Ball Python

[Richard_uk]

I was GIVEN! this today by a family who are moving home. They had placed an ad in our local newspaper so I greatfully accepted their offer. I already have a couple of snakes and was looking for something a little more meaty. I have noticed on close inspection that either its eyes have cleared and it is about to shed or, when it last shed it never lost the eye caps. I have never had this happen to me before as I always raise the humidity to help them out. Is this a problem? Will they come off during the next moult? I would hate anything to happen to such a stunning creature.

 

[Kevo]

Ball pythons are well known for their poor shedding. When their eyes clear shortly before shedding, I always bath mine in luke warm water for half an hour. Normally 24 hrs or so later they shed fine. Check the shed skin to see if the eye caps came away with it. If not you may have to remove them yourself or take it to a vet Also it helps if you can keep their hide humid at this time, I use spahgnum moss and keep it damp and remove it when the shed is complete

 

[Richard_uk]

I'm not actualy sure if I have a problem or not. For the last 1/2 hour I have been trawling the net looking at python pics and they all seem to have the same appearance. A white rinkly feature over the eye. Python's eyes seem a lot more complex than that of a corn or milk snake!

 

[Gary O]

Originally posted by Richard_uk
I'm not actualy sure if I have a problem or not. For the last 1/2 hour I have been trawling the net looking at python pics and they all seem to have the same appearance. A white rinkly feature over the eye. Python's eyes seem a lot more complex than that of a corn or milk snake!

Ball pythons get this wrinkle look on their eyes. It is just a Ball Python thing. This does not mean it has a retained eyecap though. Look around the edge of the eye and if it has a retained eye cap you should be able to see some old skin also.

Do not poke at or try to remove anything unless you are 100% sure it is a retained eyecap.

This wrinlkled look goes away if you up the humidity a day or two and seems to come back when huminity gets back to 50% to 60%. The wrinkles do not harm the snake at all.

 

[Beardo]

Ball pythons are well known for their poor shedding.

This is due to poor husbandry.....its not a characteristic that is typical of the species. Any snake can have a bad shed.

 

[Valael]

There's a guy over on Kingsnake.com that keeps his Ball Pythons in the same enclosure as his Yellow Anacondas (And he also has a BCI in there). Anaconda cages tend to get VERY humid due to the large tub of water that people usually keep in there.

He says after he put the Ball Python in the humid Anaconda environment, he hasn't had a single bad shed. (It's been about 5 years)

 

[Gary O]

I do not recommend housing them three species together. I do not recommend housing any snakes together unless trying to breed.

But yes if the humidity is high the sheds will be easy for them. But too much humidity for a Ball python or any snake can be harmful.

 

[Professor T]

Originally posted by Gary O
I do not recommend housing them three species together. I do not recommend housing any snakes together unless trying to breed.

I agree, especially boas and pythons. Boid encephilitis can jump species and wipe out an entire collection.

 

[Richard_uk]

Well, my boy shed his skin last night!
It was a bit patchy but it all came off with time, eyecaps and all. He looks amazing right now, Extremely glossy and bright. He certainly doesn't have an apetite problem as he just ate a small rat in about 30 seconds!
He yawned so wide to put his jaw straight later i could almost see right down his throat!!!

Thanks to all the people who helped out in this thread.

 

[Dessicata]

Originally posted by Valael
There's a guy over on Kingsnake.com that keeps his Ball Pythons in the same enclosure as his Yellow Anacondas (And he also has a BCI in there).

How can his husbandry still be crappy after 5 years?? Obviously he will know that you shouldn't keep an african python in the same enclosure as 2 south american boids, but then aagin he'd also know not to keep those particular snakes together too. Am i right? They guy is a moron, and if he is advocating the keeping of said snakes in said way, needs them removing from his care.