How Often Do Corn Snakes Shed? # Facts About Their Skin

Key Points

• Young corn snakes shed their pores and skin each 4-6 weeks. Adult corn snakes will shed their pores and skin roughly each 3 months.
• Shedding can final from 6-9 days.
• The strategy of shedding and molting the outer layer of pores and skin is known as ecdysis.

Corn snakes are light reptiles that make glorious pets for starter snake pet dad and mom. They are very docile, simple to deal with, and can reside a protracted life so long as they’re supplied with loads of meals and a correct terrarium.

New pet dad and mom could get frightened once they discover their beloved corn snake trying pale and all of a sudden hiding from them. Their pores and skin tone seems cloudy and blue, and it seems like components of them are falling off. These indicators could sound alarming, however they’re all wholesome indicators of a corn snake getting ready to shed its pores and skin.

Seeing a corn snake shed is totally regular and new snake homeowners ought to concentrate on how typically their corn snake will shed, the indicators they’re about to shed, and any signs to acknowledge if their corn snake wants help.

The Basics of Corn Snakes

Corn snakes are native to the East Coast US, residing in wooded groves, hillsides, meadows, barns, and deserted buildings. They are a non-venomous constrictor, that means they catch their prey by squeezing the life out of them earlier than swallowing them entire.

A full-sized corn snake can attain 24-72 inches and weigh wherever from 1-3 kilos. Healthy corn snakes can reside as much as 23 years in captivity, supplied they’ve simple access to a temperature-regulated terrarium, a nutritious weight loss program, and common care.

Corn snakes are very talked-about pets as a result of they’re simple to deal with and infrequently chunk. It will take just a few weeks for a corn snake to adapt to their new setting. After which, it is going to be secure to softly introduce your self so they might grow to be aware of your scent as a companion and never a predator.

How Often do Corn Snakes Shed

Depending on the age, corn snakes will shed their pores and skin at completely different frequencies.

Hatching and young corn snakes shed their pores and skin each 4-6 weeks. Young corn snakes will shed extra typically than mature snakes as a result of they’re nonetheless rising and reaching their mature measurement.

Adult corn snakes shed their pores and skin roughly each 3 months. Mature corn snakes don’t shed as ceaselessly as a result of they’ve reached their full measurement. Shedding will happen naturally as a technique of changing old pores and skin cells with new and wholesome cells.

The shedding course of lasts between 6-9 days. During this time, corn snakes will really feel susceptible and wish to be left alone to shed in peace. Pet dad and mom ought to keep away from touching their snakes throughout this course of.

Why Do Corn Snakes Shed Their Skin

Corn snakes, like all different snakes, must shed their pores and skin as a pure strategy of changing old pores and skin cells. Humans and mammals shed their pores and skin constantly all through the day. Reptiles like corn snakes shed their pores and skin in a single entire piece to accommodate their development or heal from wounds.

The strategy of shedding the outer layer of pores and skin is known as ecdysis. It is primarily present in reptiles like snakes and lizards, in addition to bugs like cicadas or arthropods like lobsters.

Healing

Shedding is a technique of therapeutic old wounds. Corn snakes don’t have the identical regenerative talents as lizards the place they’ll regrow their tails. Shedding permits corn snakes to heal accidents, scratches, and cuts sustained within the wild by changing the broken tissue with new and wholesome tissue.

Weight Changes

Corn snakes require extra time for his or her our bodies to regulate to elevated weight. Shedding their pores and skin permits their our bodies to develop to accommodate the additional weight through the rising course of or handle additional ounces of their older state.

Signs A Corn Snake Is Shedding

Owners of corn snakes ought to acknowledge when corn snakes are about to shed their pores and skin.

• Eyes flip cloudy and blue-ish.
• Eyes secrete lubricant.
• Old pores and skin seems uninteresting and pale.
• Hiding in caves or shelters extra typically.
• Decreased urge for food.
• Acting defensive or nervous.
• Seeking tough surfaces or swimming pools of water.

Corn snakes are susceptible to predators within the wild. The lubricant secreted from the eyes helps within the shedding course of, however it weakens their eyesight. They wish to discover a secure place to shed their pores and skin the place they aren’t uncovered to predators or threats. Even in captivity, corn snakes have advanced to hunt safety throughout this time.

How Do Corn Snakes Shed Their Skin

After going by way of the steps depicted above, corn snakes will begin the shedding course of.

First, they’ll secrete moisture and lubricant from their eyes to assist the old pores and skin slide off extra simply.

Next, the corn snake will rub their face in opposition to a tough floor like a rock or tree bark to peel off the outer layer of pores and skin.

After which, the corn snake will squeeze into small areas, rubbing their physique in opposition to the edges to tug the old and free pores and skin off their physique. The course of is similar to eradicating a sock the place it unravels inside out.

Corn snakes could search out sources of heat water to assist lubricate their our bodies in case they’re struggling to take away the lifeless pores and skin.

Once the ultimate layer has been eliminated, they’ll discover a place to relaxation and get better to permit their new pores and skin to adapt to the contemporary air.

Shedding pores and skin takes a variety of vitality, so corn snakes will take time to get better earlier than they return to their regular habits.

Corn Snake Shedding Complications

It is widespread for corn snakes in captivity and within the wild to expertise issues through the shedding course of. Dysecdysis is the time period used to outline a snake fighting shedding as a consequence of humidity points, malnutrition, or different underlying well being issues. A wholesome corn snake will be capable of shed their pores and skin in a single full piece.

Humidity

Corn snakes have tailored to dwelling in environments with average ranges of humidity. A wholesome corn snake in captivity wants 65-75% humidity of their tank always for them to reside comfortably.

A dry local weather with low humidity will trigger the lifeless pores and skin to stay to the contemporary scales beneath. This could result in the snake struggling to take away the pores and skin or it comes aside in items.

Retained Eye Caps

Retained eye caps are when the protecting layer on the eyes doesn’t shed correctly. This makes the old pores and skin stick with the snake’s eyes and face, making it very tough to take away. If not handled rapidly, it will probably trigger severe hurt to the snake’s eyesight, resulting in infections or injury to the eyes.

Malnutrition

An incomplete weight loss program missing in important nutritional vitamins and minerals will make shedding tougher for corn snakes. Lack of hydration could trigger the snake to secrete insufficient quantities of lubricant over the eyes or the corn snake could not have sufficient vitality to take away the surplus pores and skin sufficiently. Malnourished corn snakes could delay in shedding their pores and skin or have the pores and skin come off in items.

Supporting a Corn Snake with Shedding

In the wild, corn snakes must depend on themselves to type out their shedding points. If they’re fighting malnutrition or retained eye caps, they might not reside for very lengthy as they’re simple prey for hawks.

In captivity, there are a number of ideas a pet dad or mum or snake fanatic can do to assist their corn snake if they’re having points shedding their pores and skin.

• Do not attempt to peel off the old pores and skin: Too a lot drive could tear on the delicate new scales beneath and hurt the corn snake.
• Check the humidity: Ensuring the humidity is at acceptable ranges ensures there’s sufficient moisture within the air for straightforward shedding.
• Support the setting: Fill a basin with heat water and add tough supplies like tree branches and stones to assist the snake shed by itself with out direct interference.
• Check the weight loss program: Check the final time the corn snake ate and see if they’re getting sufficient important vitamins from the supplied weight loss program.
• Call a veterinarian: Schedule an appointment with an unique animal veterinarian if the shedding course of is taking longer than anticipated. They can acknowledge any points with the corn snake and supply skilled medical recommendation.

Fun Facts on Corn Snake Skin

There are over 800 patterns a corn snake can have.

Corn snakes are named after the marking on their stomach which resembles Native American corn, or maize.

Due to their related colour scheme, corn snakes are sometimes mistaken for copperheads. However, corn snakes are simply distinguished from different snakes by the stripe extending from the again of the eyes to the nook of the jaw. As properly as a black and white checkered sample on their stomach.