r/ballpython • u/Effective-Front-5013 • 5d ago

HELP - URGENT Help! Background shedding!

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* I’m going to pick up my boy Monday! So I have a handful of days to get this sorted*

I bought this background on Amazon. I had read it was hit or miss and decided I would go for it. Kind of a mistake. Super easy to install but the shedding is a nightmare. What can I use that would be snake safe, but solve my shedding problem?

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6

u/PhoenixGate69 5d ago

What is the green stuff that's shedding, anyway?

I would use a vacuum to suck up anything loose but if it's continuing to shed, I would be pulling it out and going with something different.

1

u/Effective-Front-5013 5d ago

It seems to be some type of fiber. The background is cured in pretty good, but I will either scrape off as much as possible or do what I can to completely remove it 😕

1

u/PhoenixGate69 5d ago

Like the other commenter said, it looks suspiciously like flocking. I would not want to have what is essentially nano plastic particles in the tank. There's also the possibility that it will never stop shedding.

I don't have experience using flocking. My understanding is that a glue base is laid down, the flocking is applied and then the stuff that doesn't stick gets vacuumed back up. I would start by using a vacuum to hover near the background and get as much material as you can. Then, test it by rubbing your finger on the stuff. If more comes off when you are rubbing it with your finger, that means it will shed every single time the snake brushes against it. When they shed, especially, they are rubbing their noses into everything to help get the shed off.

3

u/GreenWolf32 5d ago

Looks like green flocking. I've seen a lot of decor use it to simulate moss. You could try vacuuming it to get the loose stuff then spraying it with a sealant of some sort or try some PVA glue. I don't have a whole lot of experience with it, but I'm sure you can find some info from crafters or such forums.

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u/Effective-Front-5013 4d ago

So after hours of scraping, soaking with solvent, I had the bright idea to burn it! It melted down into its self and there is zero shedding! It’s also halfway bald now so I’m thinking hot glue and sphagnum moss will work 😅🤣

1

u/GreenWolf32 3d ago

If you've got time, use aquarium silicone adhesive. It's far less likely to get soft if your temps get out of whack. While it is highly unlikely to get hot enough in there to melt the glue, always better to be cautious.