Simon

[bigdave]

my royal python is shedding and i heard that giving baths helps, just wondering when to give the bath, is it when she clears up after the blue phase?  thanks for any help 

[ReptileMan27]

I have done it a few times in the past, just use a big enough plastic shoe box, fill it half full of warm water and put the snake in and the cover on. Leave the snake in their for 45 mins or so. I did it either right as they started to shed or if they have a few spots that they didnt get off, it helps loosen the skin up. Do you have a humid hide?, if not make one . I like to mist the cage good right before a shed, that helps raise the hummidity.

[Z Trip]

If the humidity is correct alraidy, you shouldnt have a problem. But raising it a little before the shed will help. I, never had a sheding problem.

[africancichlidau]

Yeah, let the animal shed itself and only bathe if it has trouble or needs assistance. By bathing the snake before it sheds you may not know if it was going to have trouble with the slough which is a sign of early dehydration. If your snake has trouble shedding THEN you can bathe and also help the dehydration problem too.

[Snakes Incorporated]

Don’t use hot or cold water but tempered water. Why not leave a basin containing water in the enclosure so if the animal chose to it will.

[little_chrissy]

u should already have a water suply big enuf for the snake to lie in in the tank but yes a luke warm bath is very gd for a snakes skin to help with sheddin or just to ensure they are clean i wud bath my reps regularly

[Autoshoty]

Nice info, I have to big mine a bath tonight because it still has some unshed skin from last night.

[Rickin]

  Great info noted with thanks !

[Laura R (FL)]

As for the timing issue...I think opinions will vary, but I have personally done both.  I have soaked a snake two days in a row at the first sign of ashiness right before the blue phase, and I have soaked after the blue phase.  It seemed to help both times, so I don't know if there is a hard and fast rule.  Like the others, I found a humid or wet hide worked best.  After the blue phase, I placed some wet paper towels loosely crumpled and put them in the hide.  As the snakes move around, it moistens the skin and it increases the overall humidity.  Mine drink water, but they do not seem to choose to soak.  Other encourage their snakes to soak by making a hide with a water bowl inside of it so the snake is 'forced' (not really, but you get the picture) to soak in its hide).