iHerp Australia Issue 3 | Page 36

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