Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am new to owning a ball python. My ball is getting ready to shed for the first time since I brought him home. I noticed that he's been secluding himself in his hide box more than normal.
Is it normal for a snake to stay hidden throughout it's shed cycle?
Also, will a snake that is in the process of shedding eat?

Ball pythons hide a lot in general, so yes, it's normal.

And yeah, he should eat after shedding.
-----
"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)

His hide box may have higher humidity which could help him shed...

my ball python will eat during his shedding cycle. However, a lot of the snakes I've worked with in the past, wouldn't.

Some of my snakes eat during the shed cycle, but I think that most snakes during the shed cycle get more reclusive and don't eat. They might feel more vulnerable...
-----
Neutiquam erro. Hostes alienigeni me abduxerunt.

Thanks everyone.
I grew worried when my snake was not exploring in the evening lie he has been. When I took him out to checked on him, I noticed his eyes and knew he was about to shed, so i've left him alone since and just make sure his enviroment stays warm and humid.
After reading about the recall on the frozen mice, I grew even more worried.

I believe with any snake that is going into shed they are going to be less active due to the fact they are more succeptible to being harmed or killed by predators. So I would say that your ball python is acting just the way it was meant to. As for the eating, it's a toss up on the eating. My experience with ball pythons not eating while in shed is 90% of the time eating and 10% eating. Maybe I was doing something wrong, but thats just my experience.