Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How often should my rat snake be shedding. He seems to be eating pretty well. When I got him he was eating just 2 fuzzies. I have him up to 4 every week now for 4 weeks. I have had him since June 24 and aside from shedding the day I brought him home, he hasn't shed again yet. Do you think I have done something wrong? Or is he sick? I'm starting to get worried.

If your rat snake can eat two fuzzies at a time, or even 4 at a time, it's time to increase the size of your prey item. Try feeding a hopper mouse (or rat fuzzy) or even a weaned mouse. I am not sure what a bubblegum rat snake is....so can't give more advice. For most rat snakes/corn snakes feeding a mouse or rat about 1.5 times the girth of the thickest part of the snake is the right size to feed. (girth of rat/mouse being 1.5 times the girth of the snake)

So is it that i'm not stretching him out enough? When he eats the fuzzies he get a pretty decent sized bulge in him. Last week I fed him a pretty large fuzzie and 2 regular sized one and he wouldn't touch the third. Also are ratsnakes known to burrow?

Most colurbrids are fine with a feeding once every 5-7 days. One or two appropriate sized prey items each feeding is enough. Too many feedings tend to cause improper digestion, chance of reguritation and growing the snake too fast which can cause problems later in life. Obesity can also occur if fed too much.

Basically, it isn't good to stuff your snake all the time. If after a month or so of feeding yours as heavily as you are he doesn't shed at all, I would take in a stool sample for a fecal to make sure he isn't full of parasites.

Maybe I am misunderstanding you when you say feeding as much as 4 fuzzies a week, I am assuming you are feeding 2 or 4 at a time, every week or do you space it out by 3-4 days between feedings?

I feed Frank 4 fuzzies at one sitting once a week. Last week he only took 3 of them..the first one was quite big compared to the others. I hope he's not sick. I guess I better find a vet then.

I beleive your original question was about shedding. Well that can vary quite a bit from snake to snake. On AVERAGE snakes that are under a year can tend to shed about once a month. After that it usually, steadily gets less frequent.

It can also be more frequent if there was an injury or a big stress of some sort. If a snake has been bitten by a mouse or burned, their bodies seem to speed up the shed cycle a bit.

As far as the feeding goes I COMPLETELY agree with everyone else. I don't think I'd jump to the conclusion that your snake might be sick or you should take it to the vet, but just feed it more APPROPRIATELY. Ie. ONE prey item about 1 1/2 times the girth of the snake once weekly. You will know it's the right size if you can feel a slight to medium sized bulge after you feed. If it's ridiculously obvious from sight, then you may be feeding a little too big!

Good luck
Rebecca