Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I can't say that I have ever seen anything like this in person. I have seen pix on forums of something similar but that is it. Tiny (who just had a litter in late May) just shed a couple of days ago. I noticed her head was a bit light but it was hard to tell because I was leaving her alone due to a recent regurgitation (which seems to be coming along well by the way). She was spending some time under the paper as well so I didn't really get a good look at her. Then, the stench of a log being dropped in the cage caused me to open up her dark AP cage doors and I got a look directly into her face. I was shocked. She seems to have lost alot of her color with her last shed! Almost like she wen anerytheristic on me or something (other than her tail). Here are some pix so you can see what I mean.

Even her usually ink black saddles seem a bit washed out. Here is what she normally looks like. You can see the difference.

Has anyone had experience with something like this before. Just wondering if I should be concerned. Thanks.
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I'd be interested to hear some replies from some of the vets around here.

I've seen this happen quite a bit over the last 15 years or so, and most of the times it was the result of severe stress, overheating, rolling around in regurge (stomach acids), or having been attacked by a rodent.

Sometimes a scar or wound that is healing will be 'reopened' by the shed and this sometimes pulls away color or seemingly entire scales.

Then again I HAVE seen this happen seemingly out of nowhere to perfectly healthy animals kept in an environment where most or all of the above are not possible.

Is it even possible that the snakes sense they are not getting sun or heat from it and so are 'shedding' their melanin?!?
That's one to ponder...

I'm sure there is a more practical/conventional answer.

I know i've seen het albinos or hypos that seem to lose color along their stomachs and sides.. that seems somewhat common to hypos and ghosts and is sometimes referred to as 'white sided' or a lower grade calico.

What you have shown is different all together.

I'll love to hear what others have to say!

Thanks much, Joe
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Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin

Once in an animal that gurged 4 days after it was fed and then about 2 years after in another animal that got left out in the sun and almost cooked in a matter of minutes as he cleaned out his snake room. The animals skin got extremely loose but a few days later went back to normal. In about another week the animal shed and got totally washedout as you guys are explaining. Needless to say that same animal died 2 months later of unknown causes. I believe that it got brain damage or kidney or liver failure from when exposed from the extreme heat.
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THERES NO BEAUTY LIKE THE BEAUTY OF A TRUE REDTAIL

I had heard this sometimes happens if they roll through their urates?? not sure.. very weird, I would be interested to hear if the color comes back to normal.
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'There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."' -Rainshadow