Feed during shed?

[DooLittle]

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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[Annarose15]

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.

[ironpython]

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,

[Annarose15]

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.

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.

[kitedemon]

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.

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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[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.

old post and response from a member here.

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.

[Annarose15]

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.

I stand corrected.

[gsarchie]

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.

[chaseg22]

Thanks for all the replies everybody! Very helpful.