Ball Python Shed

[DogVsRaptor]

I'm new to the snake room. Before I bought my very loving, ball python, Mr. Soprano, I did a lot of research about the snake. I knew this was the best
beginner snake due to its size, temperament, feeding and housing. As of the last week his belly has turned pinkish, eyes cloudy,
and his scales have turned a little lighter (i say him because i had him sexed, he has a penis). I went to the local Petsmart
and they were out of peat moss. SO right now I'm trying to keep him in a rubbermaid container with rags of warm damp water
in them, but he still hasn't shed after almost a week. He loves his half log, so I have even soaked it quite a few times
to try to help. I'm sure he needs to shed. I bought him wild caught, even though I know I should not have, from a pet store
that hadn't fed him in a month or so. He eats like a horse, again I know this is a no on, I fed him on the first day, he
ate in pleasure. I have been feeding him twice a week, then once a week, for the last 2 months. I'm sure he has grown
at least a few inches. But I'm worried about his shed. Any thoughts about this would help a lot. My email address is
nnacrell@indiana.edu if you could help, or post on this forum.

Thanks,
Nick Nacrelli

My other reptile friend is a green iguana named Chino, I've had him a year and half, and I love him like a dog. I'm sure
this post seems like I'm an idiot, but I've done a lot of research on these two pets, I'm just confused with this shed.
Chino sheds like a bandit, but Soprano is having trouble, I need some help.
[addsig]

[Dr.Oviparous]

Welcome to RTB!!! glad to have ya!

honestly, I would change substrate to cypress mulch (it should be cooked first before use, in the oven at 200 for a couple hours, watch it close!) and mist it a couple times a day to keep up humidity. damp rags just sound like a breeding ground for bacteria. if he just went into shedding mode last week, nothing to worry about yet, it's totally normal for a ball to go a lot longer than that to complete a shed. just give him time [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] , but I really would change the rags out.

what are your temps at? how about humidity? humidity, and hydration are the most important parts of a good shed, I see where you were going with the rags.

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE> I knew this was the best
beginner snake due to its size, temperament, feeding </BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE> actully balls are notorious (especially WC) for being finiky eaters [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE> He eats like a horse </BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE> just a question, does he eat live food, pre killed, or frozen thawed?

welcome again! -Juggalo
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[DogVsRaptor]

I'm about to move right in about a month. SO i changed him from his tank to a reptarium. I know this does not
hold humidity at all. I've been misting him with warm water a few times a day. I'll take the rags out of the
box. I'm going to try to get some peat moss tomorrow from him. About feeding like a horse, I've read stories
on the web about WC balls being problem feeders. Soprano is not at all. Even the first he ate within 2 minutes
(I know because I play the Soprano's theme song every time he eats) and even less after that. He is eating live
mice right now. I'm located in Bloomington, Indiana, and I cannot find a place that sells frozen prey. Given the fact
that I cannot find frozen, I have to feed him what I can get my hands on, ie being mice between the sizes of small
to medium. Soprano is about 3 feet long and I'm not sure when to start feeding him rat pups. I don't know why to
actually feed him freshly killed rodents, especially since I'm not sure about killing one. Thanks for the help, there won't be any more
rags in his rubbermaid box. He always has a dish of water, he eats fine, I just can't get him to shed. He looks ready
to shed, I've been soaking him every 3 days in luke warm water for about 30 minutes.

Thanks,
Nick
[addsig]

	Wild caught wild caught

[Dr.Oviparous]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE> Soprano is not at all. Even the first he ate within 2 minutes
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>Awsome! it makes snake keeping that much easier when they eat good!
<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE>I know because I play the Soprano's theme song every time he eats </BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>HAHAHA [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img] awsome [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]
<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE> I don't know why to
actually feed him freshly killed rodents, especially since I'm not sure about killing one. </BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE> Nick, bro, you really have to do the deed if you can't find frozen. even mice CAN, AND WILL KILL YOUR SNAKE!!!!!! even, if you watch and supervise the whole feeding, it can take just one bite, and what if the rodent latches on after he starts being constricted? not much you can do then. try http://www.rodentpro.com or at least kill the rodents your self. you really do owe it to your snake. but I really would change to F/T because they can not carry parasites, live, and fresh killed can, and do.

what are the temps at? -Juggalo

_________________
&quot;Well, it didn't look like a one horse town, but try finding a decent hair jelly!&quot; -Eulisses E McGill

[DogVsRaptor]

Thanks for the help, Soprano shed all in the time of a few hours.
He actually went to the bathroom as well, now looks fantastic, clean,
and ready to eat. Its been a long 8 days since his last fed, but I'm
going to give him until at least tomorrow night to feed him. Well,
if anyone has anything else to say, post it.

Thanks,
Nick
[addsig]

[Seany]

Well, if he shed I won't get into that... BUT I would NOT give him any more live.
There are so many risks involved I won't even get started.
Although I completely agree with JUGGELOFWB, a wild cought might not go for F/T at first so I'd give him F/K for a while and see what happens.
But PLEASE no more live... it's just asking for trouble.
[addsig]

	Frozen/Thawed A rodent or other prey item that is frozen and then thawed to be fed to a reptile or other animal.

[thomasito]

well....MAYBE this will change your mind!





THATS DONE BY A MOUSE !
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[SteveP]

Hey Nick,
Good news on the shed! I've had snakes that seemed to take forever to shed after their blue eyes cleared up...it's just hard to be patient at time. I know for myself I want my animals eating like clockwork, shedding perfectly, etc., cause when my animals do well I feel like I'm doing a good job with 'em. The BP's I've had in the past all ate very well and were captive born or hatched, so it sounds like you've got a great feeder with Soprano. I agree with Juggalo though, get 'em on frozen/thawed rodents as soon as you can. In the past I've only been able to get live too, so I'd buy several mice at a time, place them in a paper bag one at a time and then smack the bag with a book or something...hard enough to knock them out but not make a mess. Once that was done I'd put them in plastic bags and pop them into the freezer. It's not as convenient as buying them already frozen but it did the job when necessary! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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[Mandy]

Hey Nick! Your not to far from me. We live about 30 miles from Bloomington. Based on your email addy I would guess you are at IU right?
You are right about one thing there is not anywhere in Bloomington to get frozen rodents. Your lucky if you can even find live. The majority of petstores closed after Petsmart came in. And they won't sell feeders.
I also get all my feeders from www.rodentpro.com They are only about an hour and a half away so shipping time is great.
Your other option would be to go to the reptile show in Indianapolis. They always have frozen there. The next one is this Sunday (7/21/02)
Great to see someone else from our area!
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[DogVsRaptor]

I'm thinking about going to the show. Also, I'm sure i'm going to start
killing my own now, thanks for all the concern. I don't just dump a
mouse with my snake, its very supervised, I'm always looking for claw
and bite marks.

Thanks for all the info,
Nick
[addsig]

[DogVsRaptor]

Mr. Soprano just made the leap from wussy mice to the big league rats. Destroyed this
one in a fanstatic display of agression from not eating in a week and a half, and a much needed
shed. He got the whole thing down, now its time to relax under is lights.
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