Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Occasionally, I give presentations to school kids. In addition to seeing a live snake, they're always fascinated by a shed skin. The trouble is that the skin dries out and disintegrates over time. Moistening a skin with water doesn't help. I don't have a lot of snakes, so I don't always have a shed available when I need it.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I might prolong the "life" of a shed skin?

Are you sure the skins are disintegrating, or were they consumed by some sort of "bug"? I kept some big python sheds just folded up but out in the air in my basement and they were fine (but kind of yellowed and very dusty) over the years. Others that I stored closed up in boxes sometimes were attacked by something which left just piles of scaly dust.

-Joan

My wife is in the custom picture framing business, and she framed a shed for my 2 years ago that still looks great! If you have a fairly small one framed, it won't cost too much, and it will be easy to carry around with you. It's also kind of neat to have a smaller shed from an animal that you have had for awhile.
Other than that, I would suggest trying something airtight, like Tupperware, and seeing if that seems to prolong the life of a shed. I don't know...just an idea.
Duffy

Airtight containers....so no bugs can get into it. Most of the time the disintegration is caused by small household mites and dermestid beetles consuming fragments of the dead skin making it easier to tear etc. I keep all mine in sealed plastic bags that I want to keep.
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Lucien

1.1 Columbian Redtail Boa (BCI)(Sutekh and Isis)
2.2 Leopard geckos (2 Blizzards (Caine and Goliath), 1 het Blizzard (Lilith) and 1 Tangerine Albino (Tequila Sunrise ...Tiki for short))
0.1 Savannah Monitor (Kiros)
13 rats
5 Gerbils
2 Dogs (Loki and Storm)
2 cats (Sahara and Hercules)

I'll take a little more care and use airtight containers. Thanks for your help.