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Do Snakes Eat While Shedding?

Writer Sarah Silva

When shedding, snakes eat less because they are less active. The majority of snakes will not eat until their eyes are clear again after shedding. Some people refuse to eat until their shed is finished.

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Is it okay to feed a snake while its shedding?

A live animal could injure a snake during shedding because the snake’s senses are dimmed during this time, making it difficult for it to distinguish between live and dead prey. During this time, most snakes will refrain from eating.

Do snakes lose their appetite when shedding?

When your snake is about to molt or shed its skin, it may lose its appetite and stop eating. 1 You should also watch out for your snake’s skin turning pale and dull, and its eyes turning milky blue before it molts. For a few days before and after it molts, it may not eat at all.

How long after shedding will a snake eat?

However, while some snakes refuse food during shedding, others will happily consume it both during and immediately following the process. Your snake may go two weeks without eating if this process takes that long. Feeding a snake during a shed does not harm it, and it is perfectly fine to do so.

Are you supposed to feed ball python while its shedding?

During the shed cycle, many ball pythons will refuse food, but others will continue to eat. A shed cycle may be continued by an experienced snake keeper, but it’s usually best for new snake keepers to simply withhold food until the process has finished.

Should you pull off a snakes shedding skin?

Remove any remaining skin from your snake, paying particular attention to the area around the eyes. To avoid any damage, have your veterinarian or another properly trained individual remove these. In the event that your snake is having a difficult time sheding its skin, soaking it in lukewarm water can help.

Can you hold a snake after it sheds?

As soon as a snake sheds, it is generally safe to handle it; however, feeding it and letting it digest is a good idea, as they may be hungry and irritable after going without food for a long period of time.