Signs of Shedding Snakes

All snakes shed their skin periodically. The rate at which they shed their skin can depend on factors such as age, growth rate, pregnancy, skin injuries such as burns or scale rot, and the presence of mites. There are many different signs to look for when trying to determine if a snake is about to shed its skin.

  1. Cloudy Eyes

    • When snakes are about to shed their skin, their eyes may cloud over. This is due to a milky fluid separating the skin over the eye from the eyeball, allowing it to shed properly. If the humidity in the snake's enclosure is too low, the skin over the snake's eye may not shed off with the rest of the skin.

    Dull Color

    • One sign of a snake about to shed is that it looks much more pale or more dull than usual. A snake's scales are smooth and shiny, but when a snake is about the shed, the snake's normal sheen disappears.

    Aggressiveness

    • Because the snake may be uncomfortable and cannot see well during shedding, they may be more timid or likely to bite even if they are generally calm in demeanor.

    Flaking Skin

    • A healthy snake will shed their skin in one piece, like crawling out of a sock. When a snake's skin flakes off in pieces, it is a sign that there is not enough humidity in their enclosure to keep them healthy. Some snake keepers may even increase the humidity in a snake's enclosure slightly during shedding, and this can be done by using a humidifier in the room, misting the enclosure frequently or by placing the snake's water dish over a heat pad.