We have a cornsnake that is looking like its going to shed.....colors dulled and muted, eyes look a little cloudy. But he is three days over due for his mice feeding. We usually feed him every two-three weeks 2-3 mice. Should we wait to feed him till the shedding is done (sometimes this takes a long time) or should we go ahead and pick him up and put him in his feeding bin and feed him now?
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When to feed if it looks like its shedding?
- Thread starter oliver
- Start date
AliCat37
Michelle's Candied Corns!
Just wait till he's done shedding. Also, I wouldn't feed him 3 mice at a time, anymore than 2 food items and you run a serious risk of regurges. Also, a single good sized mouse should be fine for feeding every 2-3 weeks.
I would ask how old/big is he?
2-3 mice every 2-3 weeks is a very unusual feeding schedule. 3 prey at a time is generally seen as a big regurge risk (the mice start decaying faster than the snake can digest them) and needing 2 at a time either means you're probably overfeeding (if it's an adult snake) or you're feeding too small of prey items (feeding hoppers when he should be on adult mice for example).
1 proper sized mouse every 14-21 days is a valid maintenance diet for an adult, but not for a hatchling.
Hatchlings should start off at about every 5 days or so, and move up in feeding days as the size of the prey gets increased.
And regardless of size/schedule, it's generally accepted that you should just leave them alone once you notice them going into shed phase (typically when they go blue you know for certain although some keepers can tell earlier than that, I can't) until after the shed is finished. A missed feeding schedule during shed times won't hurt them and you minimize other potential issues like regurges. Plus some just won't even take the food during a shed cycle.
2-3 mice every 2-3 weeks is a very unusual feeding schedule. 3 prey at a time is generally seen as a big regurge risk (the mice start decaying faster than the snake can digest them) and needing 2 at a time either means you're probably overfeeding (if it's an adult snake) or you're feeding too small of prey items (feeding hoppers when he should be on adult mice for example).
1 proper sized mouse every 14-21 days is a valid maintenance diet for an adult, but not for a hatchling.
Hatchlings should start off at about every 5 days or so, and move up in feeding days as the size of the prey gets increased.
And regardless of size/schedule, it's generally accepted that you should just leave them alone once you notice them going into shed phase (typically when they go blue you know for certain although some keepers can tell earlier than that, I can't) until after the shed is finished. A missed feeding schedule during shed times won't hurt them and you minimize other potential issues like regurges. Plus some just won't even take the food during a shed cycle.
snakehobbyist
New member
I think it depends on the snake. My male will eat while he's in shed. He's a complete vacuum. He eats whatever is offered to him, shed or not. However, I do have a female who doesn't like to eat when she's deep in blue. I think it depends on your snake. You know your snake better than anyone else.
One of my rescues was madder than a hatter last week. Was striking at me, at the water dish (cleaned and refilled, was putting it back in). She was a real hater. She's never been like that. Sunday I noticed there was some more spot cleaning to do and discovered she had shed. I'm thinking she gets into really bad mode during shed. None of my others are that way. Most will eat even in blue with no problems.
Each snake is different. You gotta learn them.
Each snake is different. You gotta learn them.