Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

by **SkipperSue** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 9:56 pm

Chaotica, I think you have a snake? I have a problem with my ball python from her last shedding. One of her eyes didn't get shedded off, am I worrying for nothing? She's about 2 1/2 years old now, name's marley.

by **Kevin A** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 10:09 pm

SkipperSue wrote:Chaotica, I think you have a snake? I have a problem with my ball python from her last shedding. One of her eyes didn't get shedded off, am I worrying for nothing? She's about 2 1/2 years old now, name's marley.

Hereya go,
http://www.kingsnake.com/ballpythonguide/#HUSBANDRY

The processes of shedding, or sloughing, usually take about 7-10 days to complete. You'll first notice that your Ball Python's belly is getting a pink color. Once you notice this, it's best advised to not handle your snake. Shortly after noticing the belly getting pink, you should see the eyes begin to look foggy and the snake's colors begin to dull. After 5-6 days of this, things begin to clear up. A few days after the clearing, your snake will find something rough and rub against it. Ideally your snake should be able to shed in one full piece, which comes off inside out, like when you pull off your sock. If your snake doesn't happen to get it off in one piece, that's a sign that you are not providing exactly the right environment. It may be too dry in the tank, or your snake may be a little dehydrated. The two problem areas you should watch out for, if it didn't slough in a single piece, are around the eyes, and the tip of the tail. If the eye caps did not shed off, your snakes eye(s) will have a foggy silver look to them. To help the snake shed off those last few bits of skin, you can try soaking it in a luke warm/cool bath for a half hour or so. Then gently dabbing it with a warm damp cloth. Placing the snake in a damp cloth bag for awhile sometimes helps also. Some people have had luck dabbing the eye's with a cotton swab that's been moistened with baby oil. If you cannot get the eye cap(s) off, I wouldn't worry too much, and pay extra attention to the humidity level and the hydration of the snake through it's next shed cycle. Most likely the eye caps will come off with the following slough. If after two shed cycles, the eye caps are still intact, a trip to the vet may be called for.

by **Micro469** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 10:11 pm

O.K., this is interesting... gotta hear the answer. Can't you help by picking it off???

by **GHOSTSSX** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 10:54 pm

John,

You are not supposed to, because it may not be ready to come all the way off and the eye is a very sensitive place and the possibility of blindness is a concern as well.

I have helped my Bearded Dragon, not by picking, but light rubbing and a warm bath. He does not like anything around his eyes and mouth, so he does that on his own.

It is hard not to want to just rip it off though!!

CHUCK

by **Ma3tt** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 11:36 pm

Let it soak in water it will come off in a day, the water needs to be air temp and a little better. Spraying multi times a day will help. My ball pythons would get mouth rot and mites quite often so keep an eye on that too.

by **SkipperSue** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 11:47 am

Thanks for all the tips and links everyone. I let her soak in the bath tub yesterday, she liked that.

I havn't had a chance to give her a good look over yet, will do that tonight after work. This is my first "large" snake I've had, had alot of small garder snakes and such. She was given to me by a girl here at work who just didn't have time to keep her anymore.

by **Mary K** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 1:06 pm

I had an Albino Horned Frog once.....his name was Slartybartfast

and a Cockatiel named Zaphod.

Hope she is doing better Skip. Take a picture for us :lol:

Mk

by **SkipperSue** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 1:33 pm

Woha!! that's a cool looking toad there Mary!
I've never seen one like that! I like his name too.

I'll try to take a picture of her tonight, I've tried a few while she's been in her cage but the glass has too much reflection.

by **Ira** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 2:42 pm

SkipperSue wrote:I've tried a few while she's been in her cage but the glass has too much reflection.

Take a piece of toilet paper, separate one ply from it, and hold or tape it over your flash to reduce and defuse the flash. You could also use lens cleaning tissue, if you have any.

by **asianflava** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 3:02 pm

You could also take the picture at an angle, or with no flash.

by **SkipperSue** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 5:58 pm

Ok here's a pic of Marley. I still haven't figured this camera out yet, sometimes it takes crisp pics and sometimes it doesn't. I'm holding it as still as I can.

I'll try and get her out and take some more pics later.