Snake Dry Skin?

Question

I have a male ball python, he is about 3 feet long, i've had him over a year, and no problem, only one mite problem, and it was cleared up quickly. He is due for a feeding (once every week to week and a half) but his skin looks dry, he is tinted all white, his belly isnt pink, and I dont think hes shedding, although it could be. Will it be okay if i put a little too much moisturizer on my hands, handle him so some gets on him, and maybe clears it up? i've looked on the internet quickly and can not seem to find anything about my question, i gave him fresh bottled water today (skin problem appeared yesterday) thinking my half and half mix of bottled water and tap water was still too much chlorine for him, and dried his skin....
he doesnt seem to have any less energy, he still goes all over his enclosure at night and sleeps during the day....
some one help me quick!

I know enough about to have kept him very healthy since i got him! and it doesnt look like a normal shed, in some light it looks like he might have eye caps, but he usually gets agressive before he sheds, and i can tell he doesnt want to be touched because his head movements are quick and he is very alert and sometimes has snapped when i come to the tank. I know it is not good to have snakes in very noisy and/or busy spots on the household, so i have him in my bedroom, my door is always closed and i go in and talk to him. This has not been my only source for information on what to do. I have done research like crazy for about a year before i got him, in books, internet and from people i know who have owned/own snakes. my mite treatment is one that can be applied directly to the snake, avoiding direct eye contact, and he was fine, that was over 6 months ago. my snake has always got a noticably pink belly about 2 days before his initial shed, this did not occur this time...

Okay I misted the tank a few times, and started to notice eye caps, so i raised his humidity to 65%, mixed around his substrate, and covered a part of the top of his enclosure for about 4 or 5 hours then uncovered it (did all that yesterday evening). And Today I woke up to a healthy shed, one great big piece of skin, he has never looked the way he did before shedding.... now i know!
thanks

Answer 1

I have over two dozen reptiles both snakes and lizards and it sounds like the humidity is a little low, keep it about 50-60%. You can mist him a couple of times a day for sure and it isn't going to hurt him, remember I said mist though, not drench.

This time of year heaters have been on for a few months and houses have been locked up tight letting no fresh air or moisture inside and a house can get very very dry. Here is what I do to combat dryness.

I run a cool mist humidifier in each room I have reptiles, only during the winter. I spray them twice a day, everyone but my Mali uromastyx get sprayed down with water twice, once in late morning and once in late afternoon.

I also give everyone a nice warm bath about once a month. I give my tropical reptiles, boas and iguana a warm bath weekly. The milk snake, python, and other lizards get a warm bath once a month or so.

Try giving your snake a warm bath, I make the water about 85-90 and I do not guess I use a thermometer.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Dry Snake

Answer 3

One thing you didn't mention is what the humidity in the enclosure is. This is most important as most balls like to have humidity above 50% and generally do best around 55-65%.

As mentioned, he could be shedding too. If he's turned blue (eye caps turned blue) then this is what is going to happen.

Do NOT use hand lotion on your snake. You can get your hands warmed up under the tap water and then handle him with warmed/damp hands to help humidify his skin, but if he's starting a shed you don't want to handle him too much.

Answer 4

Mist the tank and up the humidity 4 a few days.

Answer 5

I do not recommend human lotion at all - he could just be shedding - are his eyes cloudy? That is a sure sign - if it's not that, I would still wait and either get a book at the pet store - ask where you get your mice - or the vet.
I will check somemore on the net, if I see anything, I'll get back to you.
Good luck!!

Answer 6

First off I suggest no one should relie on this yahoo questions thing If its about health. I suggest you buy a snake book or google "python heath". Or ask somebody you know who knows more about pythons. Or you can ask a vet. But this place should not be your first place to go for health issues.

Answer 7

That's a good question!