Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i posted on 7/22 that our recenty-acquired Black Rat had just shed. It's 8/25 and he's very much "blue" and i anticipate will have shed again by week's end. is it typical for snakes to shed that frequently? is there even a set time between sheds or is it completely circumstantial?

we got this one about 3 months after we got our first and it's shed twice (after this one). number one hasn't shed at all...

thoughts?
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1.0 Abino Striped Cali King
0.1 Amel Corn
0.1 Anery Corn
1.0.1 Black Rat
0.0.1 Eastern Garter
1.0 Normal Ball Python
2.1 Bettas

Well, I don't know howold your particular snakes are, but it is not uncommon at ALL for a young growing snake to shed approx. once a month or so. As you mentioned, it is totally cercumstancial, and depends on several things,....age, frequency of feedings, size of prey offered, temps, etc.... so, in short, there is no exact time schedule a snake is "supposed" to shed. Once you begin to see their eyes "blue", they will usually become a little moreso after another day or so, then they will gradually become less opaque. After the eyes have TOTALLY cleared up again, the snake will actually shed in approx. two to five days afterwards,depending on metabolism from temps, feedings, and individual activity level. Many times the snake will wait until it has to defecate, and do both at the same time. It isn't too uncommon to even sometimes see a shed skin with poop inside it that has been turned inside-out as they have done the two simultaneously...LOL!...strange, but true!

best regards, ~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"