First Shed!

[ProXimuS]

So my snake just had his first shed(since I've had him). I checked him over and his eyes and tail look complete:D
But, I have a question about eating and shedding. Do they stop eating just before shedding? I feel like I read that somewhere, and that's exactly what he did. He didn't eat for like a week or so and I had no idea why.

[guidofatherof5]

I find it different for each snake.
Some never stop eating and other refuse until the shed is complete. Even a couple days after the shed.

[Steveo]

Some will always eat, some can be convinced to eat sometimes, and some won't eat at all. I typically continue to offer food on their regular schedule until I'm convinced they won't eat when preparing to shed.

[Invisible Snake]

My garters will eat right before actually shedding, they have an insatiable appetite. My other snakes (non-garters) will not eat 4-6 days before a shed.

[guidofatherof5]

My garters will eat right before actually shedding, they have an insatiable appetite. My other snakes (non-garters) will not eat 4-6 days before a shed.

Must be all that good home cookin'

[InsanePirateDragon]

My boy will eat until his eyes go blue then he's not interested in food until after he sheds and ready to eat as soon as it happens.

[thamneil]

Yeah every snake is different. Some eat 24/7 and others are picky all the time. Shedding works the same way. It all comes down to the individual garter. I find that they are more likely to eat through a shed cycle than other snake species though.

[ProXimuS]

Well, I fed him this morning(I had just gotten home from being gone for a couple days and I felt like it was too late last night, his light was already off) and he ate no problem and has a little bulge in his belly:) I cleaned his waterbowl since it was dirty from his fish and when I gave it back to him he immediately curled his whole body iside it. It was adorable :D
5271 There he is :D

[Mommy2many]

I love a clean snake!

[thamneil]

And once he gets in there and curls up, the next thing he will do is poop. Typical garters :p

[EasternGirl]

Yes...my garters love to poop in a freshly cleaned water dish. I think it is their way of saying "Thank you for cleaning our dish faithful human servant...now chop chop! Clean it again!" :D

As other members have said...fasting before a shed really depends on the snake. Some of my garters refuse to eat right before a shed and others eat no problem. Cee Cee will usually even come out of hiding with her eyes all blue and eat. My babies and Possum do not seem to have a problem eating prior to shedding. Hermes and Seeley will not eat before a shed...sometimes they will not eat immediately after either.

[ProXimuS]

Thanks guys for all the info and your babies indivual habits. I'll just have to still get to know all his habits and the way he works since he's still new:)


Oh yea btw he didn't end up pooping in his water, but has done that to me before :p