Rough Scale Python Hatchling Questions

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Trotin

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Hey guys, I got a little hatchling rough scale python a couple of weeks ago, she is 4 months old now. She has just gone through the first shed since I had her and honestly it wasn't great at all. She went blue and then about 7 days later I began to see the skin on her tail begin to peel. I left her alone for another week beyond that and only a little bit of shed had come off from the tail portion, it was as though she was shedding tail first. The click-clack I've had her in only had 8 holes in it (standard size from soldering iron), the warm side was reading in at 32 and the cooler is towards 26. There were beads of water constantly on the walls and top throughout the entire time.
Over the last few days, I've taken matters into my own hands as she was not progressing the shed at all so I've done a series of soaks both in a water bath and in a wet towel inside her enclosure. I have had to manually roll the shed off with a moistened thumb and essentially had to go backwards from that tail section towards her head (very carefully of course). I've gotten all the shed off so far literally to 1cm behind her head. I am unsure how to go at this stage as I got to that point last night, gave her a spray down at night, and in the morning. Soaked her when I got home and tried a bit more but the shed towards her head was not softening as well as behind (I assume because her head obviously isn't submerged in the water bath). I tried a feed today to see if she would eat and she wrapped a fuzzy several times but ended up dropping it each time.
Any tips on how to get the remaining shed off and if that is the most likely reason she keeps wrapping and dropping a meal? Thanks in advance for your knowledge!
 
I would have started at the lips to begin with, and if I was still going to bother at this point would do that now too. It's a lot more difficult to get the skin off backwards.

I'd be inclined to just let the snake slough properly next time and get the head skin off with the next slough.
 
IMO: 4 months is a very young python, and it's great that you care so much for it! I officially cannot offer any help, as my keeping and caring experience is limited...
You can always phone the Vet/s? Or reptile specialists?
Just following this conversation/question now, as I adore Morelia carinata (rough-scaled pythons).
You're very lucky to keep one, and I wish you well in your endeavours!
Quite honestly I am keeping and caring for a (Morelia) bredlii that has caused me stress over shedding, as she has been dry and relatively cage-bound (due to other obligations) but she is about full adult size, and also has a decent supply of clean water, branches and heat on due to temperature drops at night. I think on a fine day I will dedicate some time to allowing Mystic to free roam/range to not only help assist her circulation but give some serious exercise and mental stimulation. To assist low humidity (days) I mist her with water from snout to vent on a regular basis, and despite the latest slough being late, I am carrying on feeding Mystic~= 8 days.
Again IMO handling is a unique experience and you're managing the circumstance very well, great of you to own up and ask here.
Thanks, from Caitlin & co.
 
Let it have a crack a shedding first. If you're still stressing after that, get a warm, wet, cloth towel, and let it slide through your hand, applying a bit of pressure. Repeat process, until it's comfortably shed. After all the stress of you trying to peel it, maybe let it settle before trying to feed it. Cheers
 
And yes, often they won't feed until they have completely shed. There is lots of information about the shedding process in stickies and other Q&A posts.
Getting the temperatures and humidity is important, as well as giving your snake a large enough water bowl that it can sit in if needed, plus something hard to rub its nose on. As was mentioned, they start from the noise tip, get those pesky eye caps off, then usually go around in circles until it all comes off in one piece. If you need to help, using the wet cloth is great - again, going head first, then pushing firmly on them as they move forwards.
Good luck!
 

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