Sometimes ball pythons undergo a poor shed and the old skin is not shed in one complete piece. A small patch of skin or even the entire skin may remain attached. This skin will appear white and flaky.

An incomplete shed is a good indication that something is wrong. Most often the underlying problem is that the enclosure is too dry. This can be easily remedied by increasing the ambient humidity in the enclosure or the room in which the snake is kept (especially when it enters a shed cycle). Other causes of an incomplete shed include: an active snake rubbing its face and nose area on rough objects, elevated temperatures, and illness. Now a poor shed is not a definite indicator that your ball python is sick so don’t freak out if your snake has a poor shed. I would take a good look at the husbandry practices and enclosure conditions before even contemplating illness when trying to correct poor shedding.

Aside from not being pretty, small patches of retained shed don’t pose a health risk and can be left until the next time the animal sheds. If the snake has retained skin covering most of its body (especially the head and/or eyes) or if you are the keeper that just can’t stand to see your snake with retained shed, there are a few options. Small patches of retained skin can be peeled or rubbed off. If the retained skin covers most of the body or the head, soak the snake in water or give the snake a humidity box. When “soaking” a snake, I set up an empty container and pour in some room temperature water. I usually add a clean towel as well – it soaks up some water and gives the snake something to rub against. Then I slide the container back into its space on the rack. A few hours later and the job is usually done.

Preventative measures are all centered on increasing ambient or localized humidity: adding a humidifier to the room, misting during shedding, or giving the snake a humidity chamber during shedding. I keep most of my subadult and adult balls on cypress mulch. While I am cleaning enclosures and replacing water, I dump the “old” water right onto and in the animal’s hide boxes. The mulch holds the water nicely and doesn’t get sopping wet. I do this once a week for almost all my snakes. Remember – don’t go overboard, too much humidity can be just as bad as too little.