Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[MillyMollyMandy]

Hi, I would be grateful for some advice.
I got my 2 month old normal Royal Python, 2 months ago. He is now having his first shed and it has been approx 5 days since his eyes went opaque. He has started to shed little parts around the face now. I am aware that the shed cycle can take 10-14 days so I have read. Is this correct?
The main issue I have is that he looks very dehydrated. He looks grotty with the shed but also has lateral folds in his skin. ( he looks very much like the snake with dehydration in 'The Ball Python Manual' De Vosjoli).
He has been eating regularly with no problems every 5 days, including today, I have a large water bowl for him in there ( big enough for him to soak though I have not seen him) and the humidity in his viv is 60%.
Is this normal and am I just panicking as it is the first shed I have seen or do I have a problem?? If so how do I fix it as I understand from the book that it can not just be fixed by humidity and water bowl alone.

Any help grateful received. ( sorry if people have already written about this - I tried to go back through the forum but could not find what I wanted).
Many many Thanks!

[MillyMollyMandy]

Sorry meant I got him at 2 months, he is now 4 months old! Doh!

[MillyMollyMandy]

Hi Eggman and thank you. Is it ok to do this soak now? Will that also help with the dehydration problem if he has one? Do I just soak until he has shed or should I keep doing it if he still has the over evident lateral folds in his skin?
Many Thanks!!

[_dave_]

give the enclosure a good spray twice a day, raise the humidity will help in the shed cycle.

[MillyMollyMandy]

Thanks again - I will probably give him a soak tomorrow seen as I have fed him today. Fingers crossed then.
Thank you all for such quick replies on here to - it is so great as a beginner to know you can get answers to your worries so quickly and from those in the know so thank you very much!.

[MillyMollyMandy]

Just so I know I am not doing anything wrong when I soak him = I was just going to put about an inch of water in a plastic tub and just leave him in there for the 20 mins. Do I need to give him anything in there or will he be ok like that? Sorry! Thank you again!

[_dave_]

washing up liquid is always good

not too much, overwise you will have a foam party.

[_dave_]

[_dave_]

no but ive seen lots of big breeders i know use this method with expensive snakes the amount that is used would not harm the snake.

[_dave_]

ok mate not a problem