Goliath molt pic

[bborysow]

Here is one of the young Goliaths I got from Robert, molting. It looks so painful watching them do this. He came out just fine, and is still in 'stretching' today.

[Bartman]

what does molting mean? is it like shedding?

[Zoe]

Yup, birds and spiders molt, snakes and lizards shed.

Zoe

[bborysow]

Not really, when an invert 'molts' it is essentially replacing (and growing) the hard parts of its body. Molting is essential to getting bigger.

When a reptile sheds, it has little to do with growth in size.

[Bartman]

thanks...ew looks gross

[Bartman]

what do you mean dont they shed when there skin becomes to tight for there body? isnt that the whole science behind it? wow ive been confused for the last 2 years??

[jay76]

Interesting! Thanks for sharing... I for one had been wondering what a molt looked like

[Zoe]

Well, snakes shed to renew their skin, but it also does have something to do with size. Babies shed at a far higher frequency than do adults, because they are growing faster. Adults shed too, but far less frequently. Remember, though, that snakes grow all their lives, even though it may be an inch in ten years

Zoe

[bborysow]

For Reptiles, no not really. When a snake eats a big meal, its skin stretches enormously, so that shows there is plenty of room to grow (or just get fatter). Reptiles shed to give themselves a nice new skin, free from dirt, parasites, abrasions, etc.

Mammals do the same, just our skin doesn't come off in one piece, but sheds in flakes continuously.

[bborysow]

Hey Zoe, we are answering at the same time. We are on the same page on this one.

[Zoe]

Then how do you explain the fact that babies shed way more often and grow faster, whereas adults shed way less often and grow much slower?

Zoe

[Zoe]

Oh lol! I didn't realize, I thought you replying to me. Good shtuff

[bborysow]

Metabolisms are very high when the babies are growing, everything is happening fast. Growing, replacing skin , eating, pooping.
The idea is 'get big', before something eats you, or the dry season comes, what ever.
But shedding will happen with little growth as well. Reptiles don't really 'grow out' of their skin, but they renew frequently when growing lots.

Inverts truely grow out of their skin (exoskeletion).

[Zoe]

The idea is 'get big', before something eats you

See, there ya go!

Yes, shedding also has to do with factors other than growth, but that is a factor in the frequency of shedding.

[bborysow]

You Bet. Here is one I don't quite understand. My tortoises are growing, rather slowly, but still growing. But they only shed wholes 'skutes' off their shell when I first got them, (and they probably were coming off a poor diet, about 10 years ago). Why do they no longer shed skutes off their shell??
Any ideas?