what is the Physiology of Shedding

I am hoping for some specialized information. Anyone know what physiological processes occur that initiates and completes shedding in snakes? Or lizards. But especially snakes.

The reason I ask is because I believe that it is hormonally initiated. For no other good reason than from what I have empirically observed in my own animals and extrapolating from my education.

I have one juvenile male king who becomes especially pissy around a shed. He hides, not unusual, but he will repeatedly hiss and strike. I observe this behavior when I place his FT in the cage. He won't grab or eat, just repeatedly hiss and strike. Giving a vehement message of "Leave me the #^@& alone!" I liken it to human female PMS.

Don't flame me for being sexist. I experience it myself so I know it is a real phenomenon.

Also, extrapolating from college physiology and post college research, most physiological processes are monitored, maintained, initiated and completed via hormonal chemical messaging.

Input and links to information that can answer this question is greatly appreciated.

coyote said:

I am hoping for some specialized information. Anyone know what physiological processes occur that initiates and completes shedding in snakes? Or lizards. But especially snakes.

Click to expand...

I'm no scientist here so bear with me. I always thought reptiles shed because they are growing, i.e. growing out of their old skin.

coyote said:

The reason I ask is because I believe that it is hormonally initiated. For no other good reason than from what I have empirically observed in my own animals and extrapolating from my education.

Click to expand...

I have no idea if hormones are involved in the process at all.

coyote said:

I have one juvenile male king who becomes especially pissy around a shed. He hides, not unusual, but he will repeatedly hiss and strike. I observe this behavior when I place his FT in the cage. He won't grab or eat, just repeatedly hiss and strike. Giving a vehement message of "Leave me the #^@& alone!" I liken it to human female PMS.

Click to expand...

I would think that instinct would make a snake who is going into a shed seek out a place to hide. Snakes are deaf and when they are going into shed the blue eyes makes them nearly completely blind and that alone can make them pissy. I highly doubt snakey PMS has anything to do with it.

Shedding of skin in snakes is hormonally regulated and is associated not just with growth but with the reproductive cycle. Many snakes have a pre-egg lay shed and a post-egg lay shed for instance. Also, I have observed that anytime I have treated a snake with antibiotics for a respiratory or mouth infection, they shed when they are recovering, and usually before they resume eating.

I would attribute their defensive behavior around a shed cycle more to being more vulnerable than hormonal though it is an idea. Seriously, try seeing through your eyelid and you might understand why a snake feels a bit put out during a shed.

Mammals are continually shedding dermis (outer skin cells). Humans shed millions of dead cells every day and animals shed dander, while new epidermal skin cells form underneath. Reptiles do not shed individual skin cells, but rather shed their outer layer of skin all at once... as soon as the new epidermal layer is ready.

I just pulled this out of our TJSAC newsletter, thought it may help.

(sorry for the pic size, but I wanted it to be readable)

Wow!
Thanks Hurley.
Very informative. I always understand better when there are pictures.

Great article, thanks for posting it.