Reptile & Amphibian Forums

If most snakes need moisture to loosen the old skin from the new skin, how does a desert dwelling species properly shed itself..

More specific: How do I ensure that my little baby Cerastes cerastes sheds complete when he does shed

thanx
PatrickR

I don't know HOW they do it, but they have perfect sheds no matter how little moisture they have to work with. This is one thing I don't think you have to worry about with this species.
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Eryx - All the fun of a boa in a convenient pocket size!

To put it in simplistic terms, snakes create their own "lubricant" between the new skin and old skin. Even snakes like cerasates which come from fairly arid environments have little problems shedding their old skin....but even desert dwelling herps find microclimates of relatively high humidity, compared to the much more arid ambient air above the desert surface, when needed so keep that in mind (desert temps often fall dramatically at night creating a light dew that often forms on the skin of these animals....I have even seen mine lap the "dew" right off their backs). But, I keep my cerasted fairly dry and they never have any problems.