What is considered "in blue"?

[carriecat2]

I have my snake for three weeks now, she's a normal, about 10 month old. Yesterday I noticed she's looking just a little darker on the lower half of her body, the front half still seemed normal, and her eyes look normal as well. Last night she's been out and about in her viv, pretty much her normal self, during the day she hides all the time anyways.

Is this considered in "blue"? Her next meal is tomorrow, should we wait until she sheds? Or a smaller slit meal? I kept reading about the shed and blue, but nothing like real experience :)

[KvanAalten]

They usually look more pale, depending on what morph you have though, on some morphs it's really hard to see. First they get pale -greyish hue over them, then they get blueish eyes and even more pale (looks like they're blind), then their eyes turn back to normal, still pale though and then they will shed very soon. Hopefully that helps you :)

[KvanAalten]

Not a cornsnake but a good example though :)
In shed:
http://s5.postimg.org/om0idkw6f/403953_336285563068691_521181711_n.jpg
Normal:
http://s5.postimg.org/cg7ue2487/slang.jpg

Here's one of a baby corn in shed:
http://s5.postimg.org/6o65mqdif/MG_6223.jpg
Normal:
http://s5.postimg.org/91o3dqrxj/MG_6219.jpg

[gelshark]

This snake is in blue. Normally she would look very much like this other picture (but the other picture is her brother, both are the same morphs and when not in blue look pretty close to the same). These pictures were shot under the same conditions.
http://www.iherp.com/Gallery/94817/118652_357022_VeryLarge_gc8j6uKV2Ac.jpg
http://www.iherp.com/Gallery/94817/123599_357015_VeryLarge_OJ1QkaT3w0Rpay1.jpg

[MysticExotics]

It is also referred to as "opaque" phase. You will see a milky haze over the eyes, it will then clear for a couple/few days, then the shed. The whole process generally takes a week to 10-ish days.

I do not feed in any part of the shed phase.
In my experience, the regurges have happened when feeding during the clear phase, before they shed.

[carriecat2]

Thanks everyone. The picture really helps. I think my snake might be just starting to go into blue from her tail :) It's like the process hasn't quite got up to her head yet, her eyes haven't gone milky, unless that milky phase last shorter than 12 hours. I will watch out for her eyes and take notes :)

Is it safe to feed before their eyes go milky? Especially since she's still active at night ...

[MysticExotics]

Each snake is different. I've had one regurge and then turn opaque, I've had some eat in the "pre-blue phase" (as I like to call it) with no problems,and some eat while in blue.
I have seen more "clear phase" regurges than anything, so to play it safe, if the snake looks to be in any phase of the shed process, I don't feed them.

[carriecat2]

Thanks Heather, maybe she will make it easy for me and turn opaque tomorrow :) It's just seems so long to not feed, from pre-blue all the way the shed, I'm still not use to pets that don't eat on daily bases :)

[MysticExotics]

It does seem like a long time, but my guess would be they don't eat during that time in the wild. Especially in the blue/opaque phase, since they cannot see their prey.

[AliCat37]

I consider "in blue" to be the moment I notice any slight color change in the snake at all. Usually, it takes another 5 days or so before I even see the eyes get cloudy.

[seliskar]

I never heard these terms until I read about them over the past 12 hours or so. I always just call it "getting ready to shed" or "pre-shed". LOL My amelanistic/red albino (not sure which is more correct), Sir Ratcha, gets super pale and ugly for a couple of days, then he goes back to looking his normal self for a couple or few days, and THEN he sheds. It's strange - I always wonder if he decided not to shed after all when he goes from ugly to normal before the skin comes off.

I now have a snow corn whose eyes just went cloudy in the past 18 hours or so. If someday I don't see the eyes change (it comes and goes so quickly in my albino), how will I know whether to expect a shed or not? He's white... like almost completely.

Also, I'm not a super experienced corn snake owner, but I always feed mine weekly, regardless of shed stage, and have never had a regurgitation or any issues. I've had the albino since October last year, and the snow for about 6 weeks now. Would it be wise to stop feeding if I know they are about to shed? Or continue with the weekly regime as I haven't had a problem? It may be important to note that I don't have exact ages on either snake - the big snow is said to be 2 - 2.5 years, but he's 5 feet long, and the albino is said to be 4 -5 years, and is only 3.5 feet long... both male.

[hypnoctopus]

Once you get to know the snake's personality, he should tell you when he's going blue by hiding constantly for a few days. It is definitely harder to tell with a snow when they've gone blue, but if you notice him hiding for a few days, you can check him. During the 'bluest' part of blue, his eyes will be slightly cloudy and duller than normal. Usually the eyes are very glossy, so when they're not, that's usually a give away. Mine also sometimes gets a little bit dull pink looking on her belly scales.

In the wild, corn snakes would generally not be out hunting during blue, so I avoid feeding during that time. If you feed your snake during blue and he does fine with it, I don't think you'll have a problem continuing it, but it can be a gamble with a new snake.

Also, amelanistic/amel is usually the preferred term. :)