Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My speckled king has been less active than usual and today when I look at him i can see that his belly is a pale white. It almost looks like its glazed over. His eyes are not blue like when he is going to shed, but he hasn't shed in a while. Please Advise.

Sounds like your King is either going into the blue, or coming out of it. Sometimes I miss the blue eyes, but can tell by the dull coloration when the snakes are going to shed. I don't feed anybody during this time.
-----
Diego

Diego & Tiffany's Zoo:
SNAKES
3.4 Corn Snakes (Different morphs)
1.0.0 Boa Constrictor
0.1.0 Dumeril's Boa
1.1.0 Rosy Boas (Mexican & Mid Baja)
1.1.0 Kenyan Sand Boas
0.1.0 Indonesian Dwarf Pacific Boa
0.1.0 Tangerine Honduran Milksnake
1.0.0 Honduran Milksnake
0.1.0 Pueblan Milksnake
1.2.0 Ball Pythons
1.0.0 Woma Python
1.1.0 Cape York Spotted Pythons
1.1.0 Macklot's Pythons
0.0.1 Ribbon Snake
1.0.0 Western Hognose
1.0.0 Albino San Diego Gopher Snake
0.0.1 Sonoran Gopher Snake
0.1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
1.1.0 Gray Banded Kingsnakes (River Road)
0.1.0 Desert Kingsnake
0.1.1 California Kingsnakes
1.0.0 Yellowtail Cribo
0.1.0 Blacktail Cribo

LIZARDS
1.0.0 Frilled Dragon
3.1.0 Bearded Dragons (2 Normal, 1 RedXGold, 1 Citrus)
0.1.0 Eastern Collared Lizard
0.1.0 Merauke Blue Tongue Skink
2.3.0 Leopard Geckos
1.1.0 Yellow Niger Uromastyx
1.1.0 Green Anoles
FROGS
2.2.0 Southern Bell Frogs
1.0.1 Green Tree Frogs
0.0.2 Striped Walking Frogs
1.1.1 White's Tree Frogs

>>Sounds like your King is either going into the blue, or coming out of it. Sometimes I miss the blue eyes, but can tell by the dull coloration when the snakes are going to shed. I don't feed anybody during this time.

Roger That!

Some things I have observed when my snakes get "The Blues":
- Soaking in the waterbowl
- Grumpy (already grumpy snakes get downright mean)
- Head looks swelled up/puffy
- Skin looks dull and waxy
- Colors look pale/faded
- Pattern looks dull/faded
- Eyes loose sparkle
- Breathing may sound wheezy
- Prowling around restlessly
- Yawning a lot
- Acting uncomfortable - like their skin is on to tight LOL It is!

After awhile you will be experienced enough to know when this happens.

A few more things:
- Try not to handle a snake in blue - the new skin is sensitive and vulnerable.
- Watch for difficult sheds, this can be a sign of poor health or husbandry.
- Always check the shed skin to be sure both spectacles are there. If not your snake may have a retained spectacle. This is a condition that is not immediately threatening, but should be addressed promptly.

Good Luck,

John D.

-----
I am so not lesdysxic!

0.1 Creamsicle Cornsake "Yolanda"
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake "Steely Dan"
0.1 Desert Kingsnake "FATTY"