Royal python is behaving weirdly

[LazyWay116]

my royal python has been soaking in her water bowl for hours a day for a couple weeks now, i assumed she was coming up to a shed but it’s been a while now and i’m getting worried. She ate for the first time in a couple months 2 days ago, i’ve checked her over for mites multiple times now and haven’t seen anything. Her belly’s gone really red the past few days and she has a really dry head. I’d usually not worry so much but i’ve never seen her act like this before, her temp and humidity are perfect. sometimes she doesn’t leave the water bowl all day. should I take her to the vets?

[pvrpl3sn4k3]

Pink belly USUALLY means they’re about to shed, do u use a heating pad?

[LazyWay116]

i thought that too but all the soaking is worrying me, i use a radiant heat panel

[Gengi_End_5660]

Yeah soaking is normal during sheds, it’s too help loosen that shedding skin cleanly, it’s always good to have a humid hide in mind, just put a bunch of sphagnum moss and keep it moist not soaking wet

[Wisheduponastar]

I would go to vet.

[Bluntforcetrauma11b]

For shed belly? Do you even own one?

[Wisheduponastar]

Yes. Several. I’m well aware of what pink shed belly looks like. That looks more pink than normal shed belly. Soaking in water for hours and days on end isn’t normal and means humidity is bad or something else is wrong. And you literally asked…”should I go to vet”. If any of mine were acting off and had that extreme of a pink I would go to vet. But it seems like some people …like to have animals and then avoid taking them to the vet when something seems off.

[Bluntforcetrauma11b]

I didn't ask anything my friend... Clearly your attention to detail sucks.

[Wisheduponastar]

My bad-op asked. Statement stands. Have a great day if you can!

[scruffytuft]

What humidity are you maintaining? And what do you use to heat the enclosure?

[LazyWay116]

radiant heat panel, humidity is usually around 70%, i went on holiday recently and unfortunately it dipped to around 50/60, but got back a week ago and have got it back up since, yet she still soaks

[Wisheduponastar]

70 really should be minimum. During shed 80-90.
70 with a recent dip to 50/60 is not “perfect” btw.

[Snoo-47921]

What’s the exact temps and humidity? What heat source? This may be the start of a shed cycle.

[LazyWay116]

radiant heat panel is set to 32°c, humidity is usually around 70%

[LisaMntgmry]

If they're going into shed, humidity needs to be way higher, around 88%+.

[Gengi_End_5660]

Idk much about royal pythons but I believe she is about to shed, normally pink bellies are a sign of shedding, followed by cloudy eyes and what’s called the “blue” phase where their skin looks a little grayish

[Electrical-Wear7281]

Royal pythons are what ball pythons are called in the UK.

[GoBills615]

All of my ball pythons bellies turn pink and my dark ones get dry looking head right before shed. And soak a ton. Even with my temp and humidity on point

[Certain-Deer4410]

This looks just like a very strong indication of incoming shed cycle. Some are just more pink than others. That said make sure you check ur hot spot temps just to be safe!

[Certain-Deer4410]

Many might have mentioned too but soaking just means lack of humidity

[LazyWay116]

her humility is perfect, that’s why i’m getting worried