Reptile & Amphibian Forums

this is my first BP, and right now it is going through its first shed, since i`ve had it, and i was just curious is it okay to feed while its sheding? cause today is the day i normally feed. any replies would help, thanks.

well, i know that in general you're supposed to leave ur bp to itself while its shedding. but that really depends on how far along it is. is its belly just turning pink?..is its eyes already foggy?...or has he already started the actual process...if he has started the actual process it should only take a few days, in which it will not harm it to wait 2 or 3 days to eat.
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"Let The Herse Take Me To Church"
"I'll Die Before I Go"

Many Ball Pythons will refuse food during a shed cycle, some will eat during. There is nothing wrong with feeding during a shed, if your BP will eat. Just be extra watchful, because they don't see as well as normal when they are shedding, and it may have a hard time aiming and hitting the prey item the first time. You don't want the prey item to get scared and start attacking your BP if the first strike misses. This is assuming you are feeding live.

>>this is my first BP, and right now it is going through its first shed, since i`ve had it, and i was just curious is it okay to feed while its sheding? cause today is the day i normally feed. any replies would help, thanks.

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Randy
www.ball-pythons.net

I second this opinion

Although a snake may take a meal during shed, In My Opinion, the snake should be left alone to complete its shed, thus reducing stress. A shed may take from 7-10 days. If you have it on a regular feeding schedule, missing a couple of meals isn't going to harm the snake and may allow it to feel more secure not being handled.

Check out this URL
http://www.supersnakes.com/tips1.htm

Shedding & Food Don't Mix
Don't offer a pet snake food, especially a live rodent, when its skin and eyes are clouding, prior to shedding. Wait until the skin shedding is complete even though the clouding may have gone away. Once a snake's skin goes from cloudy to almost normal looking, it will normally shed its skin within a few days. Most snakes won't eat during their shedding cycle anyway, so it's best to just wait until the old skin has been completely shed before you offer food to your pet snake.

Also, refrain from handling your pet if it's in the pre-shed, "cloudy" period because it will be more nervous than usual. You should provide access to extra moisture and keep the snake's stress level as low as possible during this time. If you mistakenly offer your snake a meal during its shedding cycle and it does eat, that's not a problem. Just leave the snake alone to digest the meal and finish its shed cycle, and it should be fine.

i'd say they're pretty good first snakes i myself got a bp as my first snake. Now I'd definitly advise getting a corn snake first they are just as calm as bps they're just easyier to keep in my opinion. Bp's can be very picky eaters at the best of times and it can be very frustrating. Corns have very easy husbandry requirements and another plus is that the many different morphs aren't very expensive unlike Bp's. What ever you choose just make sure to read up on the snake you choose and have its home set up and running for a couple of days.

Good luck and have fun with your new snake

its for the guy who asked if a bp's a good first snake

but more than likely she won't take it. molting should only last a couple of days though, so your cycle won't get knocked too far off.