Just got my 1st ball!

[Liquidity X]

I just got my 1st BP. We had a Red Tail Boa at school where I teach and after working with him for a year I felt it was time to get a snake of my own. I just got about a 18 incher last wednesday. I waitied about a week and tried to feed him and he refused food. SO no biggy i took it away, was a small feeder mouse, and later that night i noticed his eyes starting to turn white like he was starting to shed. Well its been a few days and his eyes are returning to normal and hes becoming more white colored on his scales and I think he should start shedding shortly. But one thing I was wondering about, with the red tail he would hide when he was about to shed. My PB how ever is chilling in the middle of the cage in the open when hes not hanging around his water bowl on the "cool" side of his cage. Just wondering if this is normal. He also seems to "yawn", ever seen that befor? Also he seems very twitchy to touch, is this also a sign the shed is coming soon? I havn't piced him up or anything but i touched his back just to see his reaction today. I saw online a suggestion to soak your ball in some warm water for about 10 minutes, dry him gently, then put them back in there cage at this stage of there shed to help them shed even better, any one try this? I'm just being a nervous parent I bet but I just wanna make sure hes in good health and his 1st shed go's good. I'll post a pic of him in a little bit, my camera is charging. Thanx guys!


P.S. His cages is 30 inches long, its 90 in the basking area on the right side, and about 80 in the cool area on the left, and my humidity is about 70, my humidifier got back ordered and is due in on tues so i mist the cage down a few times a day with a towle over the screen.

[BallPyFan]

If he's just chilling in the middle of the cage that means he feels secure enough to be out in the open. It's a good sign that he isn't feeling stressed :) As for the shedding, just keep the humidity up and he'll be just fine. If he seems twitchy...he probably can't see clearly! Either that or he is sleeping when you touched him and it startled him. I have a hard time telling when mine are asleep or awake. It would help if they had eyelids LOL

[Liquidity X]

LOL ok kool. i just got a humidifier to help get it up a bit more. he's in his hiddy hole now after i just pimped out his cage some more. I'll keep yah posted.

[Liquidity X]

Ok I'm gonna be posting pics here. http://homepage.mac.com/liquidityx/PhotoAlbum10.html

[Liquidity X]

Hey he looks all "Loose Skinned" now, like he lost 20 pounds to fast and his extra skin is just hanging off him, this normal?

[Schlyne]

You said earlier that he was going into shed. If his eyes have cleared up, and his skin looks pretty loose and wrinkly, it's probably about ready to start coming off. He'll probably shed for sure in the next couple days :)

[Liquidity X]

yah hes deff all wrinkly, i've done my best to keep the humidity as high as i can seem to get it, a steady 70%. His eyes have cleared up now and hes in a ball in the corner wraped up on a tree branch. Hopefully he will shed soon. I'll post a pic tonight if hes still hasn't shed.

[Liquidity X]

Just got home, his head is all shedded off, eyes and all and his body should be next, hes napping now it looks like. thanks foir all the help, just over worried since its hsi 1st shed in my care.

[BallPyFan]

You'll learn to spot "pre-shed" stage too as you get used to him :) No bother, in fact it brings back memories of my first snake and the fun I had learning.

[Liquidity X]

yah hes alot diff than the redtail at work, he would shed overnight as son as his eyes turned, the PB seems to shed alot longer. hes been rubin a bit but hes still only sheded of the skin up to his "neck". he seems to owrk a bit then take a nap then work some more :P well see in the mornign how hes doing. If he would finish up he would get a snack soon :P

[DwCp05]

Hey BallPyFan for the first time ever in my balls life,8-9 months,i think,, she is just chilling out in the open in the middle of her cage. You said this is normal but is she just now feeling ok to be out? Never bite/struck any thing, great snake, loves to be held. I can stick my hand in the cage and she will come to it to be lifted out, she has done this since i got her, well after she got adjusted. She is 23 inches long, and a little bit rounder than the bottom of a lightbulb.

[TommyD.]

Liquidity X just make sure you lower the humidity back down after the shed. I usally leave mine at around 50-60% until they go into the blue then I raise it to around 70-80%. To high of humidity or to much moisture will cause them to develop belly rot if your not careful. Just giving you the heads up.

[BPBabe448]

Yea, the humidity should be 50-60%. But 70-80% is ok for sheds.

Good luck! I hope he has a good shed.

:smt024