in shed questions

[jossh27]

For the past week and a bit my calking hasn't left its warm hide... I actually thought she was dead in there because she's usually quite active, especially when my son comes for his weekend stays and runs around smashing and banging everything in sight. i picked up the hide and noticed her eyes are milky and she's in "blue"? or shed mode. Is it normal for them to stay hidden for weeks on end when they ate in this stage? Today is feeding day and i don't really want to waste any mice if she's not going to come out to eat. Thoughts?

Also last feeding was small as the pet store didn't have large mice available, so she should be hungry

[Albert Clark]

Absolutely normal. They can stay dormant or inactive during the blue stage. No, I wouldn't feed her now or even anytime prior to her shed. She may be hungry but feeding while in shed can adversely affect the completion of the shed. Get a critter keeper for the mice until she is ready for them unless they were frozen thawed mice? Stay in peace and not pieces.

[prairiepanda]

The calking I used to have was always like that while in shed. Normally quite active, but would disappear for a couple weeks to prepare for shed. She may or may not take food, but I normally wouldn't bother offering any at this point just so it won't go to waste if she refuses, especially if she ate normally on her previous feeding day. She'll be fine for a couple weeks, and will gladly eat as soon as she sheds.

[EL Ziggy]

I've fed all of my snakes many times while they were in shed and they've always eaten with one exception. I've never had any issues with bad sheds. Some snakes will eat during shed and some won't. It doesn't hurt to feed them and it won't hurt to wait.

[jossh27]

Okay thanks everyone

[bigsnakegirl785]

Yup, hiding all the time is my most reliable method for determining a snake is in shed if they're normally active (without looking at them that is). They will begin hiding as soon as their cycle begins, and won't come out until they shed.

I've also had snakes accept food while in shed, but all of them were babies. My BCI no longer accepts food in shed. That said, I prefer to not feed them while in shed to give them time off food. They usually only take a week or two to shed, so it doesn't hurt them.

[jossh27]

she shed today while i was at work. happy to finally see her out of her cage in so long