What addition is suggested as an insurance layer for hydration during shed cycles for very mature snakes?

Adding warm, damp sphagnum moss to a humid hide.

Maintaining proper hydration becomes slightly more challenging for very mature Ball Pythons, potentially due to less efficient metabolisms or reduced mobility, making complete shedding difficult. To provide an added safety measure, especially during the ecdysis process, a helpful practice involves increasing localized moisture. This is achieved by introducing warm, damp sphagnum moss directly into the snake's humid hide. This targeted environmental boost helps ensure the skin remains adequately softened, acting as an insurance layer against retained shed or compromised skin that could otherwise cause issues for an older reptile whose system might not be as resilient as a younger animal's.