This was taken from the Transcript's from a Ball Python Video on www.reptilestv.com
From Reptiles TV's Senior Herpetologist Ron Dupont:
And remember, when the go into ecdysis, or snake shedding, approximately every seven weeks they lose their appetite. Some snakes will eat but it's dangerous, the powerful chemical that lifts the outer layer from the inner layer has a property to it that if the skin rips and it comes out, when it comes into the atmosphere it burns the snake real bad. Enough of a burn the snake could die. So we don't usually feed them if you see the eye clouding, or blueing up or greying up, then we leave the snake alone, and it takes about 12 or 13, or 14 days, depending on temperature and then the skin comes off. And when the skin comes off, and when the skin comes off then the snake is hungry again."
I have never heard that feeding during a shed was dangerous. Has anyone else heard of this and is there a resource on the web that explains the process in detail. I just thought this was interesting. What are your thoughts?