Bad shed? Bad attitude; Hissing.

[Rue]

Rue started his shed about a week and a half ago. I noticed his belly was pink, when it hit his feeding day I went and got him a small rat instead of a giant rat. He ate it that night with absolutely no problem. The next morning his eyes went grey and the morning after blue (couldn't see into his eyes) Today i noticed his eyes are back to normal, I was very surprised to see his because.... no shed found anywhere in his cage... also, just yesterday his eyes were blue. It doesn't look like he has any stuck shed though he does have some loose scales. The lines where the different skin meets is very noticeable. ALSO rue has been a perfect little angel, he's been hissing at for about the last week. Whenever I need to change his water (yes, i know when his eyes are blue his vision is poor) I didn't think much of it, I would change is water, stir up his dirt and than get outta dodge. Though today with his eyes back to normal, when i go to get him so he can stretch he hisses. Multiple times. He still hasn't struck at me (ever) Once i hold him, he's alright with me and acts normal. Maybe he's just trying to train me with his hissy fits. When my boyfriend goes to hold him.. absolutely no hissing. (we are educated and BOTH hold him properly) I'm worried about whatever happened with his shed, and his little tude he has going on. Help please!

[Sauzo]

He will shed in a couple days. Snakes go into blue which the blue is actually fluid between their old skin and the new skin. That is why a lot of people advice not to handle them during this time or misting them down as some people say it will actually mess up their shed. Once they come out of blue, that is the time to raise humidity or mist them as the next stage in a couple days is them actually shedding the old skin. He probably is pissy because of shedding. Imagine your whole body itching and stuff, I imagine that whats they go through. My big BCI girl gets cranky during shed and will spend almost the whole time in her hide which is usually the only time she goes into her hide for any extended amount of time.

[HVani]

Yeah he's still in shed so I would just leave him alone.

The ONLY time my boa is hissy is when he is in shed. He is super cranky. Once he sheds he's back to his normal self. Mine is a sunglow so the only way I know he is in shed is he turns pink. Once he seems to be normal color again it takes a few days for him to shed. I swear boas take forever to finally shed lol. Maybe it's just because I can notice it so early on Cy.

Anyway keep an eye out for a shed. My boa's sheds are not always the easiest to find. They are usually bunched up like a sock somewhere. Once I fine it, he gets to eat and all goes back to normal.

[Sauzo]

I usually find the sheds under them. They curl up on top of it inside their hide.

[JoshSloane]

Totally normal. Some of my boas get aggressive both before and after the shed. It really is an ordeal for them and it takes them some time to get over IMO. As long as humidity is correct nature will take its course. If you are ever worried about enough humidity you can add a humid hide box to the enclosure when you notice the snake is in blue. Although boas don't need ultra high humidity, having a place to get wet for a day or two during shed makes the process seamless. It seems like you are attuned to her needs. Don't get sold on any shed aid products, its all junk. Correct enclosure conditions are all that you need. However, I have noticed that some snakes are "better" at shedding than others. I have one boa that no matter the humidity just can't shed in one piece. It all comes off in one try, but it is patchy. Just like any other pet they have their own idiosyncrasies.

You're doing well, keep it up.

[Albert Clark]

Imo, if he is in a shed cycle I would just leave him alone and worry about the water another time. If I know he is in a shed and in his hide I certainly wouldn't pull him or lift him out of his hide. I think that's what he's saying when he hisses. He would like some privacy.

[JoshSloane]

Yeah. No need to disturb. Water can sit a few days.

[Rue]

Thank you everyone! Rue's not very dull in his coloring anymore. Other than the one time he soaked in his water bowl for over a day, he hasn't been in his water bowl since. Also, last night he starting to be very active. Climbing all over his branches, from side to side of his tank, and his famous lay straight up against the glass. He also did his second favorite thing, limbo. Rue loves to stick up in the air straight as an arrow and slowly do the limbo (bending backwards) until he gets unsteady and they does it all over again. When he was in blue, he was in his hide for days. Since his eyes returned to normal, he's the same ol adventurous rue. I clearly need to do more research on typical boa behavior/shed process. Thank you so much for all your advice!