Do not handle?

Hi guys,

Why is it recommended not to handle or feed our bp's when they are about to shed? Just wondering...

Also, I just bought a 'snake cave'. It came with moss. Am I supposed to keep it moist? Is that the deal with it?

Thanks,
Melanie

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Originally Posted by SammysMom

Hi guys,

Why is it recommended not to handle or feed our bp's when they are about to shed? Just wondering...

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because that's when they get stressed easily.plus sometimes they get a bit snappy and dont want to be bothered.how would you like it if someone bothered you during your beauty sleep?:P

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Also, I just bought a 'snake cave'. It came with moss. Am I supposed to keep it moist? Is that the deal with it?

Thanks,
Melanie

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generally you want to mist the enclosure your BP is in when is it shedding. a "snake cave" is just one area and normally snakes go around their entire enclosure trying to shed.

I tend to leave mine alone unless I get a strong hankering for some snake. When they are blue they are kinda of blind from what I understand, so they are a bit more jumpy and bitey.

when they are in the blue stage of shed...they are blind and easily aggravated...you can try to handle, but they sense heat and may just bite because they can't see what is there.

I wouldnt feed while in shed. Like said they cant see very good. When i was younger i had a corn i left with my grandmother. Told her it was in shed i would be back in a week. I would feed it when i got back. Well she didnt listen or forgot. She gave it a small rat hopper. She left it alone. Well i came back in a week went to pick up the corn. Well she thought the corn ate the rat. A few days later she started to smell something went to check it. Found the rat running around. This is like 4 or 5 days later. Well the snake couldnt see, the rat got hungry. Most of the corns head was gone. So what have we learned class? Never feed while in shed and never leave any snakes with your grandmother to take care of.

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Originally Posted by ama1997

I wouldnt feed while in shed. Like said they cant see very good. When i was younger i had a corn i left with my grandmother. Told her it was in shed i would be back in a week. I would feed it when i got back. Well she didnt listen or forgot. She gave it a small rat hopper. She left it alone. Well i came back in a week went to pick up the corn. Well she thought the corn ate the rat. A few days later she started to smell something went to check it. Found the rat running around. This is like 4 or 5 days later. Well the snake couldnt see, the rat got hungry. Most of the corns head was gone. So what have we learned class? Never feed while in shed and never leave any snakes with your grandmother to take care of.

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I'm impressed you even got the snake in your Grandmas house, let alone a mouse. She even tried to feed it for you. Big props to your Grandma. I wouldn't have been able to get in her house with either one. Sorry about the snake though.

This was years ago, but still sucked. My grandmother loves them. For about 2 years I kept my balls at her place. I couldnt have 20 some snakes where i lived. I just told her no feeding or messing with them when i wasnt there. Grandmother will be 70 in December. I just sold all my corns. I kept one big albino and its at her place now. She takes it out all the time. Freaks people out when they come over and shes has the snake out. She doesnt feed it. I have to go over but thats cool. i did have a bad dream while my balls where at her place. The dream was i went over to take care of the snakes. I walked in something smelled really good. She was cooking something. I went in and she was on the last ball python. My biggest female had it on a cutting board and just. Well thats as far as im going with that. I woke up yelling and freaking out. About 2 am i called her to make sure she didnt just butcher all my snakes.

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Originally Posted by ama1997

Never feed while in shed

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The majority of mine will eat while in shed, it all depends on the individual snake.

Our snakes are offered food whether they are in shed or not. Some will eat, some will not....15 minutes is what they get to make that "decision" or the live prey comes back out and they get offered the next week. Remember ball pythons aren't known as sight hunters. They seem to use their extreme sense of smell and ability to detect even the slightest movement to zero on on a prey animal so I don't think that shedding makes them truly "blind". :)