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#151749
Braondt06x
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My snake is shedding in many pieces 
hi, i had my snake for about a month and hes shedding in lots of pieces and i was wondering if that was normal and if not what should i do?
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09/29/04 10:34pm
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#151752
BoaBabe448
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Message To: Braondt06x In reference to Message Id: 151749
My snake is shedding in many pieces
what are the
temperatures
humidity
substrate
how long is he
doe she have a water bowl big enough to soak in?
describe your setup. Try soaking him in lukewarm water.
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09/29/04 10:39pm
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#151758
Braondt06x
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Message To: BoaBabe448 In reference to Message Id: 151752
My snake is shedding in many pieces
the average temp is 85-90 degrees, i have a bark substrate the pet store reccomended and hes about 15" long, yes hes soaked in it but should be able to put his whole body in it? and i was told not to handle him during shed b/c the oils from my skin...not sure what would happen though
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09/29/04 10:45pm
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#151761
Braondt06x
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Message To: Braondt06x In reference to Message Id: 151758
My snake is shedding in many pieces
you can see most of set up in the picture
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09/29/04 10:46pm
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#151775
Braondt06x
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Message To: Braondt06x In reference to Message Id: 151761
My snake is shedding in many pieces
would leaving the heat lamp on tonight help him at all?
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09/29/04 11:00pm
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#151781
BoaBabe448
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Message To: Braondt06x In reference to Message Id: 151758
My snake is shedding in many pieces
He should be able to fit his whole body in it. Is the bark substrate cedar or pine? I would change yoru substrate to green indoor/outdoor carpet. It works much better. You should have a cool side of 80F and a warm side 90-92F. I have the same size ball python as you. Here is a picture of my setup (-not- the indoor outdoor carpet)and my snake
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09/29/04 11:03pm
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#151791
Braondt06x
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Message To: BoaBabe448 In reference to Message Id: 151781
My snake is shedding in many pieces
ok thanks alot and is the carpet able to be cleaned and re-used? and so i shouldnt worry that he shedding like that?
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09/29/04 11:07pm
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#151797
BoaBabe448
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Message To: Braondt06x In reference to Message Id: 151791
My snake is shedding in many pieces
You never told me the humidity. Tha tis the #1 thing. You should worry. Please tell me the humidity. You buy 2 pices of the carpet cut to the dimensions of the tank, and then when one is soiled put it in the wash and then put the other in...etc, etc.
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09/29/04 11:11pm
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#151801
Braondt06x
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Message To: BoaBabe448 In reference to Message Id: 151797
My snake is shedding in many pieces
i asked about humidity gauges at the store i bought my snake and he said i didnt need one and tried discouraging me from buying it, so i dont know theres condensation on the bottom of the tank if that means anything
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09/29/04 11:15pm
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#151804
BoaBabe448
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Message To: Braondt06x In reference to Message Id: 151801
My snake is shedding in many pieces
Just mist the cage with a spray bottle like once or twice a day until he sheds. Try soaking him too.
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09/29/04 11:18pm
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#151807
Braondt06x
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Message To: BoaBabe448 In reference to Message Id: 151804
My snake is shedding in many pieces
ok THANKS ALOT boababe i really appreciate it
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09/29/04 11:19pm
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#151881
Pelota
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Message To: Braondt06x In reference to Message Id: 151807
My snake is shedding in many pieces
you definitely need a digital thermometer and hygrometer to monitor temperatures and humidity. Both are very important for the health of your snake. Go to Walmart and buy the Acurite Digital Thermometer. It’s got two temperature readings and a humidity reading. You just put the base unit on one side for temp and humidity, and the probe on the other side for the temp on that side. Get a human heat pad from Walmart too. Make sure theres no auto-shut off. Put it under the tank. under one side. It’ll make a temperature gradient so the snake can choose if it wants to warm up or cool down. Also provide two hides, one for each side. Have the warm side at 90-95 and cool side 80-85. Never drop the temperature below 75 for long periods, or over 98 for long periods. When you get the digital thermometer for the humidity and stuff, try to keep the humidity at 55-60% during normal times, and up it to 70-80% for shed times.Believe me, do all this, and your snake will greatly appreciate it. It might cost you a few bucks, but it’s necessary I think. Never trust pet stores. They usually have no clue what they’re talking about. Your story is proof of that. Stick on temp gauges are crap, and are nothing more than paper weights IMO. They’re so horribly inaccurate. Also you mentioned something about keeping the heat lamp on at night. Does that mean you shut the heat source off at night? The snake needs a heat source 24/7. The heat pad should do that fine. I have mine on 24/7 and it does fine. That should help. -Cody 
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09/30/04 4:39am
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#152190
Braondt06x
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Message To: Pelota In reference to Message Id: 151881
My snake is shedding in many pieces
no i leave the heat pad the pet store supplied me with on...it sticks to the bottom of the aquarium
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09/30/04 7:15pm
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#152402
Braondt06x
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Message To: Braondt06x In reference to Message Id: 152190
My snake is shedding in many pieces
ok i tried the soaking approach but all it did was cause him to get nervous and he wouldnt stay in the water so i put him back in his cage but his completely shed excpet for his head and an area behind his head....not sure if you’d call that his neck?
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09/30/04 11:33pm
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#152403
Braondt06x
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Message To: Braondt06x In reference to Message Id: 152190
My snake is shedding in many pieces
ok i tried the soaking approach but all it did was cause him to get nervous and he wouldnt stay in the water so i put him back in his cage but his completely shed excpet for his head and an area behind his head....not sure if you’d call that his neck?
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09/30/04 11:33pm
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#152463
Pelota
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Message To: Braondt06x In reference to Message Id: 152403
My snake is shedding in many pieces
If he’s just got patches left on and they dont come off on their own in a few days or so, you can leave them and they’ll probably come off with next shed. But if the skin that’s left on is totally circling the body, like it’s a piece that wraps right around the body, you need to get that off soon. It could constrict the blood flow and the part that isn’t getting blood will die. If that’s around his neck, that could be bad.A good way to get left over shed off is to get a small container that will hold water and has a lid. Make sure it’s got air holes too of course. Fill it with water just enough so the snake can submerge in it. Then put a rock or branch in it so the snake can rest on it if it gets tired of swimming. Then just put the top on and leave him for a bit. It should loosen the skin and then when you take him out, have him slither through a damp towel to rub off the skin. If he freaked out when you put him in the water, the water might have been too warm or too cold. Make sure the water is at room temperature, usually around 80-85 degrees. Some people buy a spare digital thermometer with probe for such reasons. They just put the probe in the water and check the temperature before putting their snake in. 80-85 should be comfortable for your snake. Not too cold, not too warm.
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10/01/04 1:24am
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#152685
JasonN
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Message To: Braondt06x In reference to Message Id: 151749
My snake is shedding in many pieces
Greetings,
I’m new to the forum but not new to snakes. I am new to ball pythons though. I have a 16" male I purchased from Bob Clark who’s a happy, healthy eating machine. I’ve had him about six weeks and he’s already done it all- ate, poo’d, shed etc. A real sweetheart of a fella. I agree with everyone here and I would like to add two things: 1) You might want to add a humidity chamber to the cage around shedding time. You can use a disposable food storage container by cutting a hole in the side for your snake to carwl in and out of (the opening should be smooth, not sharp). Make sure the container is not too large- just small enough for him to cozy up inside if he wants to. Place either damp sphagnum moss or a damp paper towel in the hide and mist it throughout the shedding process. 2) Regarding fir chips for bedding (Repti-Bark, Forest Bark etc). There’s nothing wrong with using it as long as you understand a few things about it. First, fir chips will dry out the cage so you will need to mist the bark at least once a day. Secondly, you probably should not feed you snake on this substrate. You risk impaction if your snake swallows some bark along with his meal and that can be serious. If you use fir chips it’s less risky to feed your critter outside the cage. Cheers,
Jason
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10/01/04 4:24pm
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#153503
Braondt06x
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Message To: JasonN In reference to Message Id: 152685
My snake is shedding in many pieces
ok i bought the Acurite Digital Thermometer which i like much better then the strip thermometer and the carpet boababe suggested but its reading 78.6 degrees f, i have a 50w bulb and was wondering if thats suitable and the humididty is reading 53% so how can i raise that?
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10/02/04 6:07pm
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#153522
BoaBabe448
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Message To: Braondt06x In reference to Message Id: 153503
My snake is shedding in many pieces
humidity is fine, but thats too cold, get a human heating pad, and a thermostat. Then plug the thermostat up to the heat pad, and set it to 89*F then put it under the tank, and it will be warm, keep the light on the other side of the tank, then turn the light off at night. How many gallons is it?
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10/02/04 6:32pm
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#153632
Braondt06x
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Message To: BoaBabe448 In reference to Message Id: 153522
My snake is shedding in many pieces
the temp is 83 now and its a 10 gallon tank, i think its time to upgrade though, i have human heat pad but no thermostat so the heat pad and light are supposed to be on opposite sides of the tank?
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10/02/04 8:15pm
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#153639
BoaBabe448
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Message To: Braondt06x In reference to Message Id: 153632
My snake is shedding in many pieces
no, thats if the heat pad is 89*f then you put that for the warm side, and light for the cold. you need to bump the temps to about 87 (for like a not hot, not cool side just average throughout the tank)
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10/02/04 8:22pm
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#154102
JakePRouse
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Message To: BoaBabe448 In reference to Message Id: 153639
My snake is shedding in many pieces
I had problems with sheding too, and i was told to do this ... and she shed all of her skin in one night. Take a tupperwear container that your BP will fit into easy. cut a hole in the top, and put some water in the bottom of it. If you have moss, or something, put it in. And put that inside your bp cage. Put your BP in side of the humid box, and lay some leaves or cover over the hole. I would suggest putting somewhere in the middle of the tank, (medium heat) and thats about it ... T’Pol was sheding in small pieaces, and wasn;t coming off, and i tried this, and in one night, she shed everything!~ Im make another post for this, for others to find. Later,
Jake
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10/03/04 4:23pm
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