Feeding before a shed?

[rain_man]

I was going to feed my corn tommarrow, but I noticed his eyes have become milky like he is going to shed. Should I feed him like I normally do?

This is going to be his first shed sense I bought him and I don't want to do anything wrong.

Thanks

 

[Roy Munson]

I was going to feed my corn tommarrow, but I noticed his eyes have become milky like he is going to shed. Should I feed him like I normally do?

This is going to be his first shed sense I bought him and I don't want to do anything wrong.

Thanks

(I'm assuming the snake is a hatchling/juvenile.)

The safest thing to do is to wait. After he's better established, maybe after another shed or two, you can try feeding him in shed. I notice that in general, feeding a hatchling when it's going into shed is riskier than feeding one just on its way out of shed (but before the actual shed). And waiting until after the shed is the least risky of all options.

 

[MegF.]

I've offered to feed if they are in blue. Some will eat, some won't. I've never had a problem with them eating while in blue, but I have heard of instances of regurge. I'm not certain why it would cause regurge, for all I know it was pure coincedence and had nothing to do with the preshed. I've never had a regurge from feeding during blue, and I've fed most of mine if they are due. As I stated before though, some just won't eat, sometimes as long as two weeks before shed.

 

[hockey9934]

What is "blue"?

 

[mbdorfer]

What is "blue"?

Just a term for the snake being "in shed". When their eyes get cloudy. some take on a blueish appearance, hence........... :wavey:

 

[hockey9934]

I just saw a picture on the site of a snake w/ blue eyes. Dont recall seeing it with our snake but will have to look for it now.

 

[BeckyG]

I offer mine food on their regularly scheduled feeding day whether they are in shed or not. So far, I haven't had one refuse yet. And I haven't had a regurge.

Sometimes it is hard to tell if a snake is blue. I have a hard time telling if my snow is blue, but my amel is obviously blue. She turns the most beautiful shade of purple.

 

[carol]

It wouldn't hurt to wait. If your snake gets fed weekly and only skips a meal when they are in shed, it will not harm your snake in any way. I have some corns that eat when they are in shed and never have a problem. However, I do have corns that will regurge everytime if you feed them while they are in shed. Some can handle it some can't. It's up to you if you want to take the gamble on what type yours is. :shrugs:

 

[shrimply]

I have two corns and until last week I would have been able to say they have always eaten when in shed but my yearling refused a small mouse( not sure if it was because of the shed or because it is getting colder). I don't think it will causes any harm to feed in shed it can be a bit of a waste of mice though.

 

[mvervest]

I think when you want to go for the safest way , I think you better skip a meal while in shed . You have the risk of not taking food and if taken you have a risk of regurge and in that case you also have to wait some time to feed again .
Just my opinion , the other replies have sense too . :sidestep:

 

[JoannaD]

I've been keeping corns for about a year now - so I'm no expert. I have corns that will eat no matter what and won't regurge. I have corns that tend not to eat when they are in shed and I have had a couple of regurges (different corns) while in shed. I have fed a corn, that had a shed related regurge, during the next shed cycle (didn't realize he was in shed) without incident. I have also fed a corn right after a shed related regurge (didn't find the regurge, small and well buried, until after the snake was in his feeding box) without issue.

I think with time you get to know your snakes and what you can do. In the meantime I would listen to the advice of someone with more experience (like Carol) and skip a feed if you are at all concerned.

Joanna