Very Moody...

[JimiSnakes]

Rosy has been very lately and we're not sure why. Ever since I soaked her she has been really snippy. I tried to feed her last night and she just crawled up next to her fuzzy and slept next to it all night long. I took her away from it and she crawled into her hide and hasn't come out. She is starting a shed, hasn't ate in a week, and we just want some tips on making her more comfortable please.

Jim

[PrincessErica]

Has she just been moody since she started to shed? Shedding is rough on them, they have a hard time seeing, thus feel vulnerable. This might account for her moodiness. I'm by no means an expert, but my best advice is just to leave her alone and let her do her thing until she's done shedding. Give her a moist hide, keep her humidity cranked and just let her be. My vet told me not to even bother attempting to feed during a shed, so you can just wait (and save yourself some frustration) until she's finished before trying again. A week off feed is NOTHING in the world of ball pythons. Mine's gone 6+ weeks without food, many have gone MUCH longer, so don't fret. I'm sure she'll be back to her normal self in no time. Good luck on the shed.

[JimiSnakes]

when do I know when to feed her again? How long between periods do I wait to attempt to feed again?

[PrincessErica]

You never really KNOW... wait til she's done shedding, and then try again. All you can do is try. If that doesn't work, most people say try again every 7-10 days, maybe up to every 2 weeks if she stays off feed for a while. No use wasting mice if she has no interest in eating. the most important thing is not to worry.