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I have an adult male eastern indigo that is into his 5th mold in 6 months. Let me start with some background...

On May 7, 2006 I was lucky enough to purchase a 1998 male indigo. A heavy 7 footer that is one fantastic snake ... my first indigo.
He shed on 5/30. Again on 7/15. He did have a damaged ventral scale so I assumed he had this second shed to help fix the damage. Then shed again on 8/19 and 9/24. And yes, he's going into shed again.
I've had snakes for 45 years and have never expierenced this. The original owner is a great guy and had no problems. He raised this guy for 8 years with no problems.
I understand that a snake will shed for one of three reasons ... growing (he is still a little over 7 feet)
to repair some external damage or
some kind of hormonal thing.
He is kept in a six foot by 2 foot melamine cage. On the left is a 2 foot section which is a hide that opens into a 4 foot section. The 4 foot area has a 24" florencent light that is on 12 hours a day and off at night. There is also a spot light in the corner on a dimmer. Substrate is cell sorb in the open area and paper in the hide. The only other furniture is a large platic water dish. Temps are about 90 right under the spot light. About 10" away from the light, it's 80 degrees. Three feet from the light, it's 75 degrees and inside the hide, about 72-75. Humidity is about 60% (unless hes in shed - then I spray to get humidity up to 80% for a few days.
He used to eat a medium/large rat (avg. 200 grams) every week. Thats what hes been on for years. After the third shed, I slowed him down to a rat every two weeks.But when he's shedding every 5 weeks, he hasn't eaten a heck of a lot I have to think this is hormonal. I have asked a lot of good snake people and they say that I can't do much.
Has anyone had this happen to them?
Any advise?
He seems to be fat & healthy and I'd like to keep him that way but all these sheds can't be a good thing.

Thanks for your time & help
Steve

Two thoughts: Normally,I would not have any part of his cage above low 80's. For at least a few weeks bring whole cage down to mid 70's at warmest part. Has he ever had the opportunity to mate? At least one serious indigo breeder I know of has probably started cycling his Easterns since last month. Others will certainly start pairing Easterns up in November. Maybe mating instinct, chemical changes, has brought on this unusual shedding routine.

Thanks Steve
Yes, he has fathers many little indigos. But not by me. I only have this male. I was thinking that cooling him off for the winter might help.
Thanks for your advise
Steve

ever dawn on you to take him to a vet??? hmmmmmmmm...

That sounds very normal actually. Mine turn blue every 28 to 30 days, even if going off-feed. The metabolism is very fast with the drymarchon family.
I saw a large blacktail at the serpentarium in Costa Rica that reportedly shed three times within a month. My memeory is fuzzy it may have been five weeks, but I'm sure you get the point. No apparent injuries were present and it was kept in a huge outside cage near to where it was locally caught. I am guessing that temps were ideal. It was absolutely giant, I couldn't measure it though or reference its length well, except to say it was at least seven feet or larger.
Its alright.
Matt

>>That sounds very normal actually. Mine turn blue every 28 to 30 days, even if going off-feed. The metabolism is very fast with the drymarchon family.
>>I saw a large blacktail at the serpentarium in Costa Rica that reportedly shed three times within a month. My memeory is fuzzy it may have been five weeks, but I'm sure you get the point. No apparent injuries were present and it was kept in a huge outside cage near to where it was locally caught. I am guessing that temps were ideal. It was absolutely giant, I couldn't measure it though or reference its length well, except to say it was at least seven feet or larger.
>>Its alright.
>>Matt

I agree, it sounds pretty normal to me, mine shed probably every 4-6 weeks

Eric
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If Jesus is your co-pilot, you'd better change seats!

That big male indigo will likely not eat as much...and may go for periods of fasting. That is quite normal.

As for the shedding...I don't mean to be insulting to you...but I think you might be getting a bit paranoid. Frequent shedding is not a bad thing!

If the shedding were due to a problem, you'd see the problem (ie laceration, skin condition...etc).

Indigos sometimes go through periods where they shed a lot.
I think its a GOOD thing. It means he is healthy and growing!

Chilllll......

Hey Daen

You are not insulting me - I know I'm paranoid about this. It's just new to me to have an adult shed this often. A few people are saying vet - but most are saying don't worry. And thanks to this forum, I'm hearing that some other peoples Indigos are doing the exact same thing. Thats great news to hear.
So I guess I do need to chill.

Thanks to all
Steve