Shedding questions

[mattred]

My BP has been pretty good about eating on a regular basis (2x a week 19g mice), and his next feeding day is tomorrow (Thurs). I've been real busy with work & school the past week or so so I haven't had a chance to handle him; tonight was the first time I was able to take him out and check him out. I definitely noticed he is about to shed because not only was his underside pink, I actually felt the hardened shed/scale on his underbelly, but it felt like it was broken up a little bit. He was also way more ornery than usual, but that could also be from him not being handled in a while. The humidity in there has always been low, even with constant misting, because the only place I can put him in the room until I move in 2 weeks is near the A/C vent. This tends to dry out the tank and the room in general (been around 45-50% on average), but since I noticed the shed getting close I now have it about 65% and more covered than usual to help keep the humidity up. Also, he always hangs out on the cool side which is 78-80 avg.

1) Was it too late to bump up the humidity after I already physically felt the shed beginning?
2) Will feeding him mess with his shedding? This would only be his 2nd shed since I got him; the first one was before I could even feed him.

[starmom]

I'm uncertain as to whether you felt the shed. Typically the very first sign of an impending shed is the pink belly. Several days later the eyes will go opaque. A few days later the eyes will clear. A few day later the snake will shed.

So, is it too late to bump humidity? No!! You could make humid hides for your snake by getting some sphagnum moss and dampen it with water and put some into each of the snake's hides. This will help immeasurably and will allow you to not worry so much about keeping the entire tank humid (though still try!!)

I always offer my snakes their prey on feeding night, regardless of what stage of shed they are in. I let my snakes choose to eat or refuse.