Yes he's going into shed, & his skin (as described) is normal. Best NOT to handle snakes in shed...besides the fact they tend to be shyer & moody, their body
secretes moisture between the old & new layers to facilitate the old skin coming off soon, and their skin is more fragile at this time.
They do not need to eat at this time (& they sure don't in the wild, they lay low & there's no room service...they are built to fast), in fact since both digestion &
shedding uses up moisture from their body, not all snakes are good at managing both simultaneously (especially if they have any health issues going on that you
may not be aware of). What I'm saying is that even IF you have a snake willing to eat, it's best to wait...as a meal can sometimes result in a terrible shed that
sticks & only comes off in a million pieces, or only with your help. So follow "nature's plan" & leave them alone during their shed.
It wouldn't hurt to put a tiny bowl of water up to his face to encourage him to drink...there's a little "helicopter snarent" in all of us.Or mist him directly,
many snakes drink water droplets off their own coils as they do in nature. Many snakes lay low instinctively even when a nearby drink would surely help them.
If you have an extra-tidy snake, he or she may even defecate IN their old shed as it comes off, leaving you a very long baggy-to-go...Many snakes do save it up-
they don't go once per meal normally, & problems are rare.
Reply With Quote