Shedding = Less active herp?

[Zerohour]

Hi all,

This is my first post here (well my second) I posted something earlier. in an exsisting tread...but got no answers.

Both my Ball Python & my Surinam Red Tail Boa are (I'm guessing in their sheeding process) milky eyes, pale skin....

I have notice a extreme lose of activity in them. They no longer wonder around at night in their enclosure Though the Boa is faily new, I took him home on Sunday.....I checked the temperatures they look fine and the humidity is between 60-70%

They just rarely move. They chage positions...but that's it.

Is this normal?

Thanks for your input on that.

A worried father

[tigerlily]

Completely normal.

[Spaniard]

Perfectly normal. Don't expect them out much at all. Shed is very stressful for them and it makes them feel vulnerable so thats why you will notice a drop in activity. After their eyes go from blue to clear they should shed within a few days.

[brainman1000]

Best thing to do is just leave them alone until you see a shed in there. They probably won't want to eat either.

[Zerohour]

Yes, I figured they wouldnt eat. I hope the have normal sheds...

[Zerohour]

Holy...

I came back from school today at 9PM they didnt move a single millimeter since I left this morning at 8AM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This cant be normal!!?????

They have moved their heads sure but common! same spot all day??

The Ball stayed in his log....
The Boa Next to his water bowl on the cool side of the tank....

Common someone tell they stay that innactive during the shedding process, because I cant believe it!

[tigerlily]

Mine will stay in their hides for about a week. It's a very typical reaction. I don't even see them drink. It's a bit disconcerting, but REALLY normal for a shed.

[daniel1983]

They do stay very very inactive during shed time. Reptiles generally move around less during shed time due to the fact that they would be at risk if in their natural environment at this time. Why would a partically blinded animal risk exposing itself to preditors?

Also, without you watching them nonstop, how do you know that they did not move about and then return to the same resting position? I have thought that one of my ball pythons did not move for over a week(not even during shed).....the only reason that I knew the snake moved was because the substrate was shifted a bit and the entrance to the other hide was facing the opposite direction

Your snakes are normal...no worries

[joepythons]

They are unable to see whats going on around them,so instinct is to stay put.They are fine

[jason221]

Just like everyone says, it's normal. My corn snake's been burrowed in the same spot next to the glass for about two days. He's usually trying to escape at night, and has succeeded twice (but I got one of those 20 long critter cages, so escape's impossible now), so he's definitely very different in shed. He's also a lot more apprehensive if I need to move him.