Help my baby ->

ScalelessTime · 11-24-13, 07:39 AM

Hello, I have a adolescent Western Milksnake who I named Whyuld who hasn't eaten in the passed 6 days. When I first found him on Tuesday (his feeding day) he was a very dark brown, had a gray tone, and hazed eyes. So I decided, on Saturday, I will clean his cage. When I set him into a separate container, his colors began to appear more brighter and the color of his eyes where showing. With a little glimpse of hope, I tried feeding him another pinkie. Of course, he didn't eat it. Now that his cage is clean, his colors are brighter, you can see his eyes, and plus he is more active. But he still refuses to eat his pinkie. Is there a trick I can get to help with this situation?

Since I am an amateur when it comes to snakes, I also had a second thought. "Maybe he is at his shedding period?" But I don't think that would effect his eating habits. Since it's been about 6 days now, he hasn't shed, I'm starting to think that wasn't the issue. Can anyone help me? I'd like to get some food in him to stop my worries.

Jim Smith · 11-24-13, 07:47 AM

I suspect that you're guess is correct. What you described is exactly what I would expect to see if your snake is preparing to shed it's skin. Their colors may dull a bit and the eyes get a milky bluish tint to them. Then the eyes clear up and in a couple of days they shed their skin. Do not worry about your baby not eating for six days. Many if not most snakes go off their routine feeding schedule when they are preparing to shed. You baby should shed in a couple of days and be back to feeding as usual. Depending on how old your snake is, you can expect it to shed as frequently as once a month for very young snakes to a couple of times a year for mature snakes.

ScalelessTime · 11-24-13, 07:54 AM

Thank you.

sharthun · 11-24-13, 08:35 AM

Hey and welcome! Post pics of your baby after shedding.

wrecker45 · 11-24-13, 08:41 AM

Put a wet paper towel in its hide.

sharthun · 11-24-13, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrecker45

Put a wet paper towel in its hide.

Or moisten some sphagnum moss.Both work well.

formica · 11-24-13, 11:07 AM

dont try to feed him again until he's shed, he's obviuosly not interested, some snakes dont eat when they are in shed, its nothing to worry about at all

as suggested, a humid hide, hide filledwith damp sphagnum moss, will help make sure he has a good shed....it should all come off in one piece, which u will find left for you in the enclosure one morning soon