Answer: Medically, this condition is called dysecdysis, but in simple terms, improper shedding will suffice. In almost every case this condition is a symptom of a problem, not a primary problem. In other words, nearly all cases are the result of improper husbandry or handling issues. It is found in both snakes and lizards.

Husbandry factors which may cause dysecdysis include low cage temperature, lack of adequate humidity, improper nutrition and not having the proper cage furniture for the snake to rub its skin on. You should check each of these areas for problems. The place to start is to know what the requirements in each of these areas are for your snake. You can go to our Reptile Care at a Glance Chart to find the requirements for your pet. Once you have the requirements you would also need the tools to monitor the requirements, especially temperature and humidity as these are often the cause of this malady. A good dual temperature and humidity gauge will always tell you if you have a problem. A rough rock, hide or rough piece of wood or branch will also help the snake in rubbing the old skin off. Once the factor causing the problem is corrected the shedding should return to normal.

In some cases handling the snake during its shed cycle can cause damage to the skin and cause it to come off in patches. Your snake should develop a blue film over the eyes during the shed cycle and during this time the snake should not be handled.

In the instance when you have the problem of a bad shed before you it is important to treat your snake. The dead skin needs to be removed as it can harbor many disease causing organisms such as mites, bacteria or fungi. However, do not rip the skin off yourself as this may damage the fresh new skin below if done improperly. For snakes or lizards, the best way to remove tattered skin is to soak the animal in tepid water which is just deep enough to cover the animal’s body but not deep enough to drown it. It is very important to never leave a soaking reptile unattended. After soaking apply a good shed aid to the entire body. Then release it back into its tank with all other husbandry areas set up properly. Sometimes it will take two or three soakings to remedy the situation, but, be patient. In situations where soaking is impractical you may gently, but very thoroughly mist the snake or lizard and follow the same instructions.

As the snake or lizard sheds always check the skin over the eye which is called the spectacle or eye cap. These eye caps act as clear eyelids and protect the cornea of the eye from damage. If they are retained during the shed the eye may become infected. These retained eye caps can be hard to remove and the best action is to use the soaking or misting technique discussed earlier and let the snake take it off itself. In an emergency you can hold a moist rag over the the eye caps for about 15 minutes. Then allow the head and eyes to dry. When dry, gently press a piece of Scotch tape onto the retained eye cap and very gently pull the tape off. If there are no other complications, the eye cap should come off. If it does not come off easily then it is time for a veterinary consultation as there is probably a complication of some sort involved.

If all of the requirements of handling, heat, humidity, food and furniture are taken care of then problems with improper shedding in pet reptiles should be minimal.

Arizona Coral Snake in Our Driveway

A few days ago, I was on my way out to check our Box Turtles when I caught a slight movement out of the corner of my eye.  There, crawling slowly across the gravel of our driveway was a beautiful 14 inch long Arizona Coral Snake.  I quickly brought into my head the old adage “Red to yellow kills a fellow.  Red to black venom lack.”  I did this because, in addition to having the highly venomous neurotoxic Coral Snake locally we also have the Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake in the area and the New Mexico Milk Snake is native to the next mountain range to the east of us.  Both are harmless Coral Snake “look a likes.”  The above adage helps to sort out the venomous from the harmless. 

It was easy to see the bright red bands of this snake bordered with light yellow bands even from 10 feet away so I knew that the snake I had was, in fact, venomous.  Arizona Coral Snakes are fairly common in our area of southeastern Arizona although very few people actually see them.  For the most part they are nocturnal and are most often observed at or soon after dusk on warm rainy evenings.  Their generally flat build is an indication of their preferred habitat under rocks and in crevices in rock walls.  They feed on other small snakes including the Blind Snakes and Black-headed Snakes and small lizards.  All of these are common in our area.

As Arizona Coral Snakes go, this was one of the largest I have observed.  Most individuals in our area are from 8-12 inches in length.  We have an informal truce with all of the wildlife on our property.  Unless they are causing property damage we leave them alone to go about their lives.  This snake made its way into our rock wall which should provide it with a happy home and a great food source.

Two days after the sighting in our yard a neighbor called to report that he had a Coral Snake caught in his cattle guard.  He is much nearer to Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake habitat than our local Coral Snake habitat so I thought at first that he might be mistaken.  Upon reaching the scene 10 minutes later I found that he was correct and he did, in fact, have a 12 inch Arizona Coral Snake trapped in his cattle guard.  I took out my Midwest snake tong and hook and worked the little fellow out of the cattle guard and into an empty quart jar.  I had learned long ago that Coral Snakes are escape artists and that they easily find the way out of my snake bucket that I use for moving rattlesnakes and snake bags.  As our friend really did not want a venomous snake near his home, I took this little waif home with me and released him in the rock wall near where the first snake had disappeared.  Maybe we will get a population on our property in years to come.

Previous to this year I had never observed more than one Arizona Coral Snake in any one year.  Last night I was called out on a fire near my home ( I am a volunteer fireman in our small town.)  During the course of putting out a small structure fire I located a third specimen.  This one was a little smaller than the first two and, in an effort to save it from any other firefighters which might notice him, I caught him and placed him in an empty Gatorade bottle.  This specimen was donated to a friend who maintains an educational reptile collection.  He will be set up next to a display with a Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake to show off the differences between the two species.

These are truly beautiful little snakes and it has been a pure pleasure to see three of them within a week’s time.

Who can identify this for me?