To clean or not to clean during shed cycle.

[Striker]

Hi

Once again I might be overthinking things, but it's just easy to ask for opinion here.

My Olive hatchling needs the paper in her click clack changed, but she is in a shed cycle. Do I leave her alone in a dirty click clack until she has shed, or should I take her out regardless and clean it out?

 

[JrFear]

clean it! takes 2 mins

 

[Albino93]

hi there
i would still change the paper, disturbing her once shouldnt be harmful, it takes out the risk of an RI...but thats just my opinion

 

[slim6y]

IMO (personal only) I left my animals when they were clearly in shed - often they go 'shed' blind (ie the scale over their eyes goes opaque) and this means they have troubles seeing and can have an undesirable response to your desirable intention.

They don't move around a lot when they're up for shedding and it's not good (so I hear) to handle a snake when they're shedding - it could bring on a bad shed...

However... On saying that - I've accidentally handled my spotteds when they were shedding (when I didn't realise) and nothing bad happened... But I also had made it easy to clean their cages while they were in their hides - meaning I often didn't have to remove them when in their hide.

One way to do this is to have a hide off the ground (in tall enclosures) - my coastals used to spend 90% of their time off the ground meaning I could clean cages till the cows came home and I'd get nothing more than a tongue flick to see if I was bringing food!

 

[CrystalMoon]

I have hides I can lift my guys up and out of their enclosure, so I have no qualms in moving them. I have accidentally moved my 2.5 year old Coastal when she was in the blue eye phase and she was fine. I do try not to pick them up though just my thoughts

 

[JrFear]

i handle my snakes all the time while in shed mode never had a problem! when i catch them shedding i take them out and help them!

 

[Striker]

Done -it's clean. Thanks for the suggestions. She is opaque so still a few days left. I figured it was better to clean it. Just wanted to make sure there was no serious consequence and from the suggestions above there isn't. Thanks again.

 

[borntobnude]

as crystal said / sort of / you can attach a thin base to your hides so it is no problem to just lift the hide and snake out in one easy move . having said thati would leave them alone but the boos likes her snake to have clean homes