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How to Tell When Snakes Start to Shed

The sight of a snake is enough to send some people hurrying away. Others, though, are fascinated by these exotic animals -- the way they move, they way they sense the world around them and the way they eat. At least part of the fascination is in the differences between snakes and humans. One of the largest differences is in how we shed our skin. Your snake will give you hints when it's ready to shed.

Instructions

- 1
  Observe the sharpness, clarity and brightness of your snake's skin. Immediately after shedding, the snake's skin will be shiny. The skin will gradually dull as the weeks pass.
- 2
  Check for a foggy look in the eyes. As the skin prepares to shed, the attachment between the old skin and the new skin underneath weakens. A space appears between the new and old eyecaps, making the eyes appear foggy. That stage can last up to a week.
- 3
  Wait for about four or five days. That's about how long it will take from the time the eyes fog up until your snake begins the actual shedding process. Make sure the snake has a humid environment and/or a clean water bowl to rest in while preparing to shed.
- 4
  Look for the snake to rub its nose against objects in its enclosure. The snake is trying to create a starting point for shedding. The snake will then crawl along, slipping out of its skin just like you'd slip out of a knee sock.

Animals & Science