Slick shed the skin last night. Now what?

[Roger Wildcat]

The shed skin measured 14.5 inches in length and Slick does look a little bit more shiny then usual. Slick never showed any sign of shedding, so I was surprised to see skin in the enclosure this morning. So, it brings up a few questions in my mind about snakes after they shed.

Are snakes generally more sensitive to touch after shedding? It is ok to handle the snake? How about the appetite, are they generally hungry or just not in the mood to eat? How many inches will they grow before they shed again and how long before the next shedding?

[guidofatherof5]

The shed skin measured 14.5 inches in length and Slick does look a little bit more shiny then usual. Slick never showed any sign of shedding, so I was surprised to see skin in the enclosure this morning. So, it brings up a few questions in my mind about snakes after they shed.

Are snakes generally more sensitive to touch after shedding? It is ok to handle the snake? How about the appetite, are they generally hungry or just not in the mood to eat? How many inches will they grow before they shed again and how long before the next shedding?

I've never noticed a sensitivity to touch after shedding.

I don't see a problem with handling them after a shed. Just my opinion.

Some snakes will not eat during the end time of a shed so when the shed takes place they are hungry. Many of my snakes eat all the way through a shed cycle.
Many of my snakes are hungry all the time anyway.:D
Shed cycle and growth cycles are an individual snake thing along with the amount of food they are given and the frequency.

I wouldn't use a shed as an accurate way to measure a snake. As a rule sheds are longer than the snake actually is.

[RedSidedSPR]

I never heard of the sensitivity.. mine defiantly doesn't do that.. he actually seems to be calmer and hungrier the week right after a shed then any other time.. Can;t help ya there. Weird.


I wouldn't use a shed as an accurate way to measure a snake. As a rule sheds are longer than the snake actually is.

oh... shucks:D I guess my snake is more like 23 inches... he's too jumpy to stretch him out... how do you measure?

[d_virginiana]

Mine usually won't eat between the time his eyes go blue and the time he sheds. Then he eats like there's no tomorrow as soon as he sheds. I've also noticed that he spends almost all of his time in his hide right before a shed, and then is way more active right after. Never noticed any sensitivity or anything after a shed.. Just a lot more energy.

[ConcinusMan]

It's just not a good time to mess with snakes. The time when their eyes go cloudy up until a day or two after they shed. They're going to be cranky and/or jumpy. It's a cycle, and every guy knows not to mess with his girl, errr.. snake, when it's going through it's cycle.:cool:

Like Steve said, you can't measure a snake by it's skin. Try this: Apps (http://serpwidgets.com/Apps/measure.html)

Let them make the first move. After they shed, they will likely come out and start being inquisitive/exploring/watching. That's a good time to offer them something. Same applies to your girl."Roger that" :p

[kibakiba]

You hit the nail on the head Richard ... About girls that is. :D

My snakes will take food even when they're shedding. That is, in the middle of a shed. When I did that, I didn't realize she was shedding, she was half buried,and came up to my hand.

[ConcinusMan]

You hit the nail on the head Richard ... About girls that is. :D

Now if I could just find a pretty woman that doesn't mind braining/chopping pinkies, digging for worms, loves snakes, and poking dead things with a stick, I'd have it made.:rolleyes:

Until then, it's me an my slithery garter girls. I think Miss Piggy would get jealous anyway.:cool:

[kibakiba]

Hah. I think my boyfriend is just grateful I like reptiles, as he wants a few once we live together, if that ever happens. He likes bigger snakes and doesn't really seem to understand my fascination with garter snakes, but I'll make him understand how awesome they are when we live together. :D

[Mommy2many]

Now if I could just find a pretty woman that doesn't mind braining/chopping pinkies, digging for worms, loves snakes, and poking dead things with a stick, I'd have it made.:rolleyes:




They are out there. I love snakes, digging for worms, hunting slugs and chopping up pinkies and fish; however, I am already spoken for. Gotta keep looking. You'd be surprised at how many girls grew up catching garter snakes.:D

(For you and yours with their minds in the gutter, Cut it OUT!)

[ConcinusMan]

(For you and yours with their minds in the gutter, Cut it OUT!)

Oh shoot! How did you know?:p

[Hazeldarc]

my garter Pandora is in her shed cycle now her eyes are fully clouded also but i need to know if i should worry about the fact she wont eat and she hasnt for like a week and a half almost two when she shed before she would still eat so this time im puzzled....

[ConcinusMan]

What many people don't realize is that snakes eat when the opportunity arises. They have adopted this behavior because in the wild, you never know how long it's going to be until your next meal. They will eat more than they need to, even if they aren't hungry, for a period of time. It's this schedule that you get used to. Well, when they've built up a lot of reserves (stored fat & nutrients) and there's no room to store anymore, they'll stop eating. A couple of weeks of not eating, as long as your snake has eaten well before that, is nothing to worry about. Perfectly normal.

[guidofatherof5]

my garter Pandora is in her shed cycle now her eyes are fully clouded also but i need to know if i should worry about the fact she wont eat and she hasnt for like a week and a half almost two when she shed before she would still eat so this time im puzzled....

Snakes they are a changing.
Richard put it very well. Nothing to worry about at this point.