Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My boys have bought snakes. I'm reading everything I can get my hands on, to find that most information conflicts.
One of our cornsnakes has cloudy eyes. He was last fed a pinky on Friday (5 days ago) He has had cloudy eyes since MOnday. He is due to feed Friday. Do I feed him or not?? (and I am praying I do not get all different answers)

It doesn't matter if you feed him or not. The reason you get different answers is because there are different ways to succussfully keep reptiles. There is also individuality in reptiles - they do not all act the same way when facing with the exact same circumstances. All-to-often keepers want a "cook book" way of keeping animals. To some extent animals have their own personalities, free will, metabolic rates, degrees of shyness, etc. Therefore information you see in books makes for good guidelines, but it isn't Gospel.

As far as feeding your snakes, many will not eat while in a shed cycle. In the wild snakes in a shed cycle spend most of their time hiding, presumably because their impaired vision makes them feel insecure. Keepers usually don't feed their snakes during this time because their snakes will be less likely to eat. In addition, the old skin is particularly fragile at this time and if it rips due to being stretched (from eating a meal) then the new skin underneath it will be exposed before it is fully developed and this can cause problems.

Having said that, I know lots of people who feed their snakes while the reptiles are in shed cycles and they've never had any problems. I tend not to do so - I like to give the snakes the same natural "break" from eating that I think they'd take in the wild.

Tim

Third Eye

Well, I have owned many countless numbers of snakes for 43 years now, and I can tell you that many snakes will not eat while in their shed phase, while other individuals will with seemingly little to no hesitation. It makes absolutely NO difference whatsoever either way. If the snake will eat, let it eat, if it won't during this time, you will then know not to offer it food during a shed cycle, simple as that really. Live prey tends to scare many snakes while their eyes are blue since this process greatly impedes their vision. But even so, many refuse their typical frozen/thawed rodent at this time too, and can be very hesitant and reluctant to feed at this time, this is very typical of snakes at this time, but there can be many individual exceptions to this just the same..

Approx. 2-5 days AFTER the eyes totally clear up again after being blue, they will actually shed their skin, this depends on their activity level and is governed by several factors. So if the snake did not eat during it's shed cycle, it will certainly eat afterwards if the other conditions are still in order.

I always like to see snakes that will accept food in shed, otherwise, unless I have their cages knowingly marked as being in shed, and they end up NOT eating, it is a wasted meal, and basically has to be given to another snake. Although rodents can be refrozen once, it still degrades the integrity of the skin, especially the belly.

Anyway, it is no big deal either way, as they can easily go the short period until they do shed IF they do not accept food during this time anyway.

regards, ~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Just to echo what the other two have said, it does not really matter if you feed it this time or not. Thinking back to when I just had one or two snakes I preferred to just skip the feeding until they had shed because I didn't like wasting the $2 pinkie that wouldn't get used if it decided not to eat. Now that I have more than just a couple I get my pinkies cheap and I have other mouths that will eat it if one chooses not to.

I would do what is most cost efficient and convenient for you because from the snakes stand point it won't matter much either way.

-Thomas

A skipped meal won't be a problem for a snake either, so up to you if you want to offer food during the blue phase or at any point in the shed cycle. So waiting for the day after the snake completely sheds his skin, is fine.

Also, some snakes get right testy during the blue phase. I have one corn who gets down right testy when she's in blue. She will strike out to bite only, vibrates her tail vigorously and pretty much does everything she can to say 'leave me alone, I am cranky now'. Every other time she is docile and easily handled, except during her blue phase.

It is also a good idea to not handle the snake in the blue phase either, unless absolutely necessary. Especially if they get testy during this time.
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PHLdyPayne