Should i keep handle when belly in pinkish

[calvinlee7hk]

My one year old and my 5 months old bp are both pinkish in belly, the 5 months old is roaming at night and the other one seems still curl up at the moment.

should i keep handle them until their eyes looks blue or just let them alone until they done the shed ?

[Lolo76]

Best to leave them alone until they're done shedding, but some snakes will tolerate handling during that time. A few of mine are fine with it, but I've also gotten a bite from one who didn't appreciate being bothered (I was only trying to re-position her hide) - of course, she was in full blue right then, which is a time when most/all snakes are defensive. Anyway, be careful if you do handle them, and back off if they hiss or get into strike position.

[Nae]

I handle my snakes up until blue based on their reactions. If they get "wiggy" or defensive I let them be. Once they're blue tho it's hands off till shedding is complete.

[extensive]

doing it that way makes no sense at all. do you know what the pink is? blood. if your skin was slowing being separated from your body would you want somebody "handling" you?

[Oxylepy]

The moment I know my snake is in shed I don't handle them, and I avoid feeding them as well. I prefer just letting them do their thing from pink belly onwards.

[teebyrd393]

Let the process end completely before handling. My BP tricks me and almost looks completely normal after he's in blue and dull skinned...sometimes I wonder....ummm where's the shed???... and Im looking around the tank. Then sure enough, the next day I have a neat shedded skin to unroll

[Vypyrz]

I keep records of when mine shed so I know when to expect the next one. When I first notice the pink belly I will go ahead and clean the enclosure, raise the humidity then just leave them alone until they are done. If I do have to handle them in order to clean out poop or anything I just try to be gentle. If I can get by with a spot cleaning then I just place a towel over their hide so there is less of a chance of them striking at me...


Rob

[Lolo76]

Let the process end completely before handling. My BP tricks me and almost looks completely normal after he's in blue and dull skinned...sometimes I wonder....ummm where's the shed???... and Im looking around the tank. Then sure enough, the next day I have a neat shedded skin to unroll

Some of mine are really obvious about it, while others look basically normal except when opaque. It's especially hard to tell with my spider, who has a naturally pink/speckled belly even when he's not in shed... when he shed last month, I had NO idea until he went blind.

[accidental777]

I don't dare handle two of mine until they are completely done. Both of my males are total sweethearts, until a few days before they go into the blue. One likes to puff up and hiss a bit, the other fella will try to strike through the tub. I figure it is best to just leave them be when it is "that time of the month" for them ;-P

[lepidunce]

I've found that it is truly dependent on the snake. Case in point: I bought my python when he was about to start. He's still a sweet heart, in full blue. On the other hand, a friend of mine has a bp that starts trying to tag everything around it, a week beforehand. Its truly a cuddly little thing, otherwise. (well, as cuddly as they can be) All I can say is listen to your bp.