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My ball python has stuck shed. Can a warm bath safely help remove it?

Updated on September 23, 2025

I'm not sure if my snake needs help with it's shed. She is a piebald ball python approx. 16 inches in length. This is her first shed with me and she seems to have been shedding for the past week. I know I had my humidity too low for at least some of that time, and she is only shedding in tiny pieces at the moment. Looks like her belly and other parts have shed but she still has a layer of skin on the top. I haven't been able to tell if she has gone "in blue" yet. So, can I soak her or wait?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Published on March 12, 2018

Soaking won't harm her at this point. A warm water bath for 15-20 minutes daily will be fine. Provide a bowl of fresh water in her enclosure at all times and increase humidity to about 65% while she is in shed.

2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on January 25, 2018
It is definitely good to soak them when they are having trouble shedding and it won't harm her. The advise of bathing in shallow/warm water is good. You can do this twice a day for 30 minutes at a time.

Having the humidity above 50% is good for normal circumstances, but for shedding, it should be around 60-65%; so see if you can increase the humidity for the time-being.

Handling her is OK right now. Just don't try to remove any of the shedding yourself.

For more information about general care, I recommend you check out the link below. This is a website that has good information and comes highly recommended by a reptile specialist that I know.

http://www.anapsid.org/ball.html

I hope that helps and all is well with Reaper.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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