moulting or, more correctly, ecdysis.
Reptiles never stop growing and never stop shedding,
but young, actively growing specimens will shed far
more frequently than adults. Prior to shedding,
snakes will typically stop eating and seek out a safe
refuge. The skin will become dull and the eyes appear
milky – resulting in impaired vision – and behaviour
may be more defensive. The snake will rub against
rough surfaces, breaking the old layer of skin near its
mouth, and then peeling it backwards over its body,
like turning a sock inside out. The new skin under-
neath will be more lustrous, but will take a week or
two to fully harden, during which time the reptile
remains at risk. Do not attempt to handle your snake
if it is ‘in shed’ (or about to shed).
An abnormal or incomplete shed is called dysecdysis
and often results from a lack of appropriate humidity
or hydration. This may occur under natural condi-
tions due to reduced rainfall, for example. Lizards
often retain shed on their digits or the tip of their
tails, and this can accumulate and lead to the loss of
these extremities. Similarly, for snakes retained ‘eye
caps’ or spectacles can cause serious problems or
even blindness.
In captivity, it is a straightforward matter to maintain
appropriate levels of humidity in enclosures, and a
large water bowl should be provided so that snakes
can soak prior to shedding. A number of simple tech-
niques can be used to assist reptiles to complete a
problem shed. Merely increasing humidity may do the
trick; misting or spraying the animal periodically with
tepid water may also help. Soaking in a shallow
container or bath is another useful remedy, but do not
leave your animal unattended. You can also place
your snake between moist towels, which as well as
soaking the skin, provide some friction to remove
retained shed.
Always check your snake’s shed to make sure that it
includes the eye caps, because if these have been
retained by the animal they will need to be removed.
If in doubt, or you have any reason to believe that
other factors may be resulting in dysecdysis, consult
your veterinarian.
Finally, although turtles do not shed in the same
manner as lizards or snakes, a small amount of skin
shedding is no cause for concern. Excessive shedding
can be symptomatic of overfeeding or overheating
(both of which can lead to health problems) or
possibly of a fungal condition.
So everybody sloughs! Drop us a line if you have a topic
for our next ‘Please Explain.’
Strange Shed:
Some geckos will consume
their shed, in a bizarre form of
reptile recycling!
Since the outer layer is shed
from both the outer and under-
side of scales (i.e. each has two
sides), a snake’s intact shed is
frequently nearly double the
length of the animal itself.
Reptile skin is slow to heal, and
for snakes and lizards much of
the healing process takes place
in conjunction with the shed
cycle. Intriguingly, wounds
that run lengthwise (or from
head to tail) heal quicker than
those that are from side to side.
AD