I have a garter snake and just two days ago his eyes were starting to become a milky color and I thought he was about to go through his shedding period but then after a day, his eyes went back to a clear and glossy look. Im so confused on whats going on. Can someone tell me if he is going to shed or something? I would like to handle him but then I read that when snakes are about to go through their shedding period, they can be agressive and unpredictable. Help please!
2006-08-06 12:45:58 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Reptiles
I have been feeding him rosey reds and nightcrawlers. His color seems a little darker or duller. He sits under his little wood home thing most of the time, and doesnt move much. Of course hes still alive but yes. So if snakes are about to shed, then they refuse to eat? ay carumba, im confused. haha, thank you to those who answer my question :0)
Oh yes, and if you wanted to know, his name is Captain Jack Sparrow, but I call him Jack for short of course, haha.
2006-08-06 19:48:04 · update #1
my garter snake has shed today! woot! i took out the shedded skin and everything is in one piece(just some parts are twisted and a little ripped because i guess he was rubbing on the piece of wood in his tank) and fine but i was looking at it, and i only saw one eyecap. does that mean its still on his eye? but i looked at his eyes and they both look fine...do you think it has fallen off somewhere in his tank?
2006-08-07 09:09:36 · update #2
If your snake is shedding that means that it is hungry.Don't worry the snake won't change except for it's skin
2006-08-06 12:52:22 · answer #1 · answered by WadeX2006 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Snakes can get a little more aggressive when they are ready to shed, but that's because they are irritated and can't see as well. It depends on the snake though. I had a corn snake, and she didn't mind being handled when she was ready to shed.
Was there any other change other than the eye color? Do the colors of the scales seem duller than normal? Sometimes with my corn snake, she seemed ready to shed, then wasn't. When that happened, she usually shed soon after.
Also, be sure you have something in the tank for the snake to help itself shed, a large water dish and a store-bough branch are both good. Something the bedding you have can be helpful too. When my snake shed, she had pellet-type bedding, and she would burrow through it to help herself shed.
2006-08-06 17:06:17 · answer #2 · answered by Michelle R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Corn Snakes are usually good for beginners as they tend to be fairly laid back temperament wise, they can grow to about 6ft long. If you get a snake from a reputable place they should be able to give you a feeding record of what the snake has been eating and how often, also details of how often they have shed their skin. Snakes in general are quite easy to look after, but they are still a big responsibility. I have added some sites with info for newcomers to herpetology!
2016-03-27 01:30:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There eyes will clear up right before they shed. They usually only stay milky for a couple days. So either he's really close to shedding. Or he may have shed all ready. Check in the bedding to see if the skin is buried.
2006-08-06 14:14:32 · answer #4 · answered by Boober Fraggle 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most snakes go 'blue' or cloudy-looking, and then clear up for several days prior to shedding. You can handle him as long as his eyes are clear, but do not try to feed him until you see that he has shed, because he probably won't take it.
Snakes are usually only aggressive when their eyes are cloudy because they can't see well. If they're clear, you should be fine. Make sure you check under all his hiding places, he could have shed without you seeing it.
2006-08-06 17:14:51 · answer #5 · answered by Dreamer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
before any snake sheds the liquid (the stuff that makes the snake's eyes look blueish) that is between the old skin and new skin disappears and then usually after it clears the snake sheds within a day or two...i'm pretty sure your snake will shed soon...and i handle all my snakes when they're in a shed and they're fine...only my baby ball python flinches and gets a little nervous at times...
2006-08-07 08:56:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
only if the eyes are grey it is because they can not see well if the eyes are clear you can handle them
when he does shed be sure to make sure it comes off the tail sometimes a lottle piece will stay and cut off the circulation causeing the tail to fall off if the skin did not come off soak the end of the tail in water and help it off
also look at the skin he shed and make sure both eye caps are there sometimes they will stick
I have never had the problem but it could happen
i
2006-08-06 13:03:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would call the zoo. They know all about that stuff. Normally the milky color is an indication of shedding but I think there is some sort of little disease they can get that does that but I am not positive. Even if it did bite you, I doubt it would even break the skin since their teeth are so little you can't even see them and are designed for little bugs and minnows and such.
2006-08-06 12:52:59 · answer #8 · answered by Tony T 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
garter snakes shed several times a year as they grow. make sure he has a nice rock to rub against and also some water. we fed ours night crawlers all winter. when he stops eating he will get dull in the eyes and shed. they are really not that bad as far as being aggressive. my son put them in the shower alot and cooled them after shedding and fed them good. they do emit odors musty to
2006-08-06 12:57:26 · answer #9 · answered by petloverlady 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thats normal, they become a milky color go back to normal coloring then shed their skin, or at least thats what mine does.
2006-08-06 15:43:29 · answer #10 · answered by psycho_sweetie_92 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋