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The Shed Cycle

Cindy

Cindy

Cornographer
Can anyone explain to me what makes the snake go opaque/milky/blue, whatever you wants to call it, before the shed. Does some type of fluid build up between the layers of skin or (I think I read this somewhere.... or dream't it!!!) is it a type of oil, it would be interesting to see the structure of a snake scale under a microscope... just wondering as I watch Mayzee going paler by the minute......
 
I believe (but could be wrong) it's a water build up that helps the snake shed, and thats why the snake goes "blue". Thats what i read somewhere anywhere, but if someone know differant i'm interested.
 
Oldhand has it right there. It's a fluid build-up between the layer of old skin and the new fresh skin underneath. Depending on the age of your snake, you might notice the snake getting duller and milkier over the course of 1-2 weeks. The last few days the eyes will get milkier and milkier and then all of a sudden the eyes are clear again...but there's no shed...wait another day, sometimes 2 and you'll find a newly shed skin in the terrarium.

My little ones seem to be on a 4-5 week cycle and my adults have settled into every 7-10 weeks depending on the individual. If your snake has an injury to its skin it'll shed earlier than expected in an attempt to get rid of the injured skin which is a potential port into the body for bacteria and other bothers.

I keep a record of all my snakes sheds so that I know when the next one is due. This can also be a good clue as to why a snake has gone off it's food cos many snakes will be a bit picky about eating when they're due to shed.
 
I was wondering how the fluid gets there, does the skin have special ducts and where is the fluid stored when not needed, sorry if I sound like a child asking why! why!
 
Before a snake sheds, it forms a new set of epidermal layers below the first layer. This is when you see them go dark and dull prior to going blue. Once the new layer of skin has formed, lymph infuses between the two layers containing enzymes to break down the adhesion between them and also oils to lubricate the shedding process. This lymph infusion and breakdown is where you see the snake go milky white.
 
:bowdown: :bowdown:
Thanks Hurley that's exactally what i was wondering, that is really interesting.
:dunce:
 
lol practically straight from my herp text. Nice Hurly


Hurley said:
Before a snake sheds, it forms a new set of epidermal layers below the first layer. This is when you see them go dark and dull prior to going blue. Once the new layer of skin has formed, lymph infuses between the two layers containing enzymes to break down the adhesion between them and also oils to lubricate the shedding process. This lymph infusion and breakdown is where you see the snake go milky white.
Click to expand...
 
I know this thread is older than dust, but Kinky's colors are so dark and dull while his "piano keys" belly is very milky.

Even though I know he will be shedding in the next week or two, I was wondering what is the mechanism of a new skin forming and the old one "falling off," just like Cindy wondered amost 4 years ago.
 
As said above. . . .also adding.

Snake do not have eyelids, so to protect their eyes, nature gave them a set of "Spectacles" built into the skin. Called "Spectacles" or "Eye Caps".
they come off with the shed. . . .the oil produced to separate and the skin and break down the adhesiveness of the two layers fills these eye cap scales and during that time, the snake becomes very defensive and more nervous than normal because their site is GREATLY redused at that time. It would be like swimming underwater to us. We can see shapes and objects but no detail on things a few feet away from us. To them (being defensive by nature anyway) they are a lot more nervous and aggitated during that time and will strike at you when they normally wouldn't.

Voodoo just shed two days ago. It was exactly 10 weeks to the day from her last shed. After her eyes cleared she shed three days later. I was able to catch her in the last 1/4 of the shed. I turned the light on in the room and saw her crawling around the cage. I walked over to the front and realized she had crawled through the tree I had in there for her to climb on and saw the skin peeling from the last quarter of her body. They move very slowly and work it off. . . it was a clean shed again and she looked nice in her new clothes !!
 
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