last shed then it sounds like he's not growing anywhere near quick enough and is a bit underfed. BP's don't need to be fed on fuzzies, they can take adult mice from hatching which is what you should be feeding now, or even better rat pinks, one bigger meal is better than several little ones, they should also be offered prey items every 5-7 days whilst their still young and growing. 82 degrees doesn't sound too bad for the ambient air temp, but your snake needs to have a basking spot/belly heat of between 90-95 at the warm end. Also the humidity could doing with going up to at least 70% when your BP goes into shed.
This is the requirement for a BP not a Boa, I won't pretend to know what a Boa's requirements are because I don't, but keeping them housed together isn't the best thing to do, even with two of the same species let alone mixing the species?
I'm sure some of the experts can help you better than me. In the meantime try soaking him in some tepid water and then gently rubbing him down with a towel to get the rest of his old skin off, or make a humid hide for him by putting him in a plastic type container with damp towels, place the container with the snake in back into the viv and leave him overnight.

Fiona.

kasandra_5 · 10-24-03, 02:48 AM

When I first got him he wouldn't eat for the first month, since then I have been feeding him approximately every week 3 fuzzies or so. I will start feeding him larger prey, i was just worried about starting him right from not eating anything to a large prey, i was worried about regurgitation. I will try the humid hide, thanks.

Big Mike · 10-24-03, 08:56 AM

Separate those snakes!...what would make you think that it is OK to keep two different species together?

Fiona, gave you good advice. The prey you feed should be bigger and your warm side should be warmer. You should have higher humidity than 50% when a BP is in shed.

Now that it is having a bad shed...soaking and high humidity will help. A good trick is to place the snake into a wet pillow case for 20 minutes.

I noticed that you are from Edmonton. You should think about coming to a meeting of ERAS (Edmonton Reptile & Amphibian Society). There are lots of knowledgeable people there who would be happy to help you learn how to take care of your snakes. Check the ERAS forum on this site for more details.

b.t.w. Welcome to sSnakeSs.com

lilyskip · 10-24-03, 10:12 AM

i agree with everything that's been said before. I wouldn't be surprised if the boa is stressing out your bp.

also, try covering up the tank completely when your snake starts to enter a shed. i did that with this shed cycle (without even raising the humidity significantly) and huxley shed in one big piece. i can only attribute that to him being less stressed out.

But first thing's first. Separate those species, raise the humidity.

Jo060 · 10-24-03, 03:34 PM

WOAH!!! 50% humidity while in shed? Crank that humidity up

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jaybox_reptiles · 10-24-03, 03:34 PM

my bp always has shedding problems

sapphire_moon · 10-24-03, 08:56 PM

Ok I may be saying what everyone else is saying because I'm responding first and editing later!

SEPERATE THOSE SNAKES.............
I'm sure they have VERY different habbitat specifics.....and you NEVER FORCE 2 snakes to live together anyways! To many things go wrong...especially if they are two snakes that come from completely different parts of the country! One comes from Colombia (assuming it's a columbian red tailed boa) and the other comes from AFRICA!

The Bp should have ATLEAST 55-60% humdity in regular times, when in shed try a 70-80% humidity, with a 95 Degree basking spot and an 80 degree cool side......!!!!!!!!

The bp should be being fed atleast something the size of an adult mouse (preferably rats.) and since you are probably feeding the boa the same then you should be feeding him on something around the same size if not a LITTLE bigger but on rats............
And try using an Under The Tank Heater to up the heat...........

snakes need belly heat! NOT A HEAT ROCK! THEY WILL BURN YOUR SNAKE!