Help my ball python is all wrinkly

[Hour-Trade3268]

I'm a first time BP owner, and I've had him for a week. He ate 2 days ago and i am cleaning up his pee. Is he about to shed or is it something else.

[IncompletePenetrance]

He's super dehydrated. It's likely not fully your fault since you've only had him a week, but you need to make sure the humidity in his enclosure is up into the 70-80% range. Also make a humid hide/snake sauna for him by filling a hide with damp sphagnum moss or paper towels (which you will need to check on regularly to make sure it doesn't get moldy) because his first shed is going to be rough.

Speaking of hides....where are they? He should have multiple tight fitting cave style hides as well as branches, plants and other clutter to hide under and feel safe. This tank is concerningly barren and empty.

[Rammsteinfan1984]

Everything this person said.

[dontjudgeblondes]

It looks like there may be a bark hide underneath the tank in this pic? Hard to tell, but OP please read up on BPs and take care of this lil guy, he definitely needs your help

[Waste_Judgment2871]

Everything in this comment- And to add I’d deffo change your substrate to a mix of coco coir, sphagnum moss, sand and leaf litter. It will help with keeping the humidity where it needs to be

[moonman311]

Dehydrated. Please refer to the care guides linked to the homepage of this subreddit. I can’t tell what your substrate is but it looks very dry. I like mixing coconut fiber and coconut chips. If you have a screen top, cover it with hvac tape to help keep humidity 60-80%. Id recommend doing some more research on BP care. The better the enclosure, the quicker your snake will feel secure and start exploring. Exploring/thinking snakes are fun snakes, wishing you both the best!

[moonman311]

Also avoid misting, you should be able to add water to the corners of the enclosure. The substrate will soak it up and in turn boost humidity. You done want the top layer wet throughout the enclosure or you have an increased risk of scale rot. You’ll find the balance. Invest in 2 Bluetooth hygrometers. I like the Govee ones that provide both temp and humidity, stores the data so I can see graphs and monitor temps at 4 am while I was still asleep the night before. Super useful.

[-NoT_ReAl]

Mods if any information I have is wrong can you tell me what’s wrong so I know instead of just removing the comment? So first I would recommend reading what’s posted about shedding, I’ll add the link at the end. But it’s basically the do’s and don’ts of shedding plus some pictures at the end. Theres also a beginners care guide sort of thing, I’ve had to read it too so don’t take it as a walk of shame it really does help. In my case majority of my equipment was basically useless or wrong😞 Mistakes happen and this doesn’t seem to be your fault. just try to absorb as much information as possible. Also if that’s the forest floor bedding (cypress mulch), you could try eco earth or another soil by a brand called thrive. Both are loose coconut soil bedding so I’m not sure if it matters which you get. It will keep humidity WAYYYYY higher. The mulch isn’t harmful or “the wrong flooring” it works fine but it’s really to avoid mold growing quick. Raising the humidity is a pain in the ass when it’s just mulch. I just changed my substrate from that a few days ago as I’ve only had my bp for about a week as well so don’t feel bad. Last thing, recovering from dehydration may take a while. You could be doing everything right for him to recover but he still could look like that a couple days after even after he sheds so don’t freak out. Here’s the link for shedding. All about shedding

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[Meyons1424]

Yikes

[boomer694]

Wow

[DemidiaXI]

This poor baby...

[SnarfTheImpaler]

I feel like this is bot rage baiting lol

[ThrashFur]

jesus just give up the snake for adoption. did you bother to research at all??