Attempt to feed while in shed?

Just noticed my bp's eyes went blue last night and today is typical feeding day. Should I still attempt to feed him today? I'm sorry, I know that this has probably come up many times, but I looked everywhere for a thread and couldn't find one. I just hate to buy a mouse and then it not get eaten.

Do you feed live?

I feed f/t, and I personally don't offer during shed, I'll wait until they shed because I used to offer, and had too many wasted rats so I stopped. They are usually ravenous after shed and eat with no problem. Not sure about live, but it may be the same. Offer it, if he'she doesn't take it then wait until after they shed. Or not offer if you choose, whatever you feel like.

It is entirely up to you if you want to offer food while the snake is in shed. Just like LGray23 I do not offer food while my snakes are in shed because they usually won't eat.

I feed live, so I guess I could see if the pet store would take it back, that way I dont have to find a place to keep a mouse. He has been eating like a champ the past three weeks so I don't guess it woud hurt him to go without food for a week.

Just ask yourself what you would do with the rodent if the snake refused it. If you have a plan, and don't mind dealing with an uneaten rodent, then it can't hurt to try if you want to.

But...it also doesn't hurt to just skip it and wait until the shed is complete. Whatever you think will work best for you. :)

There is a slight risk involved of feeding during shed. The old skin layer (the one to be shed) looses some elasticity and during the actual shed it can get hung up on the undigested prey item and that can cause all kinds of issues. It is super rare but has happened and has been documented. If you choose to try keep it small much smaller than a normal prey item and stick to early in the process rather than later. It is simpler just to skip.

I feed live because my girl just wasted f/t after f/t and I wasnt doing it anymore. My girl does eat live in shed though no problem. So your probably good to go but either way, its really just up to you.

P.S. Feed early in the shed cycle if you are to do it. Last time I fed in shed it was like 2 days before she shed and you could hear her shed cracking as she was eating the mouse. Mainly just the top half of her but it totally jacked up her shed and put it in pieces.

If the eyes are still milky mine won't eat. If they have cleared off and they are just waiting to shed mine will usually eat. I do try to avoid feeding while in shed though. Most of the time I skip feeding them that week and by the time the next week rolls around, WATCH OUT!

Do you guys handle your snakes while they are in shed? Or do you just leave them be?

Leave them be, why stress out a snake in shed if you don't need to? Your chances of getting bit are also increased during shed. I know my boa gets extra cranky when he's going through shed, he's albino so the only way to tell when he's going to shed is when he bites me :rolleyes:

It is best to leave them be and not handle while they are in shed - they tend to get pretty grumpy during a shed.

Another issue with feeding during the shed process is their eye caps make them unable to see very clearly. The very first time I tried feeding my normal girl, she striked wildly a few times but was unable to get the prey, and afterwards looked too embarassed to try to strike again. She was in blue at the time, but I only had her for a week so I really had no clue :confused: IMO listen to people on here, they know what theyre talkin bout :)

My normal female is in shed, dull color, eyes in blue but she's such a great eater. She handled her food last night like it was any other day. Since she couldn't see very well, I slowly moved the mouse up to her face so she could strike and be less likely to miss. Works for me for my snakes. I've always fed whether they were shedding or not. In fact, I think in all the time I've had my snakes I've only missed one scheduled feeding. They sure like to eat :) But all snakes are different, you can choose to try, or you can wait until they're done shedding.

I read in someone else's posting that snakes use actual eye sight as a last resort out of their senses during feeding. It's the heat pits first, Jacobson's organ second, then eye sight. I do not believe my food, or anyone else's food has been refused in the past because of the poor eye sight during shedding. I believe it is refused because they are cranky and uncomfortable, and just want to be left alone during this process.

I have offered food in the past, and have had snakes take the food offered during even deep blue, I simply don't anymore because the chances of being refused is higher during this period, and to me it's worth it to just wait a few days and feed once they are themselves again. Just wanted to clear all that up :)

I wait and feed as soon as I can see there eyes are normal again.

Lgrey is absolutely correct visual spectrum 'eye' sight isn't super critical. i have a one eyed snake and as long as the food is warm enough she will hit it. Blue eyes has little to do with it. To me the safety risk isn't worth trying at all.

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

There is a slight risk involved of feeding during shed. The old skin layer (the one to be shed) looses some elasticity and during the actual shed it can get hung up on the undigested prey item and that can cause all kinds of issues. It is super rare but has happened and has been documented. If you choose to try keep it small much smaller than a normal prey item and stick to early in the process rather than later. It is simpler just to skip.

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I never knew there was any risk involved that is good to know (even if only slight risk)

I feed live and my two BPs have never refused at any stage of shedding, even with blue eyes. However i may just wait till they shed from now on after reading some of these posts.

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Originally Posted by Ezekiel285

I never knew there was any risk involved that is good to know (even if only slight risk)

I feed live and my two BPs have never refused at any stage of shedding, even with blue eyes. However i may just wait till they shed from now on after reading some of these posts.

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Ditto 4 me

I always feed during shed just because Koga has never turned down a meal in the year I've had him.

It is slight but there is someone here (I can't recall whom now) needed to cut a shed off that was caught and bunched tight around a recent meal.

out of the current 23 only 2 will not eat if in shed. I still offer but:
1: i feed live
2: if its not eaten either someone else will eat it or it gets to live for another week in the rack:gj:

I only attempted to feed my Isabella during a shed once... I've noticed that rats will typically chew on a snake thinking they are in danger and it only ends up hurting the snake and then you have a rat that has hurt your family member and you have to torture it slowly until it dies for hurting your family member. Sad but ya know I protect my family with a vengeance, for you it might be different but, ya know...:snake::snake:

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Originally Posted by Natuandinali

I only attempted to feed my Isabella during a shed once... I've noticed that rats will typically chew on a snake thinking they are in danger and it only ends up hurting the snake and then you have a rat that has hurt your family member and you have to torture it slowly until it dies for hurting your family member. Sad but ya know I protect my family with a vengeance, for you it might be different but, ya know...:snake::snake:

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:confused::confused: yeah ummm no:confused::confused:
Have never had that happen...then again I keep a close eye on my snakes when feeding