Ok I've had this baby for about 2 weeks. It ate last tuesday, and it has been not very active since, only coming out a little bit at night, whereas it used to crawl up and down and all around. I took it out last night and it seemed like a paler color than normal, and I think I notice the nose part starting to shed. I have no previous experience with snake shedding before and have only read about it so appreciate any help.

The humidity is in the high end for the range of ball pythons, hovering at or just below 70%. The temps are around 90-92 degrees farenheit at the basking spot, ambient temps are: Warm end 82 - 84, cool end, 79 - 81. I have a humidity box in there also that is a tupperware with a hole in the top lid and damp paper towels in the bottom but I have yet to see the snake ever go in there. Water bowl is kept clean daily which is big enough for it to soak, although I have never seen it soak.

What else should I be doing? Should I continue to feed it or wait until it has finnished shedding? Should I refrain from handling it until it finnishes shedding?

I would wait to feed or handle till after the shed. Try misting the cage heavily. If the snake is obviously shedding and the skin is coming off the simplest thing is to put the snake and a wet towel in a pillowcase and tie the end, leave them over night in the enclosure. the extra moisture and the roughness of the towel will help to remove the skin.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Alrightthanks!

But if it is just starting to shed, and is due to eat in two days time, should I wait another whole week? Or is it ok to feed once more? How often do they shed actually

How do you tell for sure if they are shedding?

I don't have to mist it manually I have a machined that can do it. I just need to know if I need to set it so as to bring the humidity above the recommended 70% and if so, what percentage is best?

Oh yes and how long does it take to complete?

SOme snakes wont eat during a shed, some will...just give it a try. 70% humidity should be high enough. You can tell for sure if they are sheddignif they have "blue eyes" and a dull look. The shed comes after the blue eyes though. Shedding depends on growth rate

Hello,

I personally would just wait to see how the shed goes before I offered food,ran with the pillowcase trick, or handled the snake. Nothing in the thread so far indicates a problem shed, so the pillowcase trick isn't needed just yet and it isn't worth having an uneaten rat if the BP refuses.

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can I ask a new Q here? i fed my corn her first bigger meal yesterday and when u checked on her last nite she had started to shed it was just past her head and is still there should I wait two more days to move her to a box with a wash cloth in?

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Hello,

I would wait Aiden. As long as the head is uncovered, the humidity is ok, and you the temps are good, she should be fine. Since she just ate, she is still digesting. The shed skin is removed by rubbing against something abrasive and the "lump" could be an issue. Once the prey is down in size a bit from digestion, see if she gets it off on her own.

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cheers rich

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On average is it like once a month or more?

it all depends on feeding and how fast she is growing I belive if shes eats alot reguarly and grows fast she will shed often I might be wrong

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Live for today Not tomorrow.