Feed during shed?

Do you feed your snake when he/she is shedding? I've heard mixed opinions on this. Figured I would post on here.

I only feed my best feeders while they are in shed. I figure the snake knows when it can eat, so I just listen I my snakes :) a lot of mine refuse when they are in shed, though.


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If it's feeding day i offer if they are in shed or not. but i would say they eat in shed less then 50% the time.

It's more or less up to your previous experience. Some snakes will eat anything anytime and others won't eat if anything at all is out of the ordinary. It's all up to trial and error.

Some will eat some not. Just remember there is a slight risk involved. To me risk with out gain is not worth it.


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I didn't think I would be the only straight NO. I have had to many refuse during shed and don't like taking a chance of wasting a feeder. I just leave them alone.

I usually just wait till my guy is done with his shedding cycle, then he gets a nice fat rat. Just depends on the snake mine does not eat in shed

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Originally Posted by KMG

I didn't think I would be the only straight NO. I have had to many refuse during shed and don't like taking a chance of wasting a feeder. I just leave them alone.

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I feel the same way! Feeding day is just another day of the week, theres always another one coming up right behind it


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I feed during shed and so far have even had them take a rat while their eyes were so cloudy they couldn't see a thing.
The heat and smell did it for them.
The feed response has been a bit slower (except with a female BP that really likes her food) but, with just a few extra minutes of a zombie dance mine take the meal.

I attempt to feed when it's feeding day regardless of shed or not. My cinny will DESTROY and eat ANYTHING. Even in full blue and blind shell eat. Really it comes down to the snake, the best snakes are the ones that will eat in she'd though. They never miss a meal. :P

You can offer food, some will eat, some won't. I have some that will eat whenever, and others that I know won't eat in shed. So I only offer to those that I know will eat.

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It depends on the snake and the stage of the cycle. I don't bother offering to one in blue, but pretty much all of mine will eat after their eyes clear, before they actually shed.

I've had some eat in blue and some just don't care about eating they act as if they are afraid of the rat. I dont leave mine until they kill the rat anyway but definitely don't when in blue. I have read that it is dangerous to feed large prey when they are in shed because the shed skin can constrict the snake. Just know that's possible.

1.1 pastels, 1.0 lesser, 0.1 het blurry, 0.1 spider, 1.1 norm. 0.1 dinker,

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Originally Posted by ironpython

I have read that it is dangerous to feed large prey when they are in shed because the shed skin can constrict the snake. Just know that's possible.

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I doubt that this is an issue since the skin will stretch, assuming the snake isn't severely dehydrated. I've had one or two split their sheds when feeding because they were only hours away from sloughing it off.

But - I've been wrong before. I don't feed large prey, so I don't have much to worry about. :)

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

I doubt that this is an issue since the skin will stretch, assuming the snake isn't severely dehydrated. I've had one or two split their sheds when feeding because they were only hours away from sloughing it off.

But - I've been wrong before. I don't feed large prey, so I don't have much to worry about. :)

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Actually the cast off skin doesn't stretch as much it is not common but it does on rare occasions become stuck. this has caused all kinds of problems if it drys out and contracts. I know of four cases one fatal. I see no benefit and only a potential downside.


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Originally Posted by kitedemon

Some snakes will eat during a shed however late in a shed the old skin becomes less elastic and if a large meal was offered the snake may not be able to get the shed over the meal lump and that can lead to all kinds of issues. Generally I don't offer during a shed and if I was too I'd go very small. It is not common at all but it has happened.

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old post and response from a member here.

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Originally Posted by Maixx

I had this happen with my pastel, ever since I take them off food as soon as they turn opaque. He ended up with this tight band of skin right above his stomach, that I had to cut off he ended up very stressed, and I ended up helping him finish that shed.

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

Actually the cast off skin doesn't stretch as much it is not common but it does on rare occasions become stuck. this has caused all kinds of problems if it drys out and contracts. I know of four cases one fatal. I see no benefit and only a potential downside.

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I stand corrected. :)

My VPI axanthic and het VPI will both eat while in shed, and my lemonback girl has as well. Otherwise they won't eat while in blue.

Thanks for all the replies everybody! Very helpful.:)