A Few N00b Questions

[Haligren]

At the pet store where I work we have a subadult ball python who seems to be experiencing a bad shed. It's coming off in pieces as opposed to chunks or better yet, altogether. She's stopped eating and appears sluggish and depressed. I've given her an extra large water dish which she hangs out in sometimes, and a moist hide which she doesn't use. I've given her a warm bath (which seemed to help improve her mood anyway) and I've even light misted her a few times but I'm hesitant to help her peel it off as I know that it's generally a no-no.

Is there anything else I can do for her? I'm worried she's going to get very sick.

 

[Babylon]

Well, you did the right thing by soaking her, and even if you don't see her using the moist hide, she probably does at night when no one is around. If she's lethargic it could be due to a variety of things including the cooling weather or the shed or even some sort of sickness. There are many picky eaters in the ball python world and many snake in general that will go off feed during a shed.

Make sure her temperatures are up and make misting a daily habit for her enclosure. If the bad shed continues you can place her in a tupperware container with about a half inch to an inch of warm water for up to half an hour (Make sure the water stays warm) and the shed should come off easily as she slithers through your hands. There is also another method similar to this where you leave the snake in question in a snake bag or even a sock while in the water to provide some friction for shed removal.

If, after she finishes her shed completely she is still looking pretty ill, try taking a fecal sample to a reptile vet to check for parasites and ask for suggestions there.

 

[Haligren]

Thank you for the advice. I'll continue to mist and soak her. She did look better the next day after I gave her the moist hide. (Much of the shed had gone from her face and neck.)

Unfortunately, I'm not working much this week as it's finals at my university. I should maybe stop by my work and mist her then....

Anyway, unfortunately, we don't have a herp vet this far north.