Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

Eddie · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 10:28 pm Post subject: Shedding

We have had young royal python for a couple of months who takes several weeks to shed, he won't enter the water bowl in his viv and I have resorted to placing him in a large container with luke warm water to loosen his skin. Is there anyway I can encourage him to use the water in his viv? He also has a 'lumpy' scale on his head, should I be concerned?

Any advice would be appreciated.
Cheers

Stuart · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 10:56 pm Post subject:

Has he gone through the milky stage then cleared as once they have cleared they can take time to shed.Are you soaking him as soon as he has cleared?

Eddie · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 11:10 pm Post subject:

His eyes went milky, and then his skin started to lift. It came off his belly quite quickly but after a couple of weeks he still had a lot of skin along his back and head. I have soaked him twice after his skin started to lift. All his skin has now come off but after the last soaking his eyes have become milky again – this is about 5 weeks since he last started to shed. Could he be shedding again?

When I soak him he gets very excited, I put a sponge in so he can get out of the water but I don’t want to cause him too much distress.

Dan · Captivebred Communist Joined: 08 Sep 2005 Posts: 1306

Instead of soaking him you could just spray the viv 2 or 3 times a day to raise the general humidity to make him shed easier without using the water bowl
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Stuart · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 11:59 pm Post subject:

If he is shedding often there maybe an underlying problem i.e mites or something else..if you do spray the viv do not soak it as permanently damp enviroment wont do him any good..maybe add a moss box for him.What setup is he in?..i.e viv,temps substrate etc..is he feeding regular?..how often are you feeding

Eddie · Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 9:43 am Post subject:

He is feeding once a week on rat pups, but he will only take them if you dangle them in front of his nose. He is kept on eco-earth with a water bowl large enough for him to enter a cave and a climbing stick. The temperature ranges from about 85 in the hot end to 70 in the cool end with a humidity of about 40 to 45. Can you buy sterile moss for a moss box?

Scott W · Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 9:47 am Post subject:

hi,
I would suggest bringing the temp at the hot end up to nearer 90f and the cooler end shouldn't really go below 80f.

Put a humid moss box in the hot end of the viv, most decent reptile shops should stock the moss.

Eddie · Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 10:13 am Post subject:

Thanks for the advice, would you be concerned about the lumpy scale on his head or should I see what it looks like after the next shed? I will try and get a close up photo.

Scott W · Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 10:16 am Post subject:

hard to say without seeing a good close up shot.

If in any doubt, take it back to the shop you bought it from, so they can have a proper look. Phone them first though so they can tell you whens best to bring it down.

If not try and get a good photo up on here.

Stuart · Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 12:29 pm Post subject:

what size viv is he in...and how long is the snake?