New to this forum, Got a BEL, Shed question

[gdawgs56]

Hello! I recently got my first BP, a Blue eyed lucy from a local reputable reptile shop. I set up the new fuy’s enclosure slowly a while before getting him, making sure i had perfect temps and humidity. Also made sure there is enough “clutter” to make him feel comfortable. I won’t get into the whole setup, unless requested.

I brought him home and put him in the enclosure and didn’t bother him for 7 days other than watching him breathe and changing his water haha. On the 7th day i went to get his first feeder (smallish rat pup, pre kill) same as what he was eating at the store. I got home and noticed, great, his eyes are dull. I knew that meant he was preparing to shed and so he probably wouldn’t eat. I still offered the rat and although he seemed very interested and excited, he denied it. So that was yesterday. Today i check on him and his eyes are back to clear, where i can clearly see his pupils. (his eyes are darkish blue with a black pupil, unlike some very bright blue BEL’s i’ve seen)

I didn’t think the hazy eyes faze would pass so quick, so maybe i mistakenly thought he was in shed? How obvious is the hazy eyes, especially with a BEL? I can very easily tell with other snakes with black eyes, but the normal blue eyes is throwing me off.

Thanks, Jason

Oh, I did take him out yesterday to get a closer look at his eyes, and even up close i couldn’t see his pupils. Today, without taking him out i could see the pupils.

Sorru if this is in the wrong section!

[Ax01]

congrats on the new snake and welcome to BP.net!

cloudy pre-shed eyes are easier to notice against darker eyes and it might be harder for u to notice b/c u are new and your BP has blueish-silverish eyes. cloudy pre-shed eyes are greyish and ghostly. yes the snake clears up before the shedding and u will get better at picking up on the cues the longer u own your snake. my white snakes also get kinda pink going into shed.

also here's a long progression thread on a Lesser x Mojo BEL. she starts to shed around page 2: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...n-thread/page2 i'm sure if u scroll through the thread, there are plenty of other pix.

again, welcome and post pix of your new snake bb.

[gdawgs56]

Thanks for the response Ax! Once i figure out how to post pics of him/her (don’t know sex atm) i will surely do so!

How soon after the wyes clearing up do they usually shed? Should i offer food again right after the shed?

Im only slightly worried due to him already looking thin to me. At the shop they said he had just eaten 4 days before i picked him up but he still looks quite little to me. Maybe once i post pics y’all can see if he’s lookin alright for me.

Thanks! Jason

[Jamiekerk]

I offer food one week after shedding as shedding is potentially stressful time for them, I clean shed because bp have a habit of emptying them selfs after shed then I leave alone for a week.

Some bp will eat when in shed some won’t.

If my bp refuse food I try again 7 days later.


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[gdawgs56]

I offer food one week after shedding as shedding is potentially stressful time for them, I clean shed because bp have a habit of emptying them selfs after shed then I leave alone for a week.

Some bp will eat when in shed some won’t.

If my bp refuse food I try again 7 days later.


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What does clean shed mean?

[Ax01]

Thanks for the response Ax! Once i figure out how to post pics of him/her (don’t know sex atm) i will surely do so!

here's a tutorial on a few diff ways to post pix: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-Post-Pictures

How soon after the wyes clearing up do they usually shed?

another 2-3 days on avg.

Should i offer food again right after the shed?

Im only slightly worried due to him already looking thin to me. At the shop they said he had just eaten 4 days before i picked him up but he still looks quite little to me. Maybe once i post pics y’all can see if he’s lookin alright for me.

Thanks! Jason

a healthy snake can go a long time - weeks or months w/o food. even a little or skinny one.

I offer food one week after shedding as shedding is potentially stressful time for them, I clean shed because bp have a habit of emptying them selfs after shed then I leave alone for a week.

Some bp will eat when in shed some won’t.

If my bp refuse food I try again 7 days later.

this is sound advice for feeding. u can even offer food much sooner if u notice your snake if hunt/feed mode.

What does clean shed mean?

it means a whole, 1 piece complete shed from snoot to tail.

[gdawgs56]

Thanks! Gotcha, i’m so excited to see his shed! I’m hopeful that it’s all one piece!

I guess i was just confused by the wording, i thought he meant to clean right after the shed. Haha!

[Jamiekerk]

What does clean shed mean?

Sorry I missed a couple words I clean the tank of shed and any waste he produces


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[gdawgs56]

Also, so far Blue (cliche name i know haha) has been very well tempered! When i held him to move him to the enclosure the first day he wasn’t balled up at all, and slithering around exploring my arms, not fast like to escape but just seemed curious. And even amongst shed, when i took him out to check out his eyes i didn’t even get a hiss or ball at all. Just checking out my arms again haha. Super happy with him! Now just to get him to eat after he sheds to ease my mind. (i tend to worry about my babies too much haha)

[Ax01]

What does clean shed mean?

Sorry I missed a couple words I clean the tank of shed and any waste he produces

oh there's that too Lol. and if your BP is really nice and polite, it will poop in it's shed making for super easy cleanup. it's like bagging up it's own poop.