Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everybody.

Last night I experienced something that I didn't even know was possible, and I'm still really excited about it.

I have a Dumeril's boa, which sometimes does not shed in one whole piece (let's not get into the details of this). When this happens, I manually take off a few small pieces of skin that may be left on its body.

Yesterday, he shed. When I decided to check up on him he was all coiled up in his cave so I picked him up to check whether anything was left on his body. I noticed that he shed almost in one piece except from a small piece about 3 cm (1.2 inches) long under his throat area. To my amazement, a few seconds after I picked him up, he immediately started to rub his head and throat on my hands. It was just like what a cat does when they want you to scratch them. I was shocked. I was not aware that a snake was capable of such behavior. It was as if he was trying to tell me: "Dude, come on, take it off of me, what are you waiting for".

I immediately run to my wife and we both just stood there watching him rub his throat in my hands and fingers. He just wouldn't stop. And it was funny too. Of course I obliged and took it off at which time he relaxed. Now I'm just beating my head with a stick for not grabbing the camera and recording this. I was too amazed to think of that at the time.

I don't think it's just coincidental that he behaved like this because before I picked him up he was all coiled up in his cave and not trying to get it off. It's as if he knew that when I picked him up I would help him get it off.

Has anybody had this happen to them before?
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1.0.0 Dumerils Boa
1.0.0 Royal Python
1.0.0 Boa Constrictor Imperator

I've had snakes begin their shed that way & complete the entire
shed like that. I helped out by holding on to the old skin &
letting them pull out of it.

It surprised me the first time it happened. I thought maybe it
was getting ready to start chewing on my arm.

I'm sure it isn't a personal thing though. They will rub against
anything to get it done. Boas can get pretty tame if you spend
enough time handling them.

Ironic timing. My retic did this last night. I was wondering what the hell he was doing at first then realized he wanted that skin off. I helped him and he settled down in my lap as normal..

Cool to see for sure, but as the other post stated I dont think it is any kind of personal experience. However it is obvious that they are comfortable enough to begin that process which makes them vulnerable.

>>Cool to see for sure, but as the other post stated I dont think it is any kind of personal experience.

I agree and have had a very similar experience with one of my ATBs. I was having issues with her humidity in Las Vegas, had to hand shed her a few times. It got to the point that when I picked her up in a bad shed, she'd start rubbing her head between my fingers before I even did anything. It was cute, but I understand it doesn't really mean anything besides a level of comfort the snake had with being handled. Still neat though!
-April
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'There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."' -Rainshadow

I agree with all posts that it's probably just the comfort issue. And it's really nice to see that my snakes feel comfortable enough to go through this vulnerable process for them even while I'm holding them in my hands. One of the perks of the hobby
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1.0.0 Dumerils Boa
1.0.0 Royal Python
1.0.0 Boa Constrictor Imperator

If your snakes are not shedding in one whole piece, then your humidity is too low.
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2.3 Longicauda
2.2 Bolivian Amarali
0.3 S.B. Amarali
1.1 Centalians
1.0 Dumerils
2.2 Hog Isles
1.0 Thayeri

A few more thoughts ....(although I think it was just to rub the skin off)

"It was just like what a cat does when they want you to scratch them."

There are 3 reasons I know of why a cat does this:

1) Just like you said, to be scratched.

2) As a marking behaviour, release pheromones from facial glands.

3) To enhance scents via the Jacobson Organ, which snakes also have.

Interesting observation.