I often find myself wondering, as I’m sure you do too: How often do ball pythons lose their skin? I did some research, and this is what I found.
How often do ball pythons shed? Ball Pythons shed their skin every 4-6 weeks depending on their age. The younger the snake, the faster it will shed its skin. A ball python shedding is tied to its own growth rate. Whereas ball pythons shed their skin at a rate fairly consistent with this rate at the one that changes with age.
Ball Pythons often shed because they originate in humid locations. A lot of science and evolution comes into play when it comes to getting rid of that old skin.
How often do ball pythons shed?
Generally, the fastest a juvenile snake loses its skin is around 30 days. Adolescence is the age of the maximum growth of the ball python. Also, adolescence is the time during which the skin will shed more quickly.
As the snake ages and its growth rate slows, the skin sheds less frequently. Skin shedding rests between 45-60 days between each shed.
Ball pythons reach full maturity in 3-5 years, so after that benchmark, the ball python should be shedding its skin less often.
As the ball python sheds, it will start to act differently. It’s important to understand the signs that a ball python is going to lose its skin. Also, how long that process takes.
Also, it is important to help your ball python in case it has a problem in its shedding process.
Signs a ball python is going to the shed
Ball Python will display two categories of signals when it is entering its molting process: physical and behavioral molting signals.
Physical Signs
The physical signs are what can be seen literally changing in the ball python. These clues are much easier to identify and much safer, as the difference in behavior can cause your snake to act unpredictably.
Generally, their stomach will turn pink, their skin will appear much duller in color, and they will then go into the process of “going blue” where the snake’s eyes will appear dull or blue. This is all a healthy part of the snake’s shedding process, as even the snake’s eyelids need to shed their skin.
These signs can be difficult to notice if you are not vigilant, as even the “go blue” stage is only visible from certain angles and will eventually revert to its natural black color before shedding. If you suspect that your snake is going to molt soon, inspect it twice a day, looking for discoloration of the snake’s skin or the effect of blue eyes.
Behavioral Signs
Behavioral signs are changes in your snake’s actions or attitude only based on the extra energy the snake is putting into the molting process.
Think of it like changing clothes. Everyone acts differently when someone is picking on them while they change clothes. Behavioral changes are specific to snakes, so there are no general answers in this category.
It is important to help your ball python in case it has a problem in its molting process.
Generally, the ball python will lose its appetite and will want to be left alone longer. However, the reason these changes are so difficult to identify in regards to weight loss is because of how many factors could be causing these behaviors.
These behaviors are behaviors that are found to other factors that are lacking. That are too cold, that they feel lonely or that they are going through a pregnancy. So try to use behavioral changes along with physical changes to determine when it will fade. If you do, you will be able to pinpoint quite well when they are entering their next moving process.
What is the Ball Python shedding timeline?
The peeling process begins long before any peeling occurs.
For two weeks before shedding begins, ball pythons can start to act differently. This is because they know their molt is coming and they are preparing for it.
As shedding begins, there are multiple stages in the process. The most significant of which(the snake actually peels the old skin off its body) happens incredibly quickly.
During the first day or two of the shedding process, you can notice that the snake’s belly is turning pinker. Its skin will also get duller. These are the first physical signs that shedding is approaching. This is a fairly subtle process. It may take a while for you to notice that this process is happening.
Days 3-7 are when you can begin to see the real color change of the impending skin loss. The snake’s eyes will be blue, also known as the “go blue” stage of skin loss. Although this is the most noticeable stage in the molting process, it’s quite difficult to perceive if you aren’t carefully observing them.
Days 7-10 are some of the hardest to identify. At this point, your ball python has its skin ready to be shed and generally retains its color. Potentially they could even get a darker color from this process.
On days 10-12 the shedding finally takes place. The ball pythons will rub against a rock or branch of some kind to add friction to the skin shedding process. This happens pretty quickly after all the preparation that the snake puts on it. Their skin sheds off quickly and can be easily overlooked if you aren’t paying close attention.
What is the behavior of a ball python during molting?
Ball pythons will act differently due to their shedding. Although each python is different, it is important to note the similar behavioral change characteristic that some of them have, as they will help you know how to handle a ball python during its molting process.
By Nneirda
The first thing to consider is the loss of appetite. If your ball python is not finding anything interesting to eat than it could be missing its appetite. Watch them carefully to see if they are showing any physical signs of loss of appetite, as loss of appetite can also be caused by other things. But in general, it is best not to leave food for your ball python if you know it is going to be losing its appetite.
One of the reasons ball pythons avoid eating during the shedding process is because of their weakened vision which is caused by shedding of the skin on their eyelids.
In addition to loss of appetite, ball pythons are known to be more aggressive when they are losing their appetite. Therefore, you should avoid playing or moving your ball python during the shedding process, as this can lead to a more extreme reaction than normal.
Detachment problems and what to do
The proper shedding of a ball python will be a long shedding of skin.
This does not always happen; Your snake’s skin may be shed in part or in part it may not shed completely during that shedding process. If your ball python is having shedding problems, it’s probably because it’s in too dry an environment. Snakes need moisture to shed their skin.
To help with this you can add a humidifier to the room the snake is in or you can place their water dish under whatever heat source you are using for them, this should keep the snake’s habitat more humid and help with the molting process.
If your snake is still having trouble shedding or has some of its skin still on it, you will want to soak it to remove the excess skin. You can do this by placing a bowl large enough for the snake to soak in water. The snake must take care of itself and dive into the water.
If this still doesn’t work, talk to a vet about commercial removal aid, which has proven helpful in combating removal problems.
Related questions
Is it painful for a ball python? It is generally not thought to be painful but rather irritable. It is uncomfortable and new for a snake to shed its skin. This is why they act so aggressively and don’t want to be touched. They are sensitive during the shedding process. Allowing your snake to soak in water has been shown to ease their irritability.
Why do ball pythons shed? Molting is a natural process in all snakes where they shed their outer skin. This process is used to help with the snake’s growth, so the snakes will shed more the faster they grow, as snakes shed much faster when they are young and in their youthful years.
