How Often Does A Snake Shed Its Skin?

A snake sheds its skin periodically based on its growth rate; if a snake grows faster it will shed its skin more frequently. Also the age of a snake also influences its rate of shedding and the younger the snake the more frequently would it shed is skin; it is supposed that on an average, young snakes shed their skin once every five or six weeks.

Another factor that affects the shedding frequency is the climate as snakes being cold blooded creatures are extremely sensitive to temperature changes and the lower the temperature the lesser would be frequency of shedding.

The snake when it is going to shed its skin secretes a fluid which helps the new layer of skin to grow underneath the older layer. After the new layer has developed the snake rubs its head to loosen the skin and create a tear following which it slides out of the skin much the same way one would remove a sock.

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