Reptile & Amphibian Forums

have had 5 month old western for about two weeks, eyes and underside have turned milky... im guessing this is probably a precursor to shedding but ive never seen her drink.. even when i put her face near the water just to make sure she knows its there {and this freaks me out}, lightly sprayed the tank in hopes its just her shedding. eyes and underside have been milky for a few days... how long after this happens should they start to actually shed??? and the drinking thing?? kinda worried.

thanks alot, much appreciated!

Hognoses are very peculiar animals. It seems that what we know about other NA snakes don't hold true for Heterodon. They take longer than others to shed. You expect the shedding to take up to another week. Drinking? There have been lots of reports on this forum of not seeing hognoses drink, myself included. I think they are very incognito butdrink often. If you deprive them of water for a few days, and put it back in, they will drink with fervor.
Bottom line is that your hognose is probably doing fine.
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"The irrational fear of snakes is the only excuse a grown man has... to act like a complete sissy" - Colchicine

It sounds to me like your snake is shedding.. she will stay "milky" for a few days, then she will clear up and a couple/few days later she will shed out..

On the drinking thing... If your snake is thirsty i am 100% certain she will drink.. Provide a water bowl and do not concern yourself with seeing her drink or sticking her head in the water to show her where it is.. Like I said, if she is thirsty she will find the water and take a drink.

~ Mike Russo

I have caught my hogs drinking but never as often as my chondros and alterna (all I keep for now).

Bart