3Q's and a pic (hopefully)

[ekkieangel]

Hi I was wondering how long I should wait until I handle my snake after it eats? Everyone says you should wait but there are no real amounts saying how long.

I was also wondering how long after shedding?

I just got my baby and I want to feed him twice a week so he grows faster. If I do this will it be harder to get him back down to one once he gets some meat on him?

What does everyone think of the pic? That's my little Scallion, isn't he too cute?...I think it worked...I hope...

Thanks

[ekkieangel]

Grrrr how do I do pics? I tried to attach it.

*edit*
He he. NM it finally worked

[Davey312]

It's suggested that you wait 48 hours after they eat.. some wait longer.. but minimum is 48 hours.. and i dont suggest you feed your snake twice a week... you should wait at least 5 days between every feeding any sooner and the snake will probably regurgitate. Really nice looking snake, good luck with it.

Davey

[Tim_Cranwill]

Feeding twice a week is fine as long the temperatures he has access to are adequate. If you're going to feed twice a week, I would also say you should feed slightly smaller meals though.

As for handling after feeding, I would wait a day or two or until the lump is completely gone before bugging him. You can handle them 2.5 minutes after they shed. :)

[Davey312]

i dont wanna contradict you tim... but its ok to feed a snake that often? wouldn't it regurgitate? because at one point it would only have 3 days between meals... not trying to argue.. just curious.

Davey

[Tim_Cranwill]

If it's kept at room temp it might regurge but if it has a hot spot of about 87F, it should be fine. It's definitely pushing it, but it's possible. I would recommend every 5 days if you want to accelerate its growth though. You sort of have two options, feed less food more often, or feed more food less often. A mixture of both options isn't the best plan though.

I don't feed on a regular schedule. Some meals might be 3 days apart others might be 10. Some meals might be a bit large while others are a bit small. My snakes seem to grow rather quickly even though I don't "cram the biggest meal down their throats at every chance". I think variety is a good thing.

Snakes can handle quite a bit of food, be it by size or frequency. But whether they "should" be given as much as they can handle is another issue. There are lots of factors to consider.

Better safe than sorry, of course. :)

[Davey312]

OK, cool. i hadnt really noticed that you said to downsize the food item if you feed more often.. makes more sence now it'll digest easier .. thanks for taking the time to explain it to me

Davey

[Tim_Cranwill]

Not a problem, man. :)

[ekkieangel]

Originally posted by Tim_Cranwill
You can handle them 2.5 minutes after they shed. :)

I was always told you had to wait longer to hold them after they shed.

[mark129er]

I leave mine alone after they go blue. They are quite blind when they are blue and can be stressed or bite you. But once they crawl out of the old skin they are fine to be handled.

[ekkieangel]

Oh wow pet stores are full of liars (oh wait I already knew that lol) Thanks :)

[YoungBuck]

Beauty of a snake though~! Looks like my baby JCP

[arampapik]

Hi, how you guys doing.
Brand new to these forums here.
I saw that someone posted that snakes get blind before they shed, if i read that correctly?
I was handling my snake a few weeks ago, and i saw that his eyes were a total different color. I guess that is they're 'blue' phase before shedding. And then he shed, and everything went back to normal. At first i tought there was something wrong with my snake, but then i forgot about it, but now i know its normal?

aram

[HeatherRose]

Not so much 'go blind' as 'can't see' through the eyecaps (the clear coating over the eye that sheds off).

It's completely normal.