Feeding KSB During Shed

tastybeets · 06-06-16, 04:07 PM

If anyone has advice or can assure me that I'm feeding properly, I'd greatly appreciate it!

Thursday was Alan's first scheduled feeding with me. His shed started in earnest just a few days earlier. Both Thurs and Sun when I attempted feedings after dark, he struck, but later abandoned the pinkie (f/t).

Thursday: His head was poking out of the substrate waiting. After striking, I placed him in open-lid tupperware still in his tub where he started to constrict. He abandoned it very shortly after.

Sunday: I cleared some substrate by his head and lowered the pinkie, he followed it for a couple minutes then struck. I left him in situ. He maintained a hold for 10 minutes without constricting before abandoning the pinkie.

I did read somewhere another keeper's KSBs would also strike and abandon mice during shed. Should I expect to just hold off on feeding him until his shed is completed or continue trying?

If you need this info:
Alan is around 8 or 9 inches.
He's on shredded aspen in an 18qt locking lid Sterilite tub with a Ultratherm UTH thermometer at 93F to 96F on the hot spot.
Low humidity, but I don't have a % available.
Small bowl of water always available opposite of the UTH.

CK SandBoas · 06-06-16, 04:11 PM

Most of my Kenyans will not eat during a shed cycle, so I usually wait until they shed to offer them food again. your temps on the hot spot are spot on...I keep mine between 92-95 degrees. Your setup is perfect, there is nothing I would change

tastybeets · 06-06-16, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CK SandBoas

Most of my Kenyans will not eat during a shed cycle, so I usually wait until they shed to offer them food again. your temps on the hot spot are spot on...I keep mine between 92-95 degrees. Your setup is perfect, there is nothing I would change

Thank you! That's super relieving to hear. I have to ask, do you have anything in your setup or do you suggest anything like a log to assist in shedding? I based my set up on a handful of youtube videos and Google image search results and no one seemed to offer anything aside from bedding and water.

CK SandBoas · 06-06-16, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tastybeets

Thank you! That's super relieving to hear. I have to ask, do you have anything in your setup or do you suggest anything like a log to assist in shedding? I based my set up on a handful of youtube videos and Google image search results and no one seemed to offer anything aside from bedding and water.

Most of my Kenyans shed fine without the aid of anything, but I will sometimes put in a humid hide ( a deli cup half filled with damp sphagnum moss) in the tub with the snake if I notice they're having a tough shed( meaning it's coming off in pieces, not in one complete piece).

tastybeets · 06-06-16, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CK SandBoas

Most of my Kenyans shed fine without the aid of anything, but I will sometimes put in a humid hide ( a deli cup half filled with damp sphagnum moss) in the tub with the snake if I notice they're having a tough shed( meaning it's coming off in pieces, not in one complete piece).

Perfect! I know what to look for now. Thanks!

CK SandBoas · 06-06-16, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tastybeets

Perfect! I know what to look for now. Thanks!

You are very welcome! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask

**Andy_G** · 06-06-16, 04:22 PM

It's a bit more difficult for a snake to shed with a full belly. A great rule of thumb is to not feed anything in shed, but it certainly wouldn't cause major issues of any kind if you did.