Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I had been told that hatchlings tend to shed, on average, about once a month. I have a cornsnake that is about two years old, and even SHE sheds about once a month or so.

My hatchling leucy shed last on Nov. 9th...the day I got him. That was almost two months ago, and he has yet to shed again. Is that normal, or does it point to something being wrong in the husbandry, etc. I feed him one pinky every 5 days, and it leaves a visible bump in his body, so I would assume he's growing at a normal rate. Should he be getting two pinkies?

And I being obsessive?

-----
**************************************
- JENN ROSE -
www.jennrose.com

0.1.0 classic corn~ "Pumpkin"
1.0.0 leucistic texas ratsnake~ "Worm"

We're all a little obsessive over our snakes He should be shedding every month or so. But it also depends on his rate of growth. You may try a vitamin supplement. I don't think it means there is anything wrong with him necessarily but maybe someone with a little more experience can add a bit more.
-----
0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Onyx"

i am by no means an expert but everything should be fine. i got 6 corns, a red tail and a hogg island and all shed on different schedules. the corns shed a little quicker then the boas though. one of my corns went about a month and a half before she shed 4 days ago. me personally i don't worry how often mine shed because they eventually will have to. i do mist mine with a water bottle at least twice a week, i dont know if this helps. be patient things will be fine

if you are looking to decrease his shedding cycle times, you can try to feed him two pinkies at a time. If he doesn't want them, he will refuse.
-----
phflame
kingsnake.com host

Well, I don't want to "powerfeed" him or anything. I have no intentions of breeding him...he is just a pet. I want to do what is best for his health.

I personally don't care how often he sheds, as long as it's normal and healthy. If you think I SHOULD try offering him two, I'll try next time...but only if you think it would be best for him. If he's perfectly healthy on the one, and just a slow grower, that's fine too. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't anything I should be concerned about.
-----
**************************************
- JENN ROSE -
www.jennrose.com

0.1.0 classic corn~ "Pumpkin"
1.0.0 leucistic texas ratsnake~ "Worm"

All 3 of my '05's are on 2 pinkies (mostly). Occasionally only eat one of the two, but the corn is probably ready for fuzzies. It wouldn't hurt to offer once...

Also, I think shedding isn't a clockwork cycle. I wouldn't worry about it...

Walt

Personally i have no idea how often my snakes shed. I just care that it comes of clean and in one piece

You should have no problems feeding one pinky a week. I give either one or two depending on the mood i'm in.

I try to feed mine every 7 days so yhat I have more time for handling between feedings. But with first year snakes I just can't help but feed them more often as I think it's cute watching the little things act like their big and ferocious.

Yeah, he eats every 5 days right now. My older snake gets fed every 7 days. I figured with each size increase for the hatchling, I would add a day (Pinkie every 5, fuzzy every 6, hopper on up, every 7). I dunno.

But you're right...watching a hatchling eat is ridiculously cute. I mean...come on...just look at this!

-----
**************************************
- JENN ROSE -
www.jennrose.com

0.1.0 classic corn~ "Pumpkin"
1.0.0 leucistic texas ratsnake~ "Worm"

i agree that it would not hurt to offer two pinkies, the worst that could happen is one be refused. i personally keep a calender that tracks all my snakes shedding and feeding throughout the year. some people call me nuts for it but its something i've always done with my snakes. i document the days each eat and how much each ate and also how ofter each shedds.
i guess everyone has a different way to do things.

>>i agree that it would not hurt to offer two pinkies, the worst that could happen is one be refused. i personally keep a calender that tracks all my snakes shedding and feeding throughout the year. some people call me nuts for it but its something i've always done with my snakes. i document the days each eat and how much each ate and also how ofter each shedds.
>>i guess everyone has a different way to do things.

Not nuts, good practice. I'd suggest weighing your snakes regularly and keeping that info in your calendar as well.

deg

I have a spreadsheet where I record info on each snake. This record let me know that my cornsnake has a habit of not eating at all in December, so I didn't go nuts worrying about him this year again.
-----
phflame
kingsnake.com host

>>I have a spreadsheet where I record info on each snake. This record let me know that my cornsnake has a habit of not eating at all in December, so I didn't go nuts worrying about him this year again.
>>-----
>>phflame
>>kingsnake.com host

I have been using The Herp Care Software for keeping records for quite a while now.
I like it.
Go here
www.thegeckocam.com
look for HCS download.
-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

_____

Thank you so much for this link. This is fantastic. I love this!
-----
**************************************
- JENN ROSE -
www.jennrose.com

0.1.0 classic corn~ "Pumpkin"
1.0.0 leucistic texas ratsnake~ "Worm"

I also keep a spreadsheet. I just use Excel. I have a separate worksheet for each snake. It has their name, hatch date, and how much I paid for them. Then it has their feeding dates and what they ate (ex. 10/11/06 2 LP), their shed dates, and their length (I measure them every three months). When I first got into the hobby, someone suggested it in case I needed the info for vet care. But I like it because it also allows me to see their rythms and cycles. My wife thinks Im anal retentive...which I am. But Im glad to see Im not the only one.
-----
0.1 Amelanistic Corn
0.1 Aberrant California King
1.0 Pueblan Milk
0.1 Blair's Gray Banded King
0.1 Blonde Trans Pecos Rat
1.0 Variable King
0.1 Chihuahua Mtn. King
0.1 Kunasir Island Rat