Reptile & Amphibian Forums

One a month (sometimes less) for the past yr. The RN has only shed 3 times in the past yr. Does age dictate, or is it the species?

as far as I'm aware it is partly a species to species thing and partly the animals rate of growth. When there is rapid growth there is more frequent shedding. Typically younger snakes grow faster and thus should shed more often and some species shed more often than others. Adult Rattlesnakes shed a few times a year whereas adult garters shed every couple months or more.

Thanks,
So with the Dekay, it's getting longer, not fatter, even thou it eats a whole (small) Night Crawler.

The RN is getting fatter on the anoles.

The Dekay has keeled scales. Could this be a reason, no stretch.

Ringneck snakes grow very slowly...

A brown snake can reach adulthood in 2 years...

Ringnecks take around 4 or 5, they grow less, so they shed less.
-----
Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.kingpinreptiles.com

Thanks Mike. So, Keeled or smooth isn't a factor?

Not at all.
-----
Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.kingpinreptiles.com

I have here 18 specimens of dekay all from the same litter, I almost never see more than one shed at a time.

18 snakes, same litter, 18 distinctly different shed cycles.

The common denominator is growth rate, the "alpha" snakes shed faster, the "runts" far less frequently.

The first sheds are so tiny!

Peace,
Wayne A. Harvey

Some of our snakes - Click here