My ball python finished his shed last night a day before his normal feeding he refuse his meal.?

Question

How long should i wait to feed him and handle him right after a shed? please advise

Answer 1

It is normal for snakes to refuse to eat the day before, the day of, the day after they shed. It is also normal for them to refuse to eat when it is too cold. Many snakes go for a couple months without eating in the winter, which is normal, and mimics their behaviour in the wild.

If you think coldness might be the cause, increase heat with a more powerful heat lamp and/or heating pad. His hot spot should be about 88F, but make sure he still has access to a cool area at around 78-80F. Make sure that his tank is humid enough; spray him every day.

Now that he's shed, I'd offer him something to eat right away. Snakes are typically very hungry right after they shed. If he still refuses, try again next week, or after he defecates.

And if he still refuses, don't get concerned for another few weeks; just make sure that you are meeting his care requirements.

Answer 2

I would wait a couple of days. My daughter had a ball python that refused to eat for some weeks, and then we figured out he was too cold, so his last meal hadn't properly digested. We got a hot rock, only to find out they are too hot for snakes (don't believe what the packages tell you) and he was burned (another whole set of stuff). If you think he could be too cold, get a heat lamp to shine on part of the cage where he can "sun" himself. He should eat after a few days. My daughter's snake went without eating for over a month and it didn't hurt him at all. By the way, he's fine now. He got really sick after being burned (which we didn't know had happend) went to the vet and he got some antibiotics - fun to give a snake - and after some baths (to get rid of the dead skin he hadn't properly shed), he is as happy as ever! That's been over a year ago...

Answer 3

Ball pythons get like that. When i moved for college, mine didn't eat for over a month, but you shouldn't worry, because I have heard of them refusing to eat for 6 months or longer and they were just fine. Don't try to force food at your snake. just wait until the next time you would feed him and try again, don't keep trying every day or every other day, because you can stress your snake out. If he doesn't eat next time, just keep going with the regular schedule until he eats it. If it goes on for a few months (which I suspect it won't) you can take him to a vet or reptile specialist, and they can force feed him, but only do this as a last resort, because it is very stressful to the snake and is probably unnecessary. Anyway, good luck with your snake, and don't get too worried, ball pythons are finicky sometimes :)!

Answer 4

Basically when the eyes go that opaque/milky colour then their sight becomes increasingly bad. This naturally makes the snake very nervous and this is what you want to avoid. You will also find that if you try feed her just before the eyes go this colour the she might not eat it. Don't be alarmed. Snakes can go without food for quite some time but always keep fresh water for them. So wait until she has shed her skin and then you can feed her. Everything should be fine.

Answer 5

My ball is a VERY picky eater... she won't eat sometimes and then a day later I try again and she goes right for it. What everyone says about it being too cold and stuff is very true they are extremely vulnerable to their surroundings. As far as the shedding thing... it's kinda like they have sunburn when they have their new skin and it hurts them when you touch them, I usually give it 2 days or so, I would wait a few more days than that before trying to feed it...

Answer 6

I wait a week between offering food if food is refused. The only one who ever goes longer than one skipped meal is the Ball python, I just don't think they eat like"normal" snakes.

Answer 7

Never feed a snake during their shedding.

Answer 8

My milksnake gets like that sometimes. I'd give him a couple of days - the new scales can be quite sensitive. After that, you should be fine.

Answer 9

you can hold it wan it shed and anytime it don't mater it only wan it is eating you have to Wait 24 hrs

Answer 10

well ive never had snakes, but I know from tv, they get moody, they cant see well.Its kinda like pms for snakes.I would leave him alone for a couple days.