| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| dizzie85 |
Posted - 13/10/2010 : 20:39:25
As some of you may know I moved Charlie last Thursday into a bigger enclosure.
I decided to feed him on monday (succesfully) which means I havent been able to hold him till today but he appears dull in colour. He didnt look like he was about to strike me he had his toungue out like he was at ease not scared of my hand in there (hes decided his best hide is a tinfoil tubw which I cannot get him out of haha so I touched his back end for him to move forwards and he seems very dull in colour.
Does this mean he is about to shed?
I have had him now 2 weeks and when I got him there was a shed in the rub he was in n the breeder said it was fresh... so 2 weeks on could he be going into shed again or am I imagining it? He was so fresh and lovely coloured now he seems really dull in colour with a grey tint to him...
What should I do? Its been a week since I held him having given him time to settle and feed. Im replacing his water and checking for poop moving the aspen round daily to get my scent round and he seems much more at ease my hand being in the tank but I worry all this time without being held?
Should I attempt to pick him up even so he looks dull in colour and he doesnt seem to be fretting or leave him a few more days??
Thnx guys! Its no fun being an ameteur lol! |
| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| herriotfan |
Posted - 17/10/2010 : 12:50:34
quote:
Originally posted by dizzie85
Good news guys! I came down this morning to a full complete shed in his viv and him looking a gorgeus shiny colour again!! I think he's pooped too not sure but on the top of the shed theres some questionalble looking stuff that can onle be from his guts pmsl!
I was surprised at how erm LONG it is! Can see where his eyes and everything are on the shed! The last one wasnt near as good as this one :D.... One very happy snake owner,,, esp as I mnanaged to pick up I thought he was going into shed correctly :D.
So pleased for you. It sounds like he may well have pooed as he shed, a lot of snakes do, it's quite common.
They look so fresh when they've just shed.
He certainly sounds very relaxed in your company, even when in shed. Mine are like that so I just carry on as normal with them, handling, feeding right through the process. If they were at all stressed I'd leave them alone. I think it just depends on each snake and their owner!
Really pleased it all went so well for you.  |
| dizzie85 |
Posted - 17/10/2010 : 12:30:02
Good news guys! I came down this morning to a full complete shed in his viv and him looking a gorgeus shiny colour again!! I think he's pooped too not sure but on the top of the shed theres some questionalble looking stuff that can onle be from his guts pmsl!
I was surprised at how erm LONG it is! Can see where his eyes and everything are on the shed! The last one wasnt near as good as this one :D.... One very happy snake owner,,, esp as I mnanaged to pick up I thought he was going into shed correctly :D. |
| dizzie85 |
Posted - 15/10/2010 : 21:53:30
Too true :D. Reccomend it to anyone... such a patient bunch you seem with our ameteur questions hehe!
Charlie still looks dull but he seems to be warming to me. Even so Im not picking him up I put my hand in today and he came straight out of his tube... toungue out sniffing and then proceeded into his other hide... that has to show signs of him being confident :D he went slowly and confidently past my hand into his other hide....almost like I wasnt there. Was going to pick him up but as he is so dull have taken the advice not to handle him he deffinately looks worse than he did yesterday his eyes are starting to look cloudier than their normal red so im happy not to hold him and instead just make sure I have his as comfortable as he seems with me messing around in his viv. The fact he came out toungue sniffing and almost completely ignored me as he slithered past me casually to me was such a confidence boost that he seems comfortable and he has been held just not for a week. Arrgh just waiting for the lil guy to shed now hehe!! |
| herriotfan |
Posted - 14/10/2010 : 21:32:12
Hey don't feel bad.....wouldn't be a very good forum if we didn't try to help each other!!  |
| dizzie85 |
Posted - 14/10/2010 : 21:03:18
Wow u guys are so helpful! Thanks for all your advice!! Almost feel as bad as I did when the babies were little running to the health visitors every five minutes over the silliest of things pmsl!
His eyes are looking a little whited over but he doesnt seem threatened when I go to spot check but will leave him be for a few days and then hopefully theres nothing else in my way to go in and finally get some good handling time :D.. Im getting impatient now hehe xx |
| Kellog |
Posted - 14/10/2010 : 10:37:08
I totally agree with everything Danny has said Dizzie. I find my snakes go dull in colour a few days before their eyes go cloudy and you need to remember that once their eyes are cloudy they are virtually blind, so Charlie will probably be very scared....especially as you havent had the chance to get to handle him properly yet for him to get used to you. So leave him be and wait for nature to take its course.
It may be worthwhile reading the sticky on Shedding and dealing with shedding problems so that you know what to expect....hopefully it will help put your mind at rest.
It can be really hard getting pics of your snake, especially as he is so new and not only has he had to settle in with you but he has also had to get used to being moved to a new enclosure, so he is probably a bit jumpy. The flash could be bothering him, although if he is moving away just when you point the camera at him then it is probably the movement he is reacting to. I know some members put something like a rizla paper over the flash to dull it so it doesnt disturb the snake as much. I must admit that I dont and havent had any issues with my 2.
And dont worry about not being a confident snake owner or being paranoid....its only coming up to a fortnight that you have had him so give yourself a break, you are allowed to worry....we all do.
xxx
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| herriotfan |
Posted - 14/10/2010 : 10:35:56
Don't worry about him. It's quite normal for him to hide. He's still very young and hasn't been with you very long at all. He will still be settling in. It sounds as if he probably is going into shed mode. That makes some snakes want to hide away. There's nothing wrong with you handling him IF he's happy for you to do so. However if he wants to be left alone then just leave him until he's shed. Don't worry if this clashes with a feed being due. It won't matter if he misses a feed while shedding, snakes can go a long time without food. Before too long you'll have a fresh looking snake!!  |
| DannyBrown91 |
Posted - 13/10/2010 : 21:47:44
Don't worry about lack of handling. If anything its probably better for him. Id personally leave him, i leave mine as much as i can when there in shed, but its up to you. Others handle theirs as usual its just down to personal prefference.
Although some of the little'ns can become stressed if handled when in blue. |
| dizzie85 |
Posted - 13/10/2010 : 21:03:24
Thankyou. Am I ok to try to hold him If he doesnt seem threatened or should I leave him. Im just concerned all this time without handling him and he is only 10weeks old? Its been a week so far since I last held him. |
| DannyBrown91 |
Posted - 13/10/2010 : 21:01:34
Its sounds like he may be coming into the first stage. You will probably find that within a few days his eyes go cloudy. Eventually he will clear up and shortly after that will shed. |
| dizzie85 |
Posted - 13/10/2010 : 20:58:55
Id love to though I had the camera out on him lots n ok I might sound crazy here but as soon as I get it towards him he rushes back into his hide. When I fed him on monday I watched him feed but wanted a video so I moved the camera gently towards the glass and he shot back into his hide with his pinkie which left me panicking on wether he would bring it back up or not.(he didnt). He seems fine with me but everytime I get the camera out he shoots for the closest hide! Im thinkig thats the flash... Or I could be being paranoid!? Im not a confident snake owner yet but it does seem as soon as he sees me hanging a camera his direction he shoots into the closest hide wheras I have been sitting with my hand in the viv n he has been getting slowly closer with his tounge sniffing at me. i#ts been a week since I held him I tried yesterday but couldnt get him out of the tube he was having none of it today he was much more keen to get smelling with his tounge I did but me and my partner both agreed he deffinately is very dull looking almost gray! with a hint of the colour beneath him. Im happy to take a pic If i have to but wont it stress him or am I imagining it pmsl! SOrry to be so ameteur!!! You can do all the reading in the world but it doesnt prepare you totally for your first snake! |
| smiffy89 |
Posted - 13/10/2010 : 20:48:17
maybe if u cud upload a pic so we can see u wud get an answer back in no time
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