Shedding w/o going into blue?

[MnGuy]

I have two garters. One is almost a year old and the other one is about half a year old. They live in separate tanks.

My big snake is in blue right now and I can clearly see that. She came out of her humid hide for a moment yesterday.

My small snake has not been in her humid hide. She was out in her regular hide yesterday and I took her out to handle her and clean her tank. She looked completely normal.

But I woke up this morning and found a fresh shed in the small snake's tank -- the snake that did not appear to be in blue at all. I was shocked, because I had seen no signs of her in blue. I've seen her in blue before past sheds, or, she would disappear into her humid hide for days. She did neither this time.

Is that common? How/why would a snake shed without going into blue?

[Jim Smith]

You must have missed the signs when the smaller snake went into blue. Once they come out of blue, they usually shed with three or four days. Your larger snake will return to looking "normal" in a day or so and then shed in another three or four days.

[MnGuy]

You must have missed the signs when the smaller snake went into blue. Once they come out of blue, they usually shed with three or four days. Your larger snake will return to looking "normal" in a day or so and then shed in another three or four days.

Ah, I see. So they go into blue, come out looking “normal” and then shed? I’m afraid to say I never knew that! I’m newish to snakes, and have always just seen them in blue/hiding and then freshly shed.

Thanks for the education.

[Jim Smith]

I suspect that there are many people who were not aware that they go back to looking "normal" before they shed. I know that I was not aware of that when I started keeping snakes, and I had handled and even kept snakes as a kid, but never for long term.

[MnGuy]

I suspect that there are many people who were not aware that they go back to looking "normal" before they shed. I know that I was not aware of that when I started keeping snakes, and I had handled and even kept snakes as a kid, but never for long term.

Well, you learn something new every day! Thanks again.