Shedding and/or dehydration?

[lovesbuggs]

Another question....Checkers is starting a shed cycle...milky eyes on Tuesday that have now cleared. We have not handled him until today as he ate on Tuesday, but while changing out his water we noticed his eyes look a little sunken or dark...is this part of shedding or is he terribly dehydrated? Checkers lives in my sons room in a 10 gallon converted aquarium, my son says he has not noticed Checkers ever drinking. I see my little snow drink almost daily. Humidity is at 70...raised it some when we noticed his milky eyes, normally it is around 50... and temp at 87 on the warm side with UTH. No lights are used on the viv.

[ReptileGeek181]

Corn snakes are nocturnal, so most of the time they drink water when no one is watching. They also get water from the food they eat.

I also worry that my corn snakes aren't drinking water so once a week I will gently place them in their respective water bowls.

[obboi34]

you could always try holding your snake above the water dish when returning to the viv after handling. my girl will often lean down and drink if she's thirsty.

[Nanci]

He's in the clear phase before shedding.

If he wasn't drinking, he'd be dead.

If it makes you feel better, you could mist him lightly today. I bet he sheds by tomorrow.

[lovesbuggs]

Thanks everyone. I'm brand new at owning these guys and although I did research on how to care for them, was fully set up before gettIng them, and bought Bill and Kathy Loves book... all these firsts with my little babies are a little nerve racking. Thanks for the info and advice and patients with such a newbie :)

[lovesbuggs]

Nanci you hit it right on...Checkers shed this morning!!!! :) He's so pretty! and his eyes are back to normal...here is his new self :)

http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r514/lovesbuggs/20120825_104540.jpg

http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r514/lovesbuggs/20120825_104529-1.jpg