New Mexican Black Kingsnake

[TheBoogieDown]

Sooo, I've been on here posing questions... So, my roommate just went out and bought herself a Mexican Black Kingsnake. It is very pretty... and HIGHLY active. I'll post some pictures when I get a chance. My primary question here, for now, I'm sure I'll have tons more is this: how often do these snakes shed? According to this chart we were given at the time of purchase, this snake shed after 9 days, then again 4 days later, then again a week later... Is this normal??

EDIT: He just shed, again... This is two days after his last shed... Is this something to be concerned of?

[Jlassiter]

Kings should not shed that much....
I've never heard of that before.

When they are young and growing they may shed once every month and a half or so.....
Adults shed about 6 times a year or so....all depends on feeding.....

[Gungirl]

Can't mites or other parasites cause them to shed more often as well as healing from an injury such as a burn or cut?

[Jlassiter]

Maybe...never had those problems.....
Could be a possibility but the OP did not mention any of that.....

[TheBoogieDown]

I wish I knew, my roommate just got him from PetSmart today. Not even 4 hour ago. And we had him home all of... 40 minutes to an hour when I looked at his terrarium and he had shed... Full shedding, no problems.

[TheBoogieDown]

Here's the skin, not to be gross or anything, I'm just shocked that he's shed so often, and so cleanly! And a picture of him.

[Volcom269]

Is it possible the charts might be off.. I know this isn't very helpful but that is way too much shedding.

[Jlassiter]

Yeah...it doesn't even sound possible.....
If this is the first shed you've witnessed then let us know when it sheds again in your care......

[TheBoogieDown]

This may (or may not) help. I am REALLY hoping that these charts are off. I am posting a picture for you guys to look at as well, so I know that I didn't just go full moron and misread something. If you look closely, you can see where it says "Shed" or "Shedding" in very odd places. I didn't actually view this until after we got him (or her) home.

[Jlassiter]

I think that chart shows that the snake was in a shed cycle starting on 8/16 then finally shed on 8/20.
I don't know why it shows it in another shed cycle staring on 8/27 though.....

[TheBoogieDown]

I think that chart shows that the snake was in a shed cycle starting on 8/16 then finally shed on 8/20.
I don't know why it shows it in another shed cycle staring on 8/27 though.....

That actually makes sense, as the wording is "shedding" and then "shed"... Still makes me scratch my head as to why it shed yesterday.

[Lankyrob]

Looking at his enclosure it would be better with hides at both ends of the viv and is there a waterbowl in there??

[TheBoogieDown]

At the time of the picture, no. The water bowl was being washed after I took the skin out of the bowl. He was soaking this morning and then burrowed next to the water bowl.

[Jlassiter]

Sounds like he wants moisture/humidity.....
What kind of heating are you using?

I know you've only had it for a short time...I'm just curious.....

[TheBoogieDown]

Well, we started out with a heating pad. But when the AC would kick on, it would drop his temp down to 65-70, so I am now using a heat lamp to keep his temperature (during the day) at 80. As for humidity, he stays at about 60%, but I read somewhere they like 50%, but I keep a moist rag over his lid and that keeps the humidity from fluctuating to badly and I don't have to hover over his tank misting constantly. Of course, I'm running into the problem of having to fold back the rag to use the light haha.

[Jlassiter]

Personally I would not use a heat lamp.....they put off a large area of heat and dry the air.

Don't think of keeping him one certain way, at one temp and one humidity level.
Provide him an array of temps and humidity to choose from. Gradients so he can choose where he wants to be at any given time.

Use a heat pad under 1/3 of the tank.
Provide a humid box...Damp sphagnum moss in a tupperware container with a lid and an access hole.....place it where part of the container of moss is over the hot spot and the rest in the cool area.
This way your snake will have the option to be hot/dry, hot/damp, cool/dry, cool/damp......And it will choose what it wants instead of being forced at a constant temp or constant humidity level.

[TremTricolors]

Personally I would not use a heat lamp.....they put off a large area of heat and dry the air.

Don't think of keeping him one certain way, at one temp and one humidity level.
Provide him an array of temps and humidity to choose from. Gradients so he can choose where he wants to be at any given time.

Use a heat pad under 1/3 of the tank.
Provide a humid box...Damp sphagnum moss in a tupperware container with a lid and an access hole.....place it where part of the container of moss is over the hot spot and the rest in the cool area.
This way your snake will have the option to be hot/dry, hot/damp, cool/dry, cool/damp......And it will choose what it wants instead of being forced at a constant temp or constant humidity level.

I agree, low 70's is not to cool for snake as long as he has a spot in the mid 80's or 90's to got to when he wants to digest a meal. I keep my snake room at 72 all day and 70 sometimes at night.

[TheBoogieDown]

If he were mine, I probably would. But, he is my roommates and she wants to get him a log instead (he has spent most of his time investigating UP the sides of his terrarium as well as chilling on top of his rock hide.) I'm sure she'll eventually get him another hide.

[TheBoogieDown]

Alright folks: I got a pretty good picture (using my friends camera) of our snake. And I found what looked like a scar, or something on his underside, or maybe it's his butt. I really don't know haha.

[Kaetlinv]

Experts correct me if i'm wrong - but I'm pretty sure that's their 'belly-button', because I've seen that on all three of my Ball Pythons. I'm guessing that's where their umbilical cord was >.>

Also, I believe that white scale is where his 'butt' is. :)

[TheBoogieDown]

Experts correct me if i'm wrong - but I'm pretty sure that's their 'belly-button', because I've seen that on all three of my Ball Pythons. I'm guessing that's where their umbilical cord was >.>

Also, I believe that white scale is where his 'butt' is. :)

That's what I told my roomie, but it never hurts to ask... All you guys can laugh now haha.

[snake man12]

Yeah It was were the embryo was connected to the yolk

[Kaetlinv]

Better safe than sorry! when I first saw it on my first BP I kind of freaked too. It's only natural to be worried! If you care, you'll worry :D

[TheBoogieDown]

Especially considering my first two snakes had white bellies, so it never stood out that much. Also, having got him from a chain pet store, I'm concerning over the tiniest of details right now.

[Jlassiter]

Yep it's the "belly button" where the umbilical cord was attached to the egg yolk......

[Jlassiter]

As it ages it will become less noticeable and typically will be unable to see when it's an adult.....

[TheBoogieDown]

Woo, that's good to know. This little bugger has been freaking active ever since we took that picture of his "belly button". He's taken to doing laps over his water bowl, doing laps over his hiding rock, and laying on his hide rock trying to reach the top of the terrarium. Quite entertaining, but he always makes me hold my breath when he "falls over".
And I have more pictures:

[Kaetlinv]

My 1700gram female Ball python does it... I freak out whenever I hear a 'thud' in the middle of the night, panicking and turning on a light to see her draped over one of her climbing bars... She is ALWAYS climbing around! Thankfully she has stopped shoving her nose between the mesh of her lid, but she still falls over / down when she reaches too far.

She doesn't seem to be hurt by it, but I still worry. I get where you're coming from >.<

[TheBoogieDown]

He's recently learned that he can reach the top to the cage. Thankfully he can't get through the slits in it, and he can't undo the locks that are attached.

[Kaetlinv]

with a 3foot 7inch snake.... it's hard to make a tall enough home for her NOT to reach the top, haha.

She's done this since she was a wee little one. Even though it scares the crap out of me sometimes, I've come to accept that she's not going to stop.

[TheBoogieDown]

with a 3foot 7inch snake.... it's hard to make a tall enough home for her NOT to reach the top, haha.

She's done this since she was a wee little one. Even though it scares the crap out of me sometimes, I've come to accept that she's not going to stop.

I hear ya. It's put my mind at ease a lot seeing that he has control over the fall (somewhat). I'm just glad he has a natural curiosity about him. He really does enjoy exploring his tank.

[Kaetlinv]

Valentine has little to no control of her falls, which is the part that freaks me out. She may be all muscle but there's only so much she can do when over 2/3rds of her body isn't holding onto anything >.<

[TheBoogieDown]

Valentine has little to no control of her falls, which is the part that freaks me out. She may be all muscle but there's only so much she can do when over 2/3rds of her body isn't holding onto anything >.<

Ah, you speak many truths on that one. It's funny though, because that snake is my roommates and I still freak out about it haha. My snake hides in his rock, or under his substrate, doesn't do the whole "Heeeeey! What's up there!?"

[Kaetlinv]

I worry about any snake I'm involved with >XD My brother's got a year old corn snake and I fuss over her. My friend has two corn snakes, and another friend that lives in the same house as him just got a fire corn girl. I fuss over those three corns too >XD

[TheBoogieDown]

I know, it's difficult for me to be like "YOU! You get him another hide!" to my roommate... Hopefully, I can talk her into getting him something he can climb. He prefers the top of his hide over the inside of it.

[TheBoogieDown]

Well, to update you guys: my roommates snake shed again just a few minutes ago. He even used his skin as a nice poo bag lol. Just thought I'd let you know that's it's been a week under 1 full month since his last shed.