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Other signs of shedding other than distinct blue-ish eyes?

Ersetz

Ersetz

New member
It's coming on 4 weeks or so since my baby snake's last shed (had him 2 months now, he's at 12g), so I'm still getting used to his daily behaviors and noticing the changes thereof.

It's been 3 1/2 days since his last feeding, and he's scheduled to eat at 3 a.m. this coming morning, but I'm hesitant because I think there may be some signs he's entering his shed cycle, but I'm not positive.

1. It's the third/fourth day after eating and I haven't seen him outside his warm hide at all. I've been in the same room as him for 10+ hrs awake, but he hasn't been his usual active self.

2. His eyes do have a very light opacity to them--not true blue, but not especially clear like they usually are. His colors do seem a bit muted, but not strikingly so.

3. I was handling him since it's been 3+ days after he ate, and he defecated in my hands. Usually after two days, at most 2 1/2 he will in viv, and I did notice a bit of swelling near his vent, so I'm relieved that's what it was, but concerned that he held it so long.

4. Once outside he is usually very active and curious, but this time he just wanted to slither away and hide in my bedcovers.

I've been feeding him a ~3g pinkie every 4-5 days, as per the Munson Plan, and if he is shedding he won't be eating for awhile, so on one hand I don't want to delay his feeding unnecessarily, but I haven't had a regurge yet and I'm extremely cautious about doing anything that might cause one (i.e. feeding during the shed cycle.)

I'll check back tonight to see if his eyes are truly blue, but if not, do you folks consider these other signs significant enough to hold off on feeding?
 
If you think he might be going blue, just hold off feeding him for a few days to see if he goes really blue. I usually notice that my snakes have begun to go blue when I don't see them out at all, even in the evening. You can also sometimes tell because they will have a more iridescent look to their scales before they actually look 'blue'.
 
I totally agree with Olivia, and it also depends on the morph. Some go through blue without really showing any signs, but yours definitely sound like he's blue so I would skip the feeding until after the shed, regardless of how long that takes. They can go a long time without food, so don't think you are starving him or anything.
 
I did as Hypnoctopus said and waited until tonight to check on him again, and he's in full-blue now. Milky head scales, dull coloration, heavily-clouded eyes. I'll hold off on feeding until he sheds. Jotted all these notes down in my upkeep journal so I'll know what to look for next time!

And yes, Smigon, it's tough to judge going by his color alone. He's a vanishing stripe, I assume normal, and very young, so he really only has his darker rust-red color to go by, and it's tough to see the dulling in that uniform color. Hopefully once he starts getting his yellows and oranges in it'll be a bit easier. Thank you both for the advice!
 
Interesting thread , I'm very jealous you are on to your second shed .We got Theo home (male anery hatched Aug 14) on 31st Dec 14 unfortunately I have no previous info on sheds!!!not helpful!!!! But he is yet to shed with us !!!We had our first regurge last Wednesday!!!Just now I'm sticking to a plan given to me on here I have been assured that missing feeds fine at the moment but now I have got over fact he has regurged I'm stressing about no shed !!! It will be 7 weeks tomorrow 😨
 
Just an update: He had a complete shed today, was back to his normal behavior, was very calm when being picked up, was "hunting," ate voraciously. It was a huge relief to see him acting like his usual self! So when it's about time for him to shed again, and if he's flighty when being held, and hiding a lot, I'll be extra-vigilant.
 
Okay, so one of my babies (not a cornsnake, my corn will eat no problem before sheds) Rejects food before shed, and for other reasons too, so I try to assess if its a temp issue or just an impending shed... is I check the underside of her belly. If it looks foggy, or blurry or pale, its an impending shed. This method is the same on my corn. Her belly goes pale... then i know she will be blue in a few days, and then a few days after that, normal, and then a few days later ill have a present in the tank. But that is only in the shed process. No way to tell a couple days before, so usually shes eaten and leaves me some poop too, as was the case today when she shed.
After blue, but before shed... Shes gone back to normal color, but if you look very closely at the skin around the gaps between the scales, or around her nose, you will notice the trasparent skin. you can almost see the tight skin if you are looking closely. Hope this helps.
 
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