Handling or feeding during shed

new2herp01 · 10-09-09, 09:34 AM

So I've been looking on the forum and I can't find anything on handling or Feeding during shed. My BP's shed is going to fall on her feeding day or close to it. Should I go ahead and feed or wait? Any advice would be great

Will0W783 · 10-09-09, 10:10 AM

You can try to feed her, but she likely won't eat. Most snakes don't want to eat during their shed cycle, but are voracious afterwards. I have a few that do eat no matter what- my female superdwarf retic and my female GTP- pretty much nothing puts them off feed, but the vast majority of snakes will not eat while they are clouded up. Also generally handling during shed is not recommended. The snake cannot see very well and you may end up with a bite, and it stresses them out unnecessarily. If you feed her live, you can try, but if you feed f/t I wouldnt bother thawing one out for her until she's shed, because more than likely she wont' take it and then you'll have just wasted a food item.

new2herp01 · 10-09-09, 12:00 PM

K awesome thanks!

Chu'Wuti · 10-09-09, 04:56 PM

From what I've heard from other BP keepers and from my own experience, BPs generally don't like to eat during a shed cycle. They can't see all that well, which makes it difficult to strike accurately, and BPs seem to be more sensitive to that deficiency. During shed, they really just like to hide all of the time. In addition, they become somewhat nervous, or perhaps it would be better to say extra-cautious, and trying to feed live might be stressful due to the snake's natural fear that it's prey could become the predator.

The first time I tried feeding mine during a shed, he struck several times, always missing, and then refused to try again. The second time I tried, he smelled and moved away, clearly not interested in even trying. So, as Kimberly suggests, it's better to wait.

Just keep an eye out for the shed. When you see the shed, that's the day to thaw out a nice-sized prey item!

mykee · 10-10-09, 09:58 AM

I've found over the years that it's about 50% that will eat during a shed. That said, maybe you should ease up on the "strictness" of your feeding schedule, which will allow you to not stress about a shed being on a feeding day. There are so many more important things to worry about with ball pythons, this ain't one of 'em.
Good luck.