Feeding while shedding

**EL Ziggy** · 08-06-13, 03:47 PM

Hello all, I asked this question in the Lampropeltis section but didn't get much response so I thought I'd ask again. I was wondering if snakes can have a hard time eating larger prey while shedding. My MBK only ate half her fuzzy last week and left the other half uneaten. Neither of my snakes have ever done this before. I've just recently moved her up from pinkies and she's eaten fuzzys 2-3 times before. The only thing I could think of was her skin wasn't stretching enough to get it down. And she started tail end first. This ever happen to anyone else?

Lankyrob · 08-06-13, 04:19 PM

I only ever had one "issue" with my jungle carpet, he was due to shed and ate a large rat, as he stretched the shed split on his head/neck. He went on to eat normally that rat and he shed the next day, tho the shed was in a couple of pieces.

**EL Ziggy** · 08-06-13, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

I only ever had one "issue" with my jungle carpet, he was due to shed and ate a large rat, as he stretched the shed split on his head/neck. He went on to eat normally that rat and he shed the next day, tho the shed was in a couple of pieces.

Thanks Rob, this one has me a little perplexed. Its like she ripped it in half and left parts uneaten. Never seen or heard of that happening before. She's in deep blue right now and I've decided to wait until after she sheds to offer food again. Is it possible the fuzzy was to large and she just ate what she could? I could move her back to pinkies but they dont leave a bulge in her at all and I believe they have minimal nutritional value. I'll see how her next feeding goes and take it from there I guess.

Starbuck · 08-06-13, 09:28 PM

some of my snakes just arent that food motivated, and i could see them accidentaly ripping a prey item in half and only finishing what was in their mouths. I would offer a fuzzy again as per your schedule and see what happens this time. She could have been too visually impaired during shed to feel comfortable searching out the other portion of the prey.

in either case i wouldnt worry too much about it.

slowhite03 · 08-06-13, 10:03 PM

I personally dont like to feed during shed, they dont feed in the wild when they shed. So i dont bother to try feeding them only to make my life easier.

snakeman879 · 08-07-13, 12:41 PM

I second the above I never feed my snake when she in shed and always wait a day or two after

**EL Ziggy** · 08-07-13, 01:27 PM

I've always fed my kingsnakes when they were in shed and never had any issues until this last time. She's due for a feed tomorrow but I will wait until she's done shedding this time. I definitely don't want a repeat of her last half feed.

slowhite03 · 08-07-13, 02:27 PM

And what exactly happenend?

**EL Ziggy** · 08-07-13, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowhite03

And what exactly happenend?

My MBK only ate half her fuzzy last week and left the other half uneaten.

drumcrush · 08-10-13, 05:41 PM

My mbk won't eat during shed, so I just bother to even try when it comes to that time. and mine eats tail first a lot haha

SSSSnakes · 08-10-13, 08:25 PM

How does a snake only eat half their fuzzy and leave the other half uneaten? It either has to eat all the fuzzy or spit it out and eat non of the fuzzy. Unless you are cutting the fuzzy in half for them. I know I'm missing something here. Please explain.

Starbuck · 08-10-13, 10:10 PM

ive had one of my snakes almost rip one of his small mice in half before; he constricted while biting it, and pulled the end in his mouth away from the coils (king snake) and tore it open. I think its more of an issue with smaller prey items which are soaked prior to feeding.

Additionally, the last time i bought bulk frozen jumbo mice form an expo; they all had large lacerations on their throat (???) i guess the guy cut them to kill them? :/ my larger snake has popped the heads off a few of those as well.

SSSSnakes · 08-11-13, 04:14 AM

[QUOTE=Starbuck;862982]ive had one of my snakes almost rip one of his small mice in half before; he constricted while biting it, and pulled the end in his mouth away from the coils (king snake) and tore it open. I think its more of an issue with smaller prey items which are soaked prior to feeding.

Additionally, the last time i bought bulk frozen jumbo mice form an expo; they all had large lacerations on their throat (???) i guess the guy cut them to kill them? :/ my larger snake has popped the heads off a few of those as well.[/QUOTE

Thanks for the answer. I have never had that happen to me in the 33 years I have kept snakes. You learn something new every day.

KORBIN5895 · 08-11-13, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowhite03

, they dont feed in the wild when they shed.

Can you show me where you found this as this is the first I have heard of it.

The only snakes I have heard of dismembering their prey was Kim's Shelby.

SSSSnakes · 08-11-13, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

Can you show me where you found this as this is the first I have heard of it.

The only snakes I have heard of dismembering their prey was Kim's Shelby.

Any snake that is willing to take food in captivity when it is in shed, will also take food in the wild if the prey is found.