Clumsy, Blind? Normal?

Good information here. Thank you.

Defensive strikes, that makes sense. That's what it looked like, now that I'm thinking about him purposely missing. Yes, Slithers is stressed. He's a classroom pet. The class is busy, noisy at times, and every kid wants to hold him. They rarely get to hold him because he seems stressed. He lives in his hide, sleeping. When I take him home for the summer, or breaks, he seems much more pleasant. He still sleeps a lot, but comes out in the evenings to stretch out on his branches, under the heat light. I don't think he likes the noise and busyness of my classroom at all. It's unfortunate. The kids are teaching everyone about snakes and debunking myths right and left. I may have to keep him home next year.

Humidity is always a problem here in Northern California. I keep it up to around 40% by soaking his branches - then they dry under the heat light. Without this, the humidity is closer to 10%. The temperature is about 79 on the water dish side, and 85 on the hide side. Inside the hide, it's warmer, about 90. I have a digital thermometer under the substrate under his hide; an analog thermostat/humidity gauge on the high wall on the water dish side, and a digital thermometer/humidity gauge on the floor in the front of the cool side. He knocks all of these off/over when he's out and about looking for food.

He rarely drinks (that I've seen) and never soaks in his water dish. He had two perfect sheds over the summer last year, then two terrible sheds in a row when school started again. I took him home for some rest and he had a so-so shed.

I don't know the weights of the snake and the rat. I can weigh them soon, but I don't think I'll pick Slithers up for a few days.

As of now, I have a rat in a covered box with a hide of his own, and a snake in his terrarium.

Im sure now that youve posted about the husbandry someone with far more knowledge will come along and give their opinion. It sounds like your temps are a little off. Also, you dont mention a second hide. They should have a 2nd one located on the cooler side of the tank. Especially if hes stressed - they will sacrifice temp regulation for seclusion. Your humidity is also low. That could be your problem with the sheds. You could try some damp moss within your hides or a damp towel on top, but keep enough open for airflow. Perhaps using different heating methods rather than lights would help the humidity.

I am currently dealing with a defensive BP myself. My guy eats though...he just doesnt like us! Good Luck!

My solution for now is that I brought Slithers home. He was so much more comfortable as soon as we came in the house. He stretched out and hung out with my husband and me.

I found a pet shop to take the rat back. They said he would be unlikely to eat that rat now, after all the stress with it. I also got some advice about the terrarium. I put a second hide in there (cpodraza, good call), put a tiny water dish inside one of the hides to humidify it, changed to cypress substrate, and moved the light so it shines next to (not right onto) the warm side hide.

I think the first and biggest change is being home. Is it possible he really likes being here that much more? I think maybe.

At the moment, humidity is 67%. It is about 73° everywhere because I just set the terrarium up. I'll check in a little while to see what each side is.