Feeding Near Shedding Time

[giltyler]

I got my BP back in mid July and I think a shedding is about to happen due to noticeably cloudy eyes and a dull pattern yesterday and I wonder if I should offer prey since this is feeding day.
The eyes are not cloudy right now either.

The animals last shedding was July 9 right before I got her is this a normal length of time between sheds.

[MissterDog]

It doesn't hurt to try, as long as you're okay with potentially wasting a feeder. Some ball pythons will refuse while others don't care and totally pig out. My male bp always eats even when he's in deep blue.

[Bogertophis]

I like to hold off feeding when I see a 'shed' coming: besides possibly wasting the food, some snakes will have messed up sheds (stuck & in a zillion pieces)
because for some reason they don't multi-task very well. Keep in mind that younger snakes in great health often have no problem, but others, either older or
with issues you don't even know about are the ones that have trouble: this is because both shedding and digestion requires extra hydration, and doing both
at the same time is more than some can do easily.

[Sallysmom]

My BP eats like a champ. Last months she ate and then shed on the same day. And she didn’t go off feed during the whole 10 day pre shed process either. So I guess it depends on your snake

[giltyler]

I did go forward with the feeding and the snake took about 5 seconds longer than the usual 2-3 seconds I am used to.

i will keep a close watch to make sure everything is going well.

thanks

[Craiga 01453]

Yeah, some snakes will eat in shed, some won't. I offer one time with each new snake. If they eat, I continue to feed in shed. If they don't eat, I never offer again when that snake is in shed. Then I feed the day after they shed and start a new feeding schedule with that snake from there.

[Sonny1318]

Over the years I learned not to bother regarding ball pythons. If they are in blue or appear to be starting the cycle, I skip. I just wait to after they shed, then feed them normally the next scheduled feeding day. A couple extra days without food isn’t going to faze them in the slightest. Also noticed these little guys usually won’t take the day after a shed, so it’s best waiting a couple extra days anyway.

[Jnksnakes]

Varies per snake to me. I know which of my snakes eat during shed and which don't. Learned by trial and error.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Offer food as scheduled if the animal eat goof, if it does not you will know for next time, and no there will be no effect on the shed (shed is about proper husbandry)

I would say that 90% of my animals eat during shed from sand boas to hognose to carpet to BP.

[giltyler]

Thanks to All who chimed in.

The mouse was eaten very quickly and the snake retreated to the warm side hide.