Conservationist and
wildlife advocate Ben
Dessen is Reptiles
Department Manager
at Kellyville Pets and is
passionate about
educating newcomers
to the reptile hobby. In
this issue he is out to
dispel some popular
misconceptions.
Reptile FAQs – ‘Myth-busters’ Part Two.
In the last issue of iHerp Australia, a number of the
most common myths and misconceptions surround-
ing the reptile keeping hobby in Australia were
explored. In this issue we continue on our problem
solving quest to find answers to some of the more
commonly asked questions.
“My snake has shed its skin but
has some patches of dry skin still
left on its body - what should I
do?”
When a snake sheds its skin, the old skin should
come off in one perfect piece from the head to the
tip of the animal’s tail. From time to time, a snake
may have a partial shed, which is also referred to as
dysecdysis. This results in patches of the old skin
remaining on various parts of its body.
A partial shed can be caused by a number of
factors. The two most common causes are a lack of
humidity inside the animal’s enclosure, or the
animal itself being dehydrated. Most species of
Australian pythons do not require high levels of
humidity, with the ideal range being between 40-
60%. Extended periods of high humidity can
actually result in a number of other health
Image by Yupa Watchanakit.
complications in the animal, such as respiratory or
bacterial infections. Adequate ventilation together
with an appropriately-sized water bowl generally
provides enough humidity inside a snake’s
enclosure.
If your snake has a partial shed, the old skin must
be removed. Soaking the snake in a plastic tub with
a few centimetres of luke-warm tap water for 5-10
minutes will soften the old skin. Make sure you do
not leave the animal unattended while it is soaking
as it could drown, even in a small amount of water.
Once the snake has been soaked you can gently
peel off any old skin with your fingers (this may be a
two-person job for a larger python). Make sure the
scales that cover the animal’s eyes have also been
removed as these can easily be missed.
Prevention is the best cure when it comes to avoid-
ing a partial shed in your snake. When you notice a
colour change in your animal and become aware
that it is not far off shedding its skin, gently mist the
snake’s body with tap water once a day until it
sheds. There are also a number of ‘shed-assist’
products on the market with natural oils that can
help hydrate the animal’s skin. As with any health
complication, if your snake repeatedly has issues
shedding its skin, you should seek veterinary
assistance.