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Holy Sheds Batman!

Melisssss Aug 14, 2005 01:21 PM

Ok things are a little busy here for me. I now have 3 BPs and all of them are in shed as well as my Everglades Rat Snake (he's always a HUGE grump during shedding). Being the Mother Hen that I am, I sit everyday and wait for one to end the blue so I can let it soak. Is it common for snakes to shed all at once like this? Still waiting for my books to come in the mail but since I never heard of it yet, I thought I would ask.

Replies (4)

Snowballs1 Aug 14, 2005 01:29 PM

I have notice the same with my group. They all seem to shed at or near the same time now.

I have no scientific data to prove that it happens, but it is similar to an office full of women that will cycle together after working in the same office for an extended period of time.

This office phenomenon is related to hormones given off by the ladies. So it would stand to reason that the same thing could and does happen to a close knit group of reptiles.
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Snowballs

RuHigh Aug 14, 2005 01:55 PM

It happens with all my burms too, I just thought it was because they are all the same age, and eat on the same day.

scrotbelly Aug 14, 2005 06:08 PM

Ya, I believe that it is more likely that they are being fed at the same time which makes them grow at the same rate. I wouldn't think that hormones would play a part in shedding since it is mainly due to growth and the age of the skin. Just my opinion.

>>It happens with all my burms too, I just thought it was because they are all the same age, and eat on the same day.

mahlon Aug 14, 2005 06:36 PM

Well, here would be my explanation for what is occurring for you Melisss.

I would have to say that it is definitely not along the lines of "office syndrome" being that shedding is an end product of growth in reptiles.

I would think upon extrapolating growth factors to find a cause for group shedding frequency being at the same time would be much more dependent on the fact that your animals all most likely have similar temperatures and feeding schedules.

Even if your specific animals all have different heating elements, etc. I would have to say that just the simple fact that you heat/cool your entire house would mean that they all are being kept at a relative similar ambient temperature. Sure they all are going to have a difference in the temps of their basking areas but the normal temp that they are living within is probably very close within each of their cages.

As temperature in reptiles (all cold bloodeds for that matter)relate directly to the speed of digestion, growth etc then this would help to get a little bit closer to understanding this phenomenon.

As far as feeding schedules, most likely as with most other people taking care of herps you are out of convenience buying their food at the local pet shop on the same days, or if you feed pre killed, then it would be much easier to thaw out several at a time and feed on the same day, with close to the same regularity.

So in summary, I think the relation of similar eating schedules and similar relative ambient air temperatures (room temp.) would be what is causing this shedding frequency among your herps. Could be wrong but seems like the simplest explanation to the phenomenon that you and others are experiencing.

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