The presence of snake sheds is notable in the animal kingdom. While no other animal sheds this way, it’s completely normal in snakes. So, why do snakes shed, and as pet owners, is there anything we should do about it?
Snakes shed because they grow out of their old skin, which becomes obsolete. Additionally, shedding their skin removes harmful parasites that may live within their scales. All animals, including humans, shed skin cells. Snakes are unique in that they shed their entire skin at once.
Shedding is a natural process that’s essential for a snake’s health. Continue reading to learn why snakes shed, how the shedding process works, and what you can do as a pet owner to ensure your snake sheds naturally.
Why Do Snakes Shed?
The process of snake shedding, also known as ecdysis, involves completely removing the outer skin to make way for new skin. Ecdysis is the general term for insects which shed their exoskeletons in the same way as they grow.
Snakes shed to remove harmful parasites or to grow out of their old skinand reveal new skin. Snakes are unique in the animal kingdom as the only vertebrate that can perform ecdysis. All vertebrates shed their skin cells but do so in an ongoing process so that the shedding is imperceivable.
Shedding in snakes is a natural part of their immune system, and hormones regulate periodic shedding to ensure that snakes stay healthy. For juvenile snakes, shedding is much more common and is a way of discarding their confining old skin as they produce larger skin with more cells.
However, adult snakes still shed even as they age, albeit not as frequently. Snake shedding is necessary to remove harmful viruses or parasites that can populate the spaces between snake scales over time.
What Does It Mean When Snakes Shed Their Skin?
When snakes shed their skin, it means that they are ready to produce new skin. This is part of a snake’s biological clock. Snakes need to shed as part of their survival and cannot live without the process. They will also shed to rid their scales of bacteria and parasites.
Snakes, among other reptiles, are indeterminate growers that continue to grow until they die.
While snakes never stop growing, they grow the most in their juvenile period and rapidly slow down growth as they age. In older snakes, shedding is needed to exchange their old skins, which can house parasites.
Additionally, according to the Will County Forest Preserve District, female snakes will shed before and after giving birth to ensure a healthy pregnancy.
When Does Snake Shed Its Skin?
Before a snake sheds, it will become bluish-white, similar to how skin pales. This coloration is normal and happens as the snake loses blood flow to their outer skin in preparation for its shed.
Snakes shed their skin a few times a year in preparation for new skin. The snake’s eyes will cloud over, and it will become temporarily blind until it can initiate the shedding process. Because of their limited eyesight, snakes typically seek cover in preparation for a shed.
Snakes do not have eyelids, only very delicate eyecaps. It’s important not to disturb the shedding process because any damage to their eyes or eye caps can result in permanent eyesight loss.
Also, snakes will not eat during the shedding process and, when they are ready to shed, they will lose their appetite altogether. It’s important not to try feeding them while they are shedding, even if they are behind on their schedule.
Due to their temporary blindness, they become much more guarded and aggressive. This anxiety is a defense mechanism to ensure the snake sheds safely.
How Do Snakes Shed?
To initiate shedding, snakes will begin to rub their head on an abrasive surface, such as a rock or a rough piece of wood. Once they break the skin, they start wiggling out of it by moving through tight spaces and using obstacles to pull the skin away.
Over time, typically days or weeks, the snake will peel the skin away and eventually free itself from its shed completely.
While this process is lengthy, it involves generating new scales as the snake is shedding. If a snake were to lose its entire shed at once, it would require additional time to build up its new skin and become susceptible to injury or infections.
Snakes will shed instinctually and efficiently. When this happens, it’s best not to interfere with the process, as this can hinder the snake’s ability to shed fully.
Does Shedding Hurt Snakes?
A snake shed is the collection of dead cells on a snake’s exterior. Not only does the shed prevent vision and limit motion, but it’s also very uncomfortable to carry around all day. The old cells constantly rub against the new cells, similar to how clothing feels that we’ve worn too long.
Shedding does not hurt snakes. Because of the discomfort of having to carry extra skin around, the skjin shedding process is probably quite enjoyable in snakes. Snakes shed because they need to. The process is necessary for their comfort and health.
While snakes may become aggressive during the shedding process, they do so because of their limited senses, not because of physical discomfort.
How Often Do Snakes Shed?
Snake shedding occurs roughly every 1-3 months in adult snakes or about 4-12 times a year. While snake shedding occurs naturally to allow snakes to grow larger, the frequency of shedding shifts drastically as they age.
In all cases, a snake’s growth rate decreases as it ages.
Newborn snakes will grow rapidly and frequently shed, up to once every 1-2 weeks in some juvenile snakes. As they reach their minimum adult size, the shedding frequency slows down and settles into a more regular schedule.
In most cases, you can expect snakes to shed regularly and go about the process naturally. However, this schedule can become disrupted in female snakes when they become pregnant. After pregnancy, the mother will adjust to a new shedding schedule.
How Long Does It Take for a Snake to Shed?
It usually takes about one to two weeks for a snake to shed completely. This process includes the moment they break their shed to the complete shed removal. The time before they shed, when their skin becomes opaque and colorless, may take up to an additional week.
The frequency of shedding also correlates with the time it takes to shed completely.
Do Snakes Shed Their Skin Where They Live?
Snakes shed their skins where they live, just like other animals shed fur where they live. While the process isn’t as noticeable in humans or other pets (until you’re ready to dust, that is), the presence of snake skin in their tank or habitat is entirely natural.
In the wild, snake sheds are essential indicators to humans, predators, and prey because they show the range and type of snakes in that area.
Knowing that a venomous snake (or a species mimicking one) is nearby is essential information for other species that may want to stay clear of any dangers.
Can You Identify a Snake by Its Shed?
In many cases, you can identify a snake by its shed. This knowledge is beneficial if you’re in environments where potentially lethal snakes live and you want to stay safe. The most valuable indicators from the shed are the pattern, scale size, and shed length.
However, determining the exact species is quite tricky without professional expertise, and it’s often impossible to know the difference between lethal snakes and non-lethal snakes that mimic their appearance.
For pet owners, there’s no actual need to identify your snake’s shed outside of simple curiosity.
However, if you find snake sheds on your property that you want to identify, contact a pet removal service, a veterinarian who specializes in reptiles, or an experienced herpetologist (reptile scientist) to determine the snake shed.
Do Snakes Eat Their Shed Skin?
Most snakes in captivity do not eat their shed skin and usually forget about the shed once it’s completely gone. However, some species, notably corn and king snakes, do eat their sheds. Generally, larger snakes that eat other snakes as prey are more likely to eat their shed.
Snakes will eat their shed as a survival mechanism or to supplement their diet. Sheds contain protein and essential nutrients that the snake can use if no other food is available. Additionally, snakes may eat their shed to compensate for the extended period in which they did not receive food.
While it may seem odd that your snake enjoys eating its own skin, there are no health risks associated with it, and the process is normal, albeit uncommon, in adult captive snakes.
How To Preserve Snake Skin Shed?
Snake sheds, if treated appropriately, can make beautiful mounts or decorations in your home. To adequately preserve your snake shed, you must isolate and dry it.
To preserve a snake skin shed, isolate and let it dry a few days. Then, stretch it on a mounting board and nail or glue it on. Once the glue is dry laminate the shed or encase it with glass.
If you want to preserve snake skin shed to use as a decoration, you should ensure that you have a good shed available. You should only retrieve a shed immediately after it’s been removed because sheds that remain in a tank tear, discolor or disintegrate over time.
The shed process can often happen when you don’t expect it, or you might miss when your snake completes their shed. Fortunately, snakes shed regularly, and you can simply wait for the next shed. Just ensure that you don’t help the snake shed faster than naturally, as this can harm the snake.
When preserving a snake shed, Pets on Mom recommends the following steps:
- Remove the shed as soon as possible.
- Stretch the skin gently to remove any creases or folds, straightening it.
- Let the skin dry for a few days while hanging or stretched on a board.
- Once dry, glue the shed to a mounting board with glass or laminate it within a plastic bag.
Is It Good To Keep Snake Skin at Home?
Snake skin, if treated appropriately, is completely safe to have in your home. In many settings, a mounted or preserved snake skin offers a unique aesthetic that can complement similar decor.
Preserved snake skins are good to keep at home. However, fresh, old or any skin that has not been dried or treated is not safe to keep. Snakes remove their skins to eliminate parasites and infections, and fresh snake skin retains those microorganisms.
Ensure that the skin is dried if it’s a shed and treated if it’s preserved skin or stuffed mount from a deceased snake. This action removes harmful microorganisms and represents the actual size of the skin. Snake skin with any moisture is not safe to keep until it has dried out.
Is It OK To Pick Up Snake Skin?
If your pet snake has just shed its skin, you might wonder if it’s fine to pick it up.
It is not okay to pick up snake skin. Snakeskin contains many parasites, including salmonella, which can be harmful to the snake and its owners. While the risk of transmitting diseases is low, maintaining caution and preventing direct contact with the shed is the best practice.
In general, the presence of microorganisms correlates with the moisture of the shed. Refrain from handling the shed with your bare hands until it is completely dried out. Because oils from our skin can affect the shed, the best practice is always handling a shed with gloved hands.
Conclusion
Snakes are unique among vertebrates in their ability to perform ecdysis or shed their entire skin at once. While this process is natural, you should ensure that your snake undergoes shedding as comfortably as possible.
Snakes shed as they grow to discard smaller skins while making way for bigger skins. Additionally, shedding allows snakes to eliminate harmful parasites that populate the spaces between their scales.
Shedding is a normal and comfortable process that takes up to 2 weeks to complete and occurs 4-12 times a year. Younger snakes shed more and take less time to shed than older snakes.