She’s been in blue for 2-3 days, so it shouldn’t be too long now! The image is from her day 1 of being in blue, she was cruising around like crazy to scout out a cozy spot. She’s settled (and immediately pooped) in her warm hide, and stayed in there since.

I was actually a bit worried about an RI before the blue, because she started whistling!! But apparently that’s more or less normal for Black Pastels because their noses are weird :')

  • Elevator7009@kbin.run
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    8 months ago

    For non-snake-owners, I’m also not one and had to look up “in blue” (I just look up pictures of the cute things online).

    The blue color of a snake is a sign of impending shedding. In “blue” is a thing that happens a few days before a snake sheds its skin.

    Its eyes get clouded over for a day or two and can sometimes have a slightly blue tint to them.The blue color of a snake is a sign of impending shedding. In “blue” is a thing that happens a few days before a snake sheds its skin.

    zooawesome.com

    Not sure how credible this is to be honest.

    I love that @python@programming.dev is on programming.dev and posting snakes.

    • Python@programming.devOP
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      8 months ago

      holy hell, that web page is … certainly something. I hope it’s AI generated, I would not like to be in the same room as the person who is deranged enough to write like that haha

      They almost got the thing about being in blue right! “Blue” is the second stage of an Ecdysis Cycle. The upper layer of skin is in the process of separating, which gives the distinct blue look. Lasts about 5-10 days approximately, but that really depends on the individual animal and their habitat.

      Snakes don’t have eyelids, so the caps covering their eyeballs are modified scales and part of their skin. Which is why they usually are jumpy and fearful during blue, because they can’t see very well with two layers of eyecaps and the fluid buildup that makes them look cloudy.

      The blue stage isn’t directly followed by a shed, but rather by a weird stage where the snake clears up and almost looks like they’ve already shed. That later stage also takes like 3-7 days. When they’re ready, they will rub their noses on a rock or some other rough surface to get the shed started and then slip/roll the old skin away in one big piece.

      Revy completed her shed last night, so it took her about 10 days in total after her day 1 of blue :)

      Now, funny quotes from that website:

      Usually, during this time a snake will not feed if offered food.

      This is normal and nothing to worry about, but if your snake does not eat after 2 or 3 days then you should take it to an experienced reptile vet for advice.

      The part about not eating while in shed is correct, but that second part is so wrong that it’s actually dangerous!! Most healthy snakes can go off food for weeks or months, without any ill effects on them. It’s perfectly normal for them. A trip to the vet might actually stress them into having actual issues or prolong the time that they refuse food. Personally I’m a proponent of just letting the snake do their thing and decide for themselves when they’re hungry. They can communicate that clearly enough.

      During the winter months of each year, some snakes lose their natural camouflage when they shed their skin each spring. These snakes will turn blue during this time because there is no pigment left on their skin.

      ??? no, nothing happens to their pigment during winter. A snakes color can slightly change during their lifetime, but it’s super subtle. The blue isn’t a pigment, but a fluid under their old skin.

      Once this happens, these snakes will become more vulnerable to predators such as birds and other animals who can see them easily now that there are no longer any colors covering them up. Snakes do not normally survive long once they reach this state; however, if you notice your snake in this condition then you need to get him or her out of his or her enclosure immediately!

      You heard it here, jump into your snakes enclosure like a body guard saving the president because… their skin is weird?

      Snakes cannot use their tongues to “stretch” out and get more food. They are not able to physically reach their prey when they are in blue.

      No, they’re just… kinda blind, and itchy. I don’t even understand the tongue part.

      You should also watch his behavior closely and make sure that he does not try to eat himself (constricting) or any other objects in the tank such as rocks or logs.

      Idk how it is with other snake species, but Pythons have heat pits around their noses. They use them to “see” the heat around them, it’s a very important tool for hunting at night. So Pythons aren’t likely to even see anything that is not around 37°C as food. I don’t think they’re at risk of eating logs or rocks lol

      Such behavior is usually indicative of pain or stress in your pet’s life, which could be due to poor diet or lack of exercise in the form of handling by its owner.

      Not exactly wrong, but exercise and handling is a hot issue. Despite what breeders will claim, a lot of snakes love exploring and climbing. So they can get great exercise when you let them do that, either through an enriching and varied environment in their enclosure or by allowing them to roam around outside their enclosure. Being outside the enclosure does not have to mean handling. A set or perches and branches, a play tent or just a cluttered desk can provide a great space to explore. Handling isn’t bad per se, but it’s rare for a snake to actively seek it out. So the current guess is they probably don’t enjoy it, even if they’re tolerant of it. So the approach of choice-based handling is currently gaining popularity in modern snake keeper circles :)

      Do not touch your snake or call it by its name. It’s important to keep a safe distance between yourself and the reptile at all times, even when it’s not in blue.

      That’s maybe a bit too much tho

      And finally my favorite:

      Keep your snake away from children and pregnant women.

      • Elevator7009@kbin.run
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        7 months ago

        I also guessed it was AI-generated, did not realize how inaccurate it was. Thank you for all the corrections, it’s super informative!