why isnt my ball python shedding?

Question

My ball python is 8 months old, i purchased her in late july and she shed once in august but hasnt shed since! i know that younger ball pythons shed more often than the adults, so im a little worried. I feed her twice a week and she eats like a champ, nothing else is wrong with her. help?

My ball python is 8 months old, i purchased her in late july and she shed once in august but hasnt shed since! i know that younger ball pythons shed more often than the adults, so im a little worried. She shows no signs of a shed coming, shes not dull her eyes are still clear. I always keep the humidity and temperature in check. I feed her twice a week and she eats like a champ, nothing else is wrong with her. is she not growing? whats going on?

Answer 1

Once a month or so is not unusual. So yours will most likely shed pretty soon. If it was late August it could be somewhere in the vicinity of the next couple of weeks. Snakes shed when they want to, not when you want them to. They don't read the snake books that say they are supposed to shed monthly when young. Pythons have slow metabolisms and if fed properly should grow slowly and steadily. I'd only feed once a week if I were you. There's no reason that a nearly one year old snake is still being fed twice a week. That's too much. I'd lay money that your snake will shed in the next week or two. If she doesn't....relax. She'll shed when she's ready.

Answer 2

My ball python used to shed terribly, i purchased a small box of moss from my local pet shop and put it inside the hide, changing it once a day after it dried out and she shed perfectly, just put water in the box of moss then rinse it out leaving it for ten minutes, it really did work so well because beforehand i'd tried nearly everything and its very stressful for the snake and the owner because its hard when you wan't to help but their isn't much you can do, but i really do recommend moss because it works a treat! good luck, i hope this helped a little :)

Answer 3

Assuming you are providing a good environment for your snake and it's eating, it will also be expelling waste and shedding. How often your snake sheds and defecates is dependant upon how often it's eating and it's metabolism. A young snake that's growing may shed and/or defecate as often as every four to six weeks. Older snakes which aren't growing as much may only shed a few times a year. Good link:

http://www.kingsnake.com/ballpythonguide/

http://www.ballpythonforum.com/forums/index.php?s=592174d57f067613130a119c5216a9f7&

http://www.debscaptivebredballpythons.com/content.asp?cid=8

Answer 4

make sure that the humidity level is high enough. it cant be too dry. water helps them shed. also if you notice that it is trying to shed and cant, get some lukewarm water and just let it soak in it that helps. you can try that now. just up the humidity a little : ) you can do this by misting the tank a little more often.

Answer 5

Maybe she shed before you got her. I'd calle the place/store.