Sad Woma

[Silver]

:? I am new to the snake world, even newer to the Woma world. Might seem like a stupid question, but need to know if it's normal or I should be taking him to the vet
My 18 month Woma has gone very dark, and wont come out of his hide. I have only had him aroun a month. Is he just getting ready to shed, or is there something else I should be concerned about? He fed last Friday.

 

[J-A-X]

He will be fine, mine 'sulks' before she sheds too, going darker and duller is perfectly normal, you may or maynot have noticed his eyes go blue/cloudy and its about 5 days after that they will shed. Some go off their food, others will eat less than 12 hours before hand, they all differ slightly
No such thing as a stupid question, only stupid answers, and you'll see quite a few of them on APS,

post a pic of your new 'baby' and also what he is housed in, what temps he's at etc,

 

[Silver]

Thanks for that, was worried of an 'attack' on owning a reptile and not knowing everything about it. Eyes seem OK at the moment, though I know what you mean, my NT Carpet I can read like a book!!

 

[J-A-X]

LOL, 'attackers' amuse me, they forget what it was like when they got their 'L' plates, you can read all the theory you like, but its not until you have it in front of you that you start learning. not everyone is lucky enough to grow up with Reptiles in the house, so it is a totally new experience for the majority of us. and i bet these same people will get a new car, tv or some other electronic gadget and 'play' with it before refering to the book that it came with ! !

don't rely on seeing his eyes go cloudy, if he's hiding you may not get to see them, in the 5 months that i have had my 5 Darwins (now 7 month old) i have only seen two sets of cloudy eyes, but their eyes are small and mine aren't as young as they use to be .!

I'd love to see a pic of your NT carpet and see how mine stack up

 

[Squinty]

I have found with the womas you notice them start to go dull about a week before their eyes go cloudy. Also their belly scales will have a milky tinge. Once I know they are going to shed I stop feeding. I once made the mistake of feeding one when he was coming up to shed and the meal hadn't been properly digested before he shed and the old skin got caught on the meal in his stomach as it doesn't stretch. I had to help him get it over the meal and luckily it didn't damage or kill him. If I wasn't home he may have died. So be careful feeding when in shed mode!!

 

[No-two]

Womas go extreamly dark over winter as a natural thing, they're probably the worst python you can own for going dull over winter (i.e. 'winter colours').

 

[Rob1165]

I agree there are no stupid questions, just stupid people who do not ask questions. My first snake was 'abandoned' with me when a previous flatmate left suddenly. She'd been keeping her illegally back in the days when it was illegal in NSW.

I well remember trying to findout what to do and having no support (nobody would come out and 'admit' they had a reptile) so I turned to online forums and talked to keepers over seas and kept my location/nationality to myself.

I hasten to add that as soon as licenses were made available I came forward during the moratorium and got a license.

Having the online community is great to share knowledge and bring new keepers up to speed.

I too recently have a Woma and I was at first surprised at how dark it went + how sulky it was just before it shed. After shedding it was happy and hungry. Luckily I was able to recognise the symptoms but if I was an 'L' plater I would have gotten concerned.

 

[J-A-X]

Womas go extreamly dark over winter as a natural thing, they're probably the worst python you can own for going dull over winter (i.e. 'winter colours').

Nice to see people who will admit to not always knowing everything, very refreshing Rob, and see... i've learnt something from No-two too, i never knew that pythons have 'winter colours' i thought my coastal was so dark because she is getting older ! ! she's 2 1/2 and has bulked up rapidly in the last few months and i didn't notice her getting any darker, but this year i have definately noticed the difference... so hopefully she will get a bit lighter as summer nears .. great news

 

[Southside Morelia]

the old skin got caught on the meal in his stomach as it doesn't stretch. I had to help him get it over the meal and luckily it didn't damage or kill him. If I wasn't home he may have died. So be careful feeding when in shed mode!!

Are you serious??? That is a ludicrous statement.....based on what....feeding in "shed mode" PMSL

 

[J-A-X]

one of my Juvi's will eat late at night and i will find a slough the next morning, and no, he doesn't seem to show any noticeable signs of sloughing, but it doesn't seem to bother him in the slightest,

me on the other hand, i'm often in 'shed mode' - out there in the cold and dark, making enclosure ..... in the shed.........while the snakes are inside, nice and warm.... can anyone see anything wrong with that picture .........sigh

 

[Rob1165]

Nice to see people who will admit to not always knowing everything, very refreshing Rob, and see... i've learnt something from No-two too, i never knew that pythons have 'winter colours' i thought my coastal was so dark because she is getting older ! ! she's 2 1/2 and has bulked up rapidly in the last few months and i didn't notice her getting any darker, but this year i have definately noticed the difference... so hopefully she will get a bit lighter as summer nears .. great news

I had my original Coastal for near on 16yrs and she was a cranky bitey abused untrusting ~5-7yr old when I got her but given advice I settled her into a lovely calm darling character, I am today still learning.

I am now learning the ways of the Woma. That's why I had a look at this topic.

I work in an industry where some are too quick to coin the phrase "I know all about ....." and quickly it becomes plain how little useful information and knowledge they do really have. In job interviews for employees I look for those that can learn rather than a ‘know it all’ because there is far too much to know.

 

[J-A-X]

i will never be to old or to proud to learn something new, and happily admit i know a lot less than everything

I work in an industry where some are too quick to coin the phrase "I know all about ....." and quickly it becomes plain how little useful information and knowledge they do really have. In job interviews for employees I look for those that can learn rather than a ‘know it all’ because there is far too much to know.[/FONT]

PMSL,you dont work in IT by any chance do you....

 

[Squinty]

Because I fed it when it was close to shed it couldn't get the old skin past it's stomach. I called a friend who has kept snakes for 25 years and he advised that if I didn't help it he may die. Since then I have not fed once I notice any of my snakes coming to shed. No need to be a ****wit

 

[J-A-X]

Because I fed it when it was close to shed Since then I have not fed once I notice any of my snakes coming to shed. No need to be a ****wit

in over 18mths of cruising this forum this is the first time i have seen "it couldn't get the old skin past it's stomach.......... he advised that if I didn't help it he may die". I am not suggesting for a moment that it is not possible. I have been lucky enough to see my older python slough on many occasions, and most recently only 4 days after a feed, i wasn't aware she was shedding until she stuck her head out of the 'hot hide' and slammed the rat, and i noticed cloudy eyes. She had no more trouble shedding 4 days later than she normally has, and until this time she would refuse food when sloughing, i would suggest yours is an exception rather than the norm. Next time leave the name calling out of your posts, it makes you sound like the ****** !

 

[Dipcdame]

Totally agree with Jax, I am just so over the name calling................. why does one feel they have to put a name to someone they disagree with?

 

[Silver]

Thanks to everyone for their input. I don't input much, as I feel quite intimidated by some of the comments, but I have a bit more confidence now that not everyone here knows everything!!
Jax, will endeavour to get you some pix. Have a great day everyone!!

 

[Southside Morelia]

Thanks to everyone for their input. I don't input much, as I feel quite intimidated by some of the comments, but I have a bit more confidence now that not everyone here knows everything!!
Jax, will endeavour to get you some pix. Have a great day everyone!!

Your woma is fine Silver, as some have said, good luck with it...
My apologies for my post, although I find it hard to read absolute rubbish information/advice given to someone that is asking a sensible question. I too am learning everyday about my animals and life in general....but it really peeves me off to see the number 1 herp forum site in Australia, have the older wiser crew not post here anymore because of silly name calling and even sillier posts from the ill informed....its a shame for he hobby and the newbies that are generally trying to find educated and informative information about the hobby. I better get back to setting up my bathroom with scented candles and some relaxing music as I just noticed one of my animals is about to slough... woops..sorry is in "shed mode", so I better give it a relaxing bath to help with the "shed" while in the "mode" and not go to work in case he dies.....

 

[REPTILIAN-KMAN]

when ever your snakes are down offer them a PROZAC in their water bowl- it makes them feel better !!

( not really ) for those who will post a comment to this !

 

[REPTILIAN-KMAN]

SILVER ! dont worry about what u rite or post up there are always people that will shoot others down to make them sound more educated in the care or reptiles ! no question is stupid but people seem to think that intelligence is gained by having ago at others !

i have female woma and shes a cutie little thing she always wants to be played with and loves all the attention she gets in our place !

 

[syeph8]

Thanks to everyone for their input. I don't input much, as I feel quite intimidated by some of the comments, but I have a bit more confidence now that not everyone here knows everything!!
Jax, will endeavour to get you some pix. Have a great day everyone!!

hahah i know everything! go on, ask me a question

in fact not a single person on this forum or any other knows everything, you will find that a lot of the people on internet forums know next to nothing over and above what google will tell them, but say it with attitude because you didnt use google and instead opted to ask people with hands on experience and then do some research whilst waiting for intelligent responses from a primary resource. (i have never been guilty of such a heinous act but have witnessed the carnage ensuing, which is why i can understand your reluctance to post)


good luck