ball shedding question?

[Thalia]

I aquired a ball python yesterday from a bad situation. I figure it's 2-3 yrs old, as is just over 30". Might be older tho, because the guy hardly ever fed it The eyes arn't completly clear, and I can see other parts of the body where previous sheds havn't come off. I am wondering if it is safe to put some mineral oil on these spots (incl. eyes) to help it come off. Or should I just wait till the next shed? Also .. can you recomend anything else that might work to help loosen it?


Much thanx,
Crystal

[BMoore]

Re:ball shedding question?

Use olive oil instead but do not let it get in the eyes or nose.

**Beth**

[sclark]

Re:ball shedding question?

Hi Thalia,

Take your ball and soak him for 90mins. Make the water just luke cool to your touch, it should feel just a tad cool on your hands, not cold though.. Soak him for about 90mins..

Take a wet wash cloth after words and let him slide through it as you put just a touch of tention on the cloth around his body. That should remover most of the old shed.. If none comes off, just keep the humidity up and wait for the next shed and see if all comes off.. if not, I would suggest getting a product like Shed-Aid or Shed-Ease..

Hope this helps..
Steve

[Thalia]

Re:ball shedding question?

I'll try that and see what happens. One other thing ... he seems to have a dimpled eye. It is shaped like his actual pupil, but not centered over it , but roughly the same size ... what is this caused by and is there anyhing I can do to fix it ???

Thanks,
Crystal

[Doug]

Re:ball shedding question?

hi,
I used to have a couple ball pythons I now only have one,
with the older ones over three ft, if they dry out due to low humidity the eyes would dimple when the snake was really dry, whats the humidity in the cage. Be real careful with substrate and such they can have problems from wet substrate.
Once the humididty was right they always shed in one piece. I would go ahead and treat the new cage with provent-a-mite if the previous owner didn't worry about the snakes health it could have contracted mites from contaminated subsrate and or its live or fresh killed food. Mites seem to be a comon denominator in most reptile disease's most reptile keepers are now treating all new animal cages while in Quarantine.. isolate that python for a few months

doug

[Thalia]

Re:ball shedding question?

So I gave him a bath, and all the spots are still there. However, the skin is a lot softer, the cloth was a bit dirty, so now he's clean. He seems a lot calmer now, not shying away like an abused animal. I think the dimple in his eye is smaller.
And I am currently wearing a ball python mini turban

Crystal

[sclark]

Re:ball shedding question?

Hey Thalia,

Wait a couple of days and do another soak.. The dimple like Doug said is from dehydration.. Make sure the humidity is 70% and I would bet after the next soak the dimple will go away..

Steve

[XzyluM]

Re:ball shedding question?

If there is any retained skin on the tail, it needs to be removed as soon as possible. This also go for the eyecaps if they are any retained ones. As for the other parts of the body, it might take some time and a lot of patience. The more retained skin, the harder it will be to get off. Daily soaking would be a must. Just be patient and work one piece at a time. Glad to see you have acquired the snake and are working with it to get it back in good health.