Should I switch?

[Sauzo]

I personally avoid handling during shed time as both my BCI girl and my BP girl get kind of cranky during those times and usually spend most of the time in their hides, well my BP is in her hide a lot but my BCI really only uses her hide when shes shedding. I've heard people say handling during blue can screw up the shed but who knows. I mostly don't do it because like I said, both my snakes get kind of cranky then. Since your snake is fairly new, I would say no, you shouldn't handle her during shed. I don't offer food or handle during shed.

[KMG]

here eyes are starting to clear a bit. I was worried she was sick or something. I am looking forward to her first shed.
Also, should I avoid handling her before she sheds or can I hold her a bit?
I don't want to stress her out.

How many times must it be said to leave the snake be? Leave it alone until it sheds and then leave it alone until it eats. Then leave it alone a few days after it eats.

[Stormy]

How many times must it be said to leave the snake be? Leave it alone until it sheds and then leave it alone until it eats. Then leave it alone a few days after it eats.

This^^^

You keep asking questions and getting good advice; leave the snake alone, don't touch it. Only go into it's enclosure for cleaning and maintenence. There's nothing to worry about; they can go a long time without eating. Chances are once it is done shedding it will be hungry again.

[Citrus]

I understand your want to handle, but you must leave it be. If you keep handling it may never eat. My pinstripe made a whistle last night and I had to check his mouth for mucus, now he seems stressed and will probably not eat tonight for me. If the snake is still new id give him a while of minimal handling (just to clean cage, change water, etc.) and then after he has shed or eaten, begin to handle but only once a week. And don't handle after you feed him because he may spit the food out.
It can take up to twenty minutes to get some snakes to eat, I saw a video where a guy was feeding his hatchlings and he literally sat there with the f/t and made it dance for twenty minutes before the snake took it.
If you have a heat light, turn it off and move it away from the cage during feeding. My pastel couldn't differentiate between the mouse and the heat light until I turned it off and pointed it the other way.
Wait two days no handling, and go near the cage as little as is possible. Then AT NIGHT (like 6:00-8:00) attempt to feed. Gently place the mouse in the cage and just walk away and come back in five minutes and look from the other side of room, uneaten, leave and come back in another five minutes and then if the snake isn't out and about remove the feeder.


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[KMG]

Don't walk away while feeding live. Citrus was referring to the f/t you were starting out with. Watch the live feeding from across the room preferably out of view of the snake.

[DennisM]

She is an adult or close to it (about 4 feet) and had no interest in the mice I thawed. Nothing.
I am just a bit concerned she'll get hurt from the mouse. Her eyes are still cloudy and have a bit of a crack on them. I think she's shedding.
Ill get a mouse tonight after school so I can feed her tonight.

the largest mouse is too small for a 4 ft snake. Time to move up to small rats. BPs are well known for their winter time hunger strikes, just try feeding once every couple of weeks. She'll feed again when she's ready. Stop worrying and consider all the good advice you've received in this thread.

[Citrus]

Don't walk away while feeding live. Citrus was referring to the f/t you were starting out with. Watch the live feeding from across the room preferably out of view of the snake.

Sorry about that should have specified .



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[Manglewantsmacaroni]

As I said, I want to be sure I am caring for Mangle well. I am not trying to irritate you all. I am just new and a bit insecure. I haven't handled her yesterday and won't today. Good advice. Please don't get angry at me though. I am just trying to get help. I am also new.

[KMG]

As I said, I want to be sure I am caring for Mangle well. I am not trying to irritate you all. I am just new and a bit insecure. I haven't handled her yesterday and won't today. Good advice. Please don't get angry at me though. I am just trying to get help. I am also new.

Plenty of new owners here need help. Its just frustrating when we are trying to help you when you dont seem to trust our advice and ask the same questions over and seem to not follow the information given.

You need to relax and know that nothing happens quickly when you're dealing with snakes. They are on their own schedule and don't care about what you want at all. They even seem to do the exact opposite of what their owners want. Snakes are snakes and they are weird.

[Citrus]

You need to relax and know that nothing happens quickly when you're dealing with snakes. They are on their own schedule and don't care about what you want at all. They even seem to do the exact opposite of what their owners want. Snakes are snakes and they are weird.

I'm a new owner of like a month and if I had read that before I got my snakes or during my first week ad a half, things would have gone easier. I.e I wouldn't have stressed over everything and overthought every detail. Someone make this post a sticky or something.


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