Mistaken pinky for feeder

[Bogertophis]

Totally agree. That’s why I fed her thinking she would know best. The only reason I had not been feeding her because I thought I had I been preventing her from shedding.

Again more contradicting info online. Some say don’t feed during shed, six weeks or more. Others say when she resumes activity assume she’s ready.
Trust me, I have a freezer full of rats and only ten fingers. The choice is obvious.

Not my first snake but my first tropical species so I appreciate the help!



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As far as conflicting info online- be careful who you believe. Snakes do NOT take 6 weeks to shed. Feed your snake! Or surrender more "pinkies",

The only reason it's better not to feed a snake that's in shed ("blue") is that both digestion AND shedding requires (uses up) water in their body. It requires good hydration- otherwise they can have a "bad" shed (stuck on & needs help to come off- usually in many pieces), OR they could even barf up the food provided instead (that's usually just if they're fully blue already when fed).

Some snakes can manage just fine, but others cannot- & you don't know until it's your snake that's stuck in their awful shed. I prefer to prevent issues.

This is why most snakes INSTINCTIVELY refuse to eat when they sense a shed coming (often even before you can see the obvious signs). But sometimes they'll accept food anyway if offered- because remember that in the wild, they don't have "room service"- when they don't see well, they lay low & get the shed done- they wisely evolved to not eat during that time. We need to understand & follow what nature taught them. They "know" what they need.

In case you never noticed, when the shed skin is fresh it feels moist- that's because the snake's body secretes moisture between the old & new skin right before they shed, to facilitate the old skin coming off. And that is why snakes need good hydration well before they shed, & that is why digestion at the same time isn't the best idea (& can cause problems with the shed). Even though a snake's body is designed to conserve moisture (they excrete urates rather than liquid urine) their digestion of food & excretion of waste still uses up some water in their body. Again- shedding does NOT take 6 weeks.

As stated previously- snakes eat & grow. In time, they outgrow the old skin, but without enough food, that cannot happen. Your snake NEEDS food- like "yesterday".