Beginning stages of shedding?

Kurly1 · 08-10-2007, 11:23 AM

Hi guys,
I think our snake is in the beginning stages of shedding. If so, this would be the first time he has shed in captivity. His eyes appear to be getting cloudy and he isn't that active right now. Anything special we should know about this process? I think that we are supposed to just leave him alone and let him shed. Is that correct?

Thanks

adamanteus · 08-10-2007, 11:27 AM

Yes, it sounds as though he's preparing to shed his skin. As you say, just leave him alone and he'll take care of the whole process himself. You may find he refuses food at this time, don't worry it's normal....some eat some don't.

garterchick · 08-10-2007, 03:44 PM

just make sure he has some rough surfaces available to him, he'll need that to start the actual shed.
tina

Kurly1 · 08-10-2007, 04:38 PM

One of the plants in his cage is like a mini tree that has a log of some sort at the base of it. It is pretty rough so hopefully that will help him. He has pretty much been in his hide curled up all day. He will peek his head out every now and then but of course we are not bothering him. My son is a little worried about him but I told him not to worry , it's a natural process for him and he'll be okay

garterchick · 08-10-2007, 08:55 PM

you may also tell your son not to panic if nothing happens for a few days, it's not unusual for the eyes to clear up after a couple of days and the actual shed not to take place for up to a week after that. some snakes resume normal activities during this "clear" period and may even eat, others just stay hidden and want nothing to do with food until after it's all over. either way, it's nothing to worry about, for most snakes the shedding process does not seem to be overly traumatic. hope this helps a bit
tina

Kurly1 · 08-11-2007, 10:14 AM

Thanks Tina. You have helped alot because I was wondering how long it may actually take for him to shed after the eyes became cloudy. He is still in his hide today so again we are just leaving him alone.

Kurly1 · 08-14-2007, 08:54 AM

Kurly shed his skin this morning!

Pretty darn cool if you ask me -lol

Now the questions..... My son wants to keep the skin since it was his first shed. How can we keep it without it getting destroyed? Or can we? How long before my son can hold him again?

Do we need to feed him again now that he has shed his skin? We actually fed him a pinkie 2 days ago because he appeared to be hungry and he ate it with no problems. I thought I read or heard that after a shed, a snake is hungry so I am not sure if we need to feed him again. Is this true?

Thanks

Josh · 08-14-2007, 09:09 AM

First off congrats it seems kurly is doing very well.
I have come up with is to put them in a scrap book.
It should be fine to hold kurly,
and i couldnt hurt to offer some food
Congrats

Kurly1 · 08-14-2007, 09:45 AM

Thanks Josh. My son will be glad to know that he can hold him again and also keep his skin.

Josh · 08-14-2007, 09:56 AM

its a good way to measure them too.

08-10-2007, 11:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
Kurly1 "Preparing For First shed" Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 71 Country:	Beginning stages of shedding? Hi guys, I think our snake is in the beginning stages of shedding. If so, this would be the first time he has shed in captivity. His eyes appear to be getting cloudy and he isn't that active right now. Anything special we should know about this process? I think that we are supposed to just leave him alone and let him shed. Is that correct? Thanks

08-10-2007, 11:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
adamanteus Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cheshire. (Near Manchester). Posts: 8,465 Country:	Re: Beginning stages of shedding? Yes, it sounds as though he's preparing to shed his skin. As you say, just leave him alone and he'll take care of the whole process himself. You may find he refuses food at this time, don't worry it's normal....some eat some don't. __________________ James.

08-10-2007, 03:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
garterchick Juvenile snake Join Date: May 2007 Location: austin , texas Posts: 192 Country:	Re: Beginning stages of shedding? just make sure he has some rough surfaces available to him, he'll need that to start the actual shed. tina

08-10-2007, 04:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
Kurly1 "Preparing For First shed" Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 71 Country:	Re: Beginning stages of shedding? One of the plants in his cage is like a mini tree that has a log of some sort at the base of it. It is pretty rough so hopefully that will help him. He has pretty much been in his hide curled up all day. He will peek his head out every now and then but of course we are not bothering him. My son is a little worried about him but I told him not to worry , it's a natural process for him and he'll be okay

08-10-2007, 08:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
garterchick Juvenile snake Join Date: May 2007 Location: austin , texas Posts: 192 Country:	Re: Beginning stages of shedding? you may also tell your son not to panic if nothing happens for a few days, it's not unusual for the eyes to clear up after a couple of days and the actual shed not to take place for up to a week after that. some snakes resume normal activities during this "clear" period and may even eat, others just stay hidden and want nothing to do with food until after it's all over. either way, it's nothing to worry about, for most snakes the shedding process does not seem to be overly traumatic. hope this helps a bit tina

08-11-2007, 10:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
Kurly1 "Preparing For First shed" Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 71 Country:	Re: Beginning stages of shedding? Thanks Tina. You have helped alot because I was wondering how long it may actually take for him to shed after the eyes became cloudy. He is still in his hide today so again we are just leaving him alone.

08-14-2007, 08:54 AM	#7 (permalink)
Kurly1 "Preparing For First shed" Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 71 Country:	Re: Beginning stages of shedding? Kurly shed his skin this morning! Pretty darn cool if you ask me -lol Now the questions..... My son wants to keep the skin since it was his first shed. How can we keep it without it getting destroyed? Or can we? How long before my son can hold him again? Do we need to feed him again now that he has shed his skin? We actually fed him a pinkie 2 days ago because he appeared to be hungry and he ate it with no problems. I thought I read or heard that after a shed, a snake is hungry so I am not sure if we need to feed him again. Is this true? Thanks

08-14-2007, 09:09 AM	#8 (permalink)
Josh Thamnophis Collectus Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: wilkes barre Posts: 1,138 Country:	Re: Beginning stages of shedding? First off congrats it seems kurly is doing very well. I have come up with is to put them in a scrap book. It should be fine to hold kurly, and i couldnt hurt to offer some food Congrats __________________ Josh *0.1 T. radix*

08-14-2007, 09:45 AM	#9 (permalink)
Kurly1 "Preparing For First shed" Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 71 Country:	Re: Beginning stages of shedding? Thanks Josh. My son will be glad to know that he can hold him again and also keep his skin.

08-14-2007, 09:56 AM	#10 (permalink)
Josh Thamnophis Collectus Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: wilkes barre Posts: 1,138 Country:	Re: Beginning stages of shedding? its a good way to measure them too. __________________ Josh *0.1 T. radix*

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