My ball python, Fiji, is shedding!

[tikichick]

I'm so excited to catch Fiji shedding :)

His first shed with me was the day after I brought him home from the reptile expo. I opened the deli container to take him out and he was wrapped up in a ball with his shed in the middle of him. He had tied it in a knot, lol.

This is his second shed with me and last Sunday, he went blue.

http://www.lakehousemedia.com/hidden/herps/fiji/12-16-07%20blue.jpg

Tonight, I noticed a round bare spot in the tank where the aspen should be, so I took him out of his hide to check on him. He's all wrinkly and is starting to peel around his nose.

http://www.lakehousemedia.com/hidden/herps/fiji/12-24-07shed.jpg

[Loren]

Cool! Keep an eye on him, if he doesnt shed clean, you may want to mist him or soak him in luke warm water. I checked on my ball python tonight- he is getting pretty big- maybe 40" long now. He was given to me a couple years ago by a freind.

[tikichick]

Thanks, will do :)

Wow, 40 inches, that's big! I forget that one day Fiji will be a big guy, lol. He's my first snake and I'm so used to his small stature :rolleyes:

[anji1971]

Fiji is one cool snake!! I so want a ball python one day.........:cool:

[Lori P]

Happy shedding Fiji!! I've never seen my balls shed, but their sheds always appear scrunched up in these little tiny balls. And they stay in their hides to shed. So they must just circle round and round to shed, as opposed to the garters who stretch all out.

Anji, I really love the balls, tho they are pretty monotonous... they pretty much hide all the time. But there is something charming about them. And mine are never alone, they constantly stay intertwined... it's so cute. :-)

[tikichick]

I think you're right on the circles. I'm hoping I'll catch a glimpse of him doing his thing, but so far he's just hanging out in his hide. I want to get a female at some point so he has a companion to tangle with :)

Anji, my favorite thing about balls (lol) is how sweet natured they are. They're so calm and very curious. Not prone to strike at all. I take Fiji out a couple times a week and let him crawl around on me while I watch tv. He'll explore the couch some and then is content to wrap around my hand and smell the world go by, lol.

[anji1971]

Well, I obviously need more balls in my life then, don't I???:D:D

[Stefan-A]

:rolleyes::D

[Loren]

Yeah, my ball has always had a great temperment, and I dont even handle him regularly. Just be careful about accidental feeding response bites when you initialy pick them up- in other words, make sure they know its you, and not a mouse- dont suprise them. After that- never had a problem, not even a hint of aggression. I havent ever been bit by mine, but as incredibly hard as he hits food, I dont think it would be enjoyable.
I think about getting him a female sometimes, but dont really have the space right now- or actually, its not high enough on my wishlist for my limited space. Plus, I figure the market is pretty well flooded with "normal" baby balls. I'll just keep waiting for someone to give me one. Thats how I got him.
Dont forget to check the eyecaps to make sure they shed clean too.
I like to mist him alittle when he's in shed. When he was in an aquarium, I had to mist him about everyday to keep him "regular", but now he's in a rack, so the humidity stays high enough on its own.

[tikichick]

I won Fiji in a raffle at a reptile expo :) I keep hoping I'll win another one, lol. I misted him a little while ago and he's looking good. Shed, dang it, shed already! Lol.

[gregmonsta]

I wish they had raffles like that here :( .... nice one :)

[Lori P]

I found that I had to keep an extra bowl of water in their tank to keep the humidity high enough for them. And it's so funny, because the little bowl is right next to their favorite hide, so Fluffy has started just reaching her head out and drinking without having to move much. LOL Such a rough life!!!

I also bought a product called Repti Shedding Aid, by Zoo Med, that I spray on them once every other week or so. I like it because it's all natural oils (jojoba, vit e) and it just seems to keep them a bit more pliable.

[tikichick]

Ooooh, ok, I'll get some Repti Shedding Aid. I like it when Fiji's all smewth :D

[Sputnik]

I managed to catch Leo, too...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/MrsSputnik/Snakes-%20not%20on%20a%20plane/STA60005.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/MrsSputnik/Snakes-%20not%20on%20a%20plane/STA60007.jpg

[tikichick]

Very cool!! I like that name on a snake. I usually see that just on leopard geckos.

[Sputnik]

It is a good name. It's my daughter's first python and when she excitedly told my friend, who has around 50 now, what she named the snake, he laughed and said that his first python was also called Leo. :D

[Hannah]

It's because Leo is the star sign of a lion who is strong and well respected amongst others. I thought it fitted well as although he is not a lion he is the the strongest and most fearsome snake we have (even though he strangely reminds me of a puppy dog =S )