shedding behavior

[lilyskip]

When your snakes are in a shed, what do they act like? Huxley's eyes turned blue a few days ago (they're still a bit opaque, although not blue so much) and he's been hiding since then. I know about the whole feeling-vulnerable-because-he-can't-really-see thing, but I just wanted to make sure that it's normal behavior for snakes that are going to shed to be less active than usual. His temps are good.

[Yve]

they are less active and tend to hide during most of the cycle...i don't bother to feed mine either....although there's nothing wrong with that...but i think if they're hiding and not hunting why not just leave them be.....when I first started keeping snakes I did try to feed them during the shed cycle but found that they would often times refuse or strike and miss. Shed period varies as well....I found that my bcc would take a couple of weeks and my ball python would shed shortly after his eyes cleared up, about a week. Just keep the humidity around 80% and you'll get a good shed!;)

[Andy_G]

They are less active because they cannot see.

[MontyPython]

No, they are less active cause they are a ball python they are lazy all the time, at least mine is...

[Jazz6279]

Its completely normal for a change in behaviour around shedding time. They do feel more vulnerable and so prefer to hide and keep away from any danger, therefore making them less active from what they normally are. All ball's are different so if you have one that is normally quite lazy (like montyPythons) then your not going to see a huge difference in their behaviour unlike you would with one that is more active.
Fiona.

[lilyskip]

WoooHooo! I just noticed that he took off his head-skin! I'm so ready for this friggin shed period to be OVER.

[lilyskip]

...with BOTH the eyecaps!! YEAH humidity!

[sapphire_moon]

Congrats lilyskip! I know it's a relief when both eyecaps come off! :)

[Invictus]

Pretty much every species of snake we keep become very immobile and placid when they are in shed. It's one of the only times we can handle our blue beauties without getting bitten! :)

[marisa]

Agreed. Mostly all my snakes are hiding for the entire shed cycle, especially my Ball Python. She never ever even peeks a look out of her hide during shed. My corns will all happily eat, bite, cruise the cage, etc when in shed but my kingsnakes all take a hiatus and stop feeding and start hiding during this time.

pretty normal. Yay for the good shed! :D

Marisa

[Jeff_Favelle]

WoooHooo! I just noticed that he took off his head-skin! I'm so ready for this friggin shed period to be OVER.

I've never seen anyone get so excited over a shed cycle, LOL! What do you do when they eat? Backflips? :D

[daver676]

Yeah, my bp is very inactive during her shed. She just prefered to stay in her hide pretty much the whole time. The day after she shed, she was cruising around again. She cruises around so much, sometimes I think that the only time she rests is when she is in shed!

From the opaque eyes to full shed only took about a week.

Dave

[mykee]

I don't know why people get so excited when their snakes shed either in one piece, or if their eye caps come off. It's just a snake doing what snakes do best; being a snake.

[imp_star]

I guess when it's your first time actually seeing a snake shed for the first time in your care..especially when you're still new to the hobby..then it gets exciting..that's just what I think..cuz that's how i felt when for the first time, i saw a snake shed..

[anders_240sx]

I feel the same ..I am waiting for my bp to complete her first shed ... it is exciting the first time ... cause u wanna make sure everything about it is ok

[MontyPython]

Mykee and Jeff prolly have millions of thousands of snakes so they can't really appreciate them like someone who only owns one or 2. No offense, that's just how I see it cause I know I get excited when i see my ball shedding perfectly...

[lilyskip]

Originally posted by Jeff_Favelle
I've never seen anyone get so excited over a shed cycle, LOL! What do you do when they eat? Backflips? :D

Hehe, yeah, this was the first time i'd ever seen a snake shed before. I was also worried that he might not shed well and that i'd have to rub his eyecaps with something or something like that...shedding is definitely a pretty exciting thing if you haven't seen it a million times! :D

And yeah, I do jump around the room when he eats. ::chuckle::

[sapphire_moon]

I know the feeling. Especially if you have a snake that refuses to eat......

[lilyskip]

i hear ya. huxley's been on a roll so far with feeding ::knock wood:: although I can't wait till I get him on rats. he's still kinda scrawny now, but he should be ready very very soon.

even with all the problems they can give us, i just love this species, though! ;)

[mykee]

Monty, with regards to your last comment, I'm going to take the liberty to speak for Jeff and myself when I tell you that a good shed is nothing to party over. A good shed should happen EVERY SINGLE TIME your snake sheds if you husbandry is correct. Now, if you are all excited over a good shed, maybe it isn't happening all that often. That should be something to worry about. If your snake doesn't shed perfectly every or almost every single time, it's your fault and consequentlt your job, as a responsible snake owner, to find the error in your husbandry.
"Mykee and Jeff prolly have millions of thousands of snakes so they can't really appreciate them like someone who only has one or 2." Firstly, owning that many snakes would be an impossibility. Secondly, it has nothing to do with how many snakes you own, it's how well you take care of the one's you do. And lastly, owning more snakes would actually show a GREATER appreciation of snakes than someone who owns just one or two. Don't 'cha think?
BTW; Lilyskip, congrats, hope you enjoy perfect shedding success.

[lilyskip]

thanks for the congrats :D

I think that when we say we're excited about a good shed, most of that excitement comes from knowing that we're keeping our snakes well. especially for people like me who are really new to the hobby (NOBODY in my family has ever kept a snake, and most of them hate them!) it's really comforting to see that we're doing things right. ;)

[Yve]

Mykee, a PERFECT shed and a GOOD shed are not the same....really...both are good...but when the shed is like a sock with no holes in it....thats pretty cool....;)

[MontyPython]

Yeah, that's where the excitement for me comes from, knowing that my temps and humidity is right so my ball has a perfect shed every time he sheds. When I first got my ball, the first time he shed it came off in pieces so after that I made sure that the humidity was were it was supposed to be everyday. The second time he shed it still came off in pieces, but they were much larger pieces than before. Well, I guess third times a charm cause when he shed the 3rd time it came off all in one piece. It has been coming off in one piece ever since.

Again, no offense to either of you guys, cause I am just a nobody that owns one ball python...

[mykee]

Hey Monty, if you own one BP or 100 BP's, your opinion and what you have to say is as important as anyone elses.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Hehe, yeah, this was the first time i'd ever seen a snake shed before.


I hear ya Lilyskip! I think the reason that its so fascinating is that its so radically different than any process that we have. I guess that's what maybe also draws us to snakes as "pets" in the first place. The fact that they are so different and so perfect and so unique. Ha ha, I had no idea it was your first one. Trust me when I say that they get pretty boring over time. Well, unless its a pre-lay shed, post ovulation shed, or a sale animal that you need pictures of!! LOL!

So now you must post pics now that your snake is all fresh and new!! Its the LAW around here! :D