For ball pythons it is the secondary stage for shedding. The primary is often a pinkish hue to the underside of the snake some theorize to be a reaction to the oncoming shedding of skin, much like how you would get a rash or hives. The secondary stage is when the skin and eyes become dull and the eyes look cloudy or milky. The blueish tint is where the term "in blue" comes from. It is actually the process of old skin separating from the new growth. Shortly after this the skin and eyes clear up and the snake will before long shed their skin. These last two steps are often a time when the snake expends energy and is feeling vulnerable so for ball pythons, the act of feeding can be stressful and isn't recommended. Occasionally some owners find their snakes eat during this time but as a rule of thumb, just avoid feeding when you see your snake's eyes get cloudy.
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