Mary Allen
A common reason for snakes to see a reptile vet is shedding problems. Both shedding in shreds and leaving behind a single area of skin are questionable. Find out here what are the reasons for molting problems in snakes and what you can do about it.
Snake skinning: This is how it usually happens
A snake sheds its skin at different rates depending on its age and the conditions in which it is kept. Most species grow particularly strongly in the first 2 to 3 years of their lives and accordingly shed their skin more frequently during this time. This can be every 4 weeks for the first few months when food is plentiful, while older snakes only need to shed their skins 2 or 3 times a year. Female snakes often shed their skin shortly before laying their eggs or giving birth to young snakes.
The reptile keeper often first recognizes the beginning of molting by a clouding of the eyes. This is caused by the fact that snakes also skin their glasses – a layer of the cornea that protects the eyes. A liquid is secreted between the old and new layers of skin, which facilitates shedding. This is why the entire skin of the snake appears paler and lackluster during this time.
The animal will try to get rid of the old skin by rubbing against objects and branches. Molting usually begins at the lips and the skin can be shed completely in one piece. Many Snakes are more irritable or withdrawn during this time and want to be left alone. The entire snake molting process, from clouding of the eyes to actual molting, takes up to two weeks.
Snake skinning: How can I optimally support my snake?
It is particularly important to keep the humidity in the terrarium optimal for the animal. This varies depending on the species, so tropical species naturally need higher humidity in the terrarium than snakes that are adapted to live in drier areas. Many snakes like to bathe during molting or visit the wet box in the terrarium.
In addition, the animal should be able to withdraw; possible stress factors should be avoided. It is also worth considering postponing feeding that falls during this period. Many snakes will not eat on their own. The animal needs appropriate objects such as branches and narrow crevices to shed its skin.
Once the snake has shed its skin, it is important that you check to make sure all areas have been skinned. Glasses and areas around body openings, such as e.g. B. the cloaca.
Snake skinning: what can I do if there is a problem?
Your snake sheds its skin slowly and/or incompletely? If you find individual small scraps of skin that your snake was unable to shed, you can start by increasing the humidity in the terrarium. If that is not enough, lukewarm baths and then careful rubbing, e.g. B. help with a cotton swab to loosen the skin residue. Be extremely gentle and don’t try to just peel off the skin! Special care must be taken with the glasses; removing the skin too roughly can cause irreparable damage to the snake. Better leave this to a vet.
Is your snake not shedding its skin? Several layers of skin on top of each other or a very frequent shedding of adult animals are signs of fundamental problems, which is why an appointment with a veterinarian experienced in snakes is necessary. The same applies if your snake completely sheds its skin to shreds.
Snake Molting: Causes of Molting Problems
The veterinarian will first take a close look at your snake and try to find out what the animal is missing by asking specific questions. There are a number of possible causes of snake shedding problems:
- Poor posture (humidity too low, lack of furniture to strip off, etc.)
- feeding errors
- Infestation with bacteria, fungi, or mites (the latter is common)
- internal diseases (thyroid disease,)
- Oversupply of vitamin A
For the diagnosis of bacteria or fungi as well as internal diseases, e.g. B. a swab sample or a blood sample may be necessary. Some examinations can be carried out on-site in the practice, other samples are sent to an external laboratory.
Snake molting: therapy for molting problems
The vet will carefully remove any excess skin. You could otherwise constrict the growing animal at a later point in time and lead to significant problems with the blood supply. They also provide a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. If the remains of the skin are difficult to remove, painkillers can also be used to avoid unnecessarily stressing the animal.
Infectious diseases are treated accordingly with antibiotics or antimycotic (fungus-killing) drugs. The common infection with mites can also be treated accordingly. It is important to know that all partner animals and the terrarium must also be treated. Otherwise, the snake would be infected again directly.
Snake skinning: conclusion
Snakes shed their skin regularly. If this does not work reliably, the husbandry should be optimized, and, if in doubt, a veterinarian should be consulted to prevent consequential damage.