Am i doing this right? help please!

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

I've asked and haven't gotten a response so maybe I worded it weird. I'm almost sure Blaze is fixing to shed, his red is almost black now so I made a little moist hide out of a Rubbermaid bowl with hole in the lid with moist white paper towels. I put it half way between the hot and cool side cause that's the only place I could put it. He's in there now. Was that the right thing to do?

[pdomensis]

I'm sure what you've got will be fine. The only suggestion I might make is that the hole could go on the side so moisture doesn't escape out the top, but it probably won't make much difference. Most colubrids typically don't have a huge humidity requirement and usually pull off good sheds without any trouble. Your Sinaloan is from a very arid region, so its even more likely that he'll do fine without much special attention.

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

Thanks, this is the first shed and I want it to go smoothly. I didn't even think to put the hole in the side lol. The lid was the easiest place.

[Obsidian_Dragon]

I've seen a lot of people put holes in the lids!

I put mine in the side, but I'm not even sure if my little bugger used it at all.

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

Mines in there now! He's asleep in there is that OK?

[Cmwells90]

Yea that's fine, as long as he has a place with less humidity, he'll move around as he sees fit.

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

Oh yeah his tank isn't nearly as humid as the Tupperware bowl, I just didn't want him getting sick or something staying in there too long lol like a kid in a sauna. Lol.

[nazanova]

I wouldn't worry about him shedding, My corn only ever had his water dish and his 2 hides and still had a perfect shed.

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

Funny thing though is he won't go in his water dish, like they say they do near shedding time that's why i made the moist hide. He's actually going in there at least.

[Cmwells90]

They'll only go in the water if they need to, I wouldn't assume that by him not going into the water the humidity is too low. But too much humidity can cause a respretory infection, so be careful.

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

Ok so how long should I keep the moist hide in there? I don't want him getting a respiratory infection.

[Obsidian_Dragon]

I left mine in there until he actually shed. It didn't seem to actually bring the humidity up much to the enclosure as a whole for me--if it hasn't for you, I wouldn't worry about it.

Also I never caught mine in the water dish either, although his is a little small for a true dip.

[Cmwells90]

Ok so how long should I keep the moist hide in there? I don't want him getting a respiratory infection.

I wouldn't worry about an RI too much, if he's in there then he enjoys the high humidity and needs it and he'll leave when he's ready. Otherwise I say just remove it after the shed.

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

Ok thanks a bunch he's half in half out right now but I woke him up taking a picture lol and no its not raising the humidity in my tank unless its like 2% lol

[Teal]

You are such an awesome new snake mom! lol.

You'll have to post up post-shed pictures!

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

You are such an awesome new snake mom! lol.

You'll have to post up post-shed pictures!

I'm a Mom you think I would really forget the firsts photos? Lol ;)

[CosmicOwl]

I don't think you have much to worry about. Colubrids generally aren't going to need extra humidity for shedding.

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

Blaze still hasn't shed but Now he's all covered it a whiteish film and being extremely lethargic so I'm thinking this is the final really gross stage of shedding. I can't wait til this is over so I can have my happy little adventurer back! I have sever insomnia and love watching him explore his enclosure, since the shedding started he stopped playing and now he barely moves much at all. But I guess if you can't see well you wouldn't want to move much either, wish I could help! :(

[SnoopySnake]

Don't be alarmed if you don't find his skin as soon as he looks normal again-He'll look normal for a couple days and then he'll shed. :)

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

OK thanks. This is a new to me, he's being extremely lethargic and that was freaking me out but then I Google it and calmed a bit. Every time I get used to him doing his thing he starts doing something new! Then in October I have to get frogs for the 9 yr old and start all over with another animal!

[Aaron_S]

OK thanks. This is a new to me, he's being extremely lethargic and that was freaking me out but then I Google it and calmed a bit. Every time I get used to him doing his thing he starts doing something new! Then in October I have to get frogs for the 9 yr old and start all over with another animal!

Ooohhh! Get some monkey tree frogs! Some of the most bad *** amphibians out there.

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

I'll have to Google that one, so far she's wanting American green tree frogs cause they change from green to brown and can stick to the glass lol

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

Blaze it more active, eyes were blue yesterday and back to normal today, he's in his moist box today and was very upset I was looking for a shed skin this morning. I didn't find one, I don't I missed a nearly 2ft long skin so I guess he still hasn't shed! :(

Does it usually take this long or am I just overly observant to my snakes body?

[Mikoh4792]

He will probably shed within a few days. Snakes take some time after they come down from the "blue" phase of the shedding process.

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

When should I offer him food again? Saturday marked a week, he hasn't really shown any signs of being hungry. Today he's acting normal again but I don't want waste food either.

[nazanova]

When should I offer him food again? Saturday marked a week, he hasn't really shown any signs of being hungry. Today he's acting normal again but I don't want waste food either.

I'd say feed him as soon as. My Corn eats during preshed and will eat after as soon as I offer it to him, I normally wait 5 days after they've shed then feed but that's just me.

[EL Ziggy]

When should I offer him food again? Saturday marked a week, he hasn't really shown any signs of being hungry. Today he's acting normal again but I don't want waste food either.

All of my snakes eat during shed with no issues. You can take a chance and stick with his normal feeding schedule but it won't hurt to wait if you choose to. At least you'll know going forward whether or not he'll eat during the shed process.

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

We remove him from his enclosure to feed him because my 5 yr old does the feeding (its her snake so its her job) we don't want her little hands in such a close space. Its a side open tank, so removing him is easier on us. Yes, I'm aware it may cause added stress on the snake but its her job to care for her pet! Its easier for us to monitor her with him in a smaller feeding tank with her as well. Now if we could get her stop licking him! (Just kidding she's only licked the snake once!)

[Mikoh4792]

Yes, I'm aware it may cause added stress on the snake but its her job to care for her pet!

If you are aware that it may cause added stress why do you do it? There really is no need to use a separate feeding enclosure. Just drop it in the tank and let the snake do it's thing. i would invest in some tongs or forceps so she doesn't need to feed the snake from her hands.

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

I didn't think of that, they like watching. He doesn't seem stressed. He seems to enjoy his feeding times actually. I meant it can cause stress. I'm not sure he would find the mouse in the enclosure now that we've been doing it this way. Either way my husband is dead set on feeding outside his tank. There's no changing his mind on that one, he's one stubborn male! I love him to death but he's stubborn. We do let Blaze ease his way into his tank on his own after feedings so we're not shaking him up though. I can only do so much! I know if he were a larger snake he would let us feed in the enclosure but as long as he's small he'll continue to take him out. This I can't control! It's not worth fighting over! No offence to you or anyone else but I pick my marriage battles carefully and how to feed the snake is way down on my list of arguable issues.

[Mikoh4792]

I didn't think of that, they like watching. He doesn't seem stressed. He seems to enjoy his feeding times actually. I meant it can cause stress. I'm not sure he would find the mouse in the enclosure now that we've been doing it this way. Either way my husband is dead set on feeding outside his tank. There's no changing his mind on that one, he's one stubborn male! I love him to death but he's stubborn. We do let Blaze ease his way into his tank on his own after feedings so we're not shaking him up though. I can only do so much! I know if he were a larger snake he would let us feed in the enclosure but as long as he's small he'll continue to take him out. This I can't control! It's not worth fighting over! No offence to you or anyone else but I pick my marriage battles carefully and how to feed the snake is way down on my list of arguable issues.

Alright, if that's something he's stubborn about I guess not much can be done.

[Aaron_S]

...I'm not sure he would find the mouse in the enclosure now that we've been doing it this way....

Don't underestimate natural born instinct in a predator.

My baby ball pythons hatch and within 2 weeks of life are hunting and killing prey without ever being shown how or what to do. They just KNOW what's food and what to do with it.

I have always fed my snakes F/T but I am confident if I threw a live rat in with one of them that they would instantly know what to do and do it.

Your snake would have no issue finding the prey item so if your husband is ever open to the idea don't worry about the snakes hunting abilities.

[Mikoh4792]

^ I agree. If your husband does change his mind you can either dangle it near the snake using forceps or drop it in near the snake. It will eventually find the food item. That's what it has it's tongue for! People leave the food item in the enclosure all the time for snakes who don't strike the prey item. The food usually disappears by morning.

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

OK I'll remember that and if I notice any boredom in process, I'll give the other option ;)

[Aaron_S]

OK I'll remember that and if I notice any boredom in process, I'll give the other option ;)

How long after feeding do you wait to put the snake back in the normal enclosure?

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

10-15 min or so we wait until the bulge is a good ways down his body. Or until he tries repeatedly to escape the feeding tub. We never do it right away. We at least give it some time to settle in the lower part of his stomach.

[Aaron_S]

10-15 min or so we wait until the bulge is a good ways down his body. Or until he tries repeatedly to escape the feeding tub. We never do it right away. We at least give it some time to settle in the lower part of his stomach.

I'm not concerned about where the food item is really.

What I am concerned about is "feed mode". Snakes don't necessarily snap out of it right away. The scent is probably still in that bin and if the snake is so inclined it could easily take a bite out of your daughter. He won't do any physical harm to her but it certainly could make her more shy or out right afraid of the snake.

Just be really careful.

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

Oh she doesn't do the returning part and we clean the feeding tub after ever feed. Trust me I am very careful with my kids! As weird as that sounds coming from someone who let's a 5 yr old feed a snake. She didn't do the first one and she's monitored very closely. She's the tougher out of my two my biggest fear is if she ever gets bit she's gonna bite back! That is after all why she licked him! Yes, she licked the snake! I laughed for an hour! I asked her why and she just said "He licked me first!" 5 yr old logic what can you say!

[EL Ziggy]

I'm not concerned about where the food item is really.

What I am concerned about is "feed mode". Snakes don't necessarily snap out of it right away. The scent is probably still in that bin and if the snake is so inclined it could easily take a bite out of your daughter. He won't do any physical harm to her but it certainly could make her more shy or out right afraid of the snake.

Just be really careful.

I know what you mean on this one Aaron. My kings are in a pretty aggressive feed mode sometimes up to an hour after they've eaten. I definitely wouldn't want to try moving or handling them during this time. That's just asking for trouble. Before I joined this forum I was feeding in a separate bin and I remember them being ready to strike at anything once I opened the lid to their feeding bin. Things are so much simpler now that I can just offer the prey on tongs or just drop it in the enclosure and let the snakes do their thing. I've learned so much here :)

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

Right now he's pretty calm when he eats, barely strikes and just eats them. If he gets more aggressive then my husband might be easier to convince. If he keeps to they way he eats now though its not gonna change. My husband calls him a certain that I can't post on here because I'm sure they violate the profanity rules (people tend to call cats this).

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

Blaze didn't show much interest in the mouse tonight he was much more interested in the "snake" on the outside of the tub, he could see his own reflection.... either that or he was rubbing his nose against the side of the tub trying to break loose his skin to shed? Either way I talked my husband into letting me leave a mouse in the tank on a plastic lid for a bit ;) but Blaze is still ignoring it!

[Mikoh4792]

He won't eat it right away, especially if Blaze is young. They are shy creatures.

Leave it near Blaze when you turn the lights off and go to sleep. Then check back next morning and it should be gone.

[Aaron_S]

Blaze didn't show much interest in the mouse tonight he was much more interested in the "snake" on the outside of the tub, he could see his own reflection.... either that or he was rubbing his nose against the side of the tub trying to break loose his skin to shed? Either way I talked my husband into letting me leave a mouse in the tank on a plastic lid for a bit ;) but Blaze is still ignoring it!

Some snakes eat in shed, some do not. Usually right before a shed, as Blaze seems to be, they do not.

He may have shed last night then ate though.

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

Still no shed, mouse untouched! Stubborn snake! It definatitely belongs to my youngest daughter! Now my oldest doesn't want frogs she want a snake too! A "tree" snake (one that likes to climb a lot) now I have to do more research! Hey wait a min! I could post a thread! Lol

[Obsidian_Dragon]

Mine wouldn't eat while in blue, but did eat the next week, when his eyes had cleared up just pre-shed. But if my King is anything, it's a greedy gut.

Blaze might just want to wait until that tiiiight skin is off, I guess. :)

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

We have shed!!!!!!!! Hurray!!

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

Pics as promised!
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b544/aimiscrazy/IMG_20140814_195333_521_zpsaedgafoj.jpg (http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/aimiscrazy/media/IMG_20140814_195333_521_zpsaedgafoj.jpg.html)
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b544/aimiscrazy/IMG_20140814_195324_195_zpsmydpfj76.jpg (http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/aimiscrazy/media/IMG_20140814_195324_195_zpsmydpfj76.jpg.html)
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b544/aimiscrazy/IMG_20140814_195426_901_zpscekgm8jw.jpg (http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/aimiscrazy/media/IMG_20140814_195426_901_zpscekgm8jw.jpg.html)

[EL Ziggy]

Congrats on the successful first shed Amy. Blaze looks great in his new suit ;).

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

thanks now I need to work on his video game addiction. Lol He always watches us play video games!

[sharthun]

Congrats on the successful first shed Amy. Blaze looks great in his new suit ;).

I second that!

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

Thanks y'all