So i first noticed my little Ball Python Mika was looking rather dull (saturday) including the eyes and a little bit wrinkled at the bends so i assumed she was about to go into the shed cycle, which i was right because her eyes were blue the next day. But yesterday i've noticed she looks pretty wrinkled and now one of her eyes are dented in (the color's back to normal at this point) and i picked her up and she seems a little limp and not so active like she usually is.. i might just be overthinking this out of paranoia though. Anyway, she's only shed one other time since she's been with me (a perfect one) but i just can't tell if all of this is just from her about to shed? or could she be dehydrated?

 

 

I took her out and soaked her last night and she drank for a good bit which made me feel better, and i soaked her again this morning, but no drink.

 

Sorry for such a long one guys, but i'm really worried about my girl! So what do you all think? What should i do?

 

Thanks!

The eye thing bothers me a bit. I've never seen one with a dented eye during the shed cycle, but I have only three ball pythons. I also tend to leave them alone completely when they are shedding, so maybe they have each had a dented eye at one point or another.

Soaking is a good plan, and if she's clearing a bit, then she should shed soon. Your actions so far seem good, and I'd see how the shed goes. Mostly, I'd watch that eye. You might check your humidity again as well.

To me everything sounds pretty normal...

This happened to me about a week ago when Brucie shed last, his eye was dented a little bit. And first I freaked out because I thought it was stuck shed, but I just let him shed, and when I took him back out, the dent was gone. I think its just where the skin gets loose there, and then they rub against something therefore making a small dent?

Idk. Everything sounds pretty normal like a shed to me. Brucie is very inactive during shed, so that may be why your thought she was 'limp.'

As long as she drank something I wouldn't be too worried. Although, I've never actually seen Brucie drink. He gets kind of nervous when I watch him anyway. HAHA.

Thanks for the replies! I feel a lil better now. But do the wrinkles sound normal?

Ballz89 wrote: Thanks for the replies! I feel a lil better now. But do the wrinkles sound normal?

They sound completely normal to me. I think your snake will be fine. You seem to be doing everything right.

Eye denting is usually an indication of dehydration, however, if your humidity is proper and it is drinking, it should be fine after shed

I don't think Bill has ever said anything I don't agree with, LOL. Bill are you reading my mind?!?!?! HAHA!


My BP has had some wrinkles in some sheds, I think you'll be fine. :]

Cool! Thank you all so much for the help! :)

 

I can't wait till she's just done with the shed and everything's back to normal.

Its fine :] Haha. I understand how you feel. If something looks slightly wrong with my BP I freak.
And ask pointless questions on here to EVERYONE. HAHAHA.

I think everyone here on RG can vouch for my over-protective "mothering." HAHAHA

We've all been there. The people who knew me during the first two to three months that I had my first ball python can testify to how much I worried. They called me the ball python hypochondriac.

Ballz89 wrote: Thanks for the replies! I feel a lil better now. But do the wrinkles sound normal?

It's not normal.
What you're describing sounds like the snake is dehydrated.
What is the temp/humidity in the cage.
Can you weigh the snake?
If it gains a lot of weight by soaking, or drops a lot of weight within 24 hours of soaking..... It's not good!

Soaking the snake is not enough!
It should have a hide full of damp sphagnum moss.
And you should mist the cage daily to achieve a humidity of roughly 65% while the animal is in shed, 40% the rest of the time.