Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello All:

Been away from the forum for awhile and appreciated the posts awhile back on East. and West. Fox Snakes. I have three Western juveniles at present. Two of the three were captive bred.

Question: One of my juveniles shed the other day and the shed was found in a complete ball of knots. The head(with eye caplets) and tail were ends were sticking out thus it was a complete shed.
Is this unusual or indicative of any sort of problem? My other Fox snakes have always left "straight" or "linear" sheds.

Thanks for any feedback on shape of sheds with Elaphe Vulpina.

Tim

Tim:
I think I have seen that too. Sometimes if I don't give my snakes anything to help them shed (like a branch or some other object that they can catch the loose end of the skin on) they sort of loop around on themselves to use their own bodies as a holding point to help pull themselves out of the shed skin. So maybe their asking you for a shedding post by leaving that skin in a knot. Thin of it as a twisted cry for help.
Regards
John