When do snakes shed their skins?

Snakes shed their skins when they outgrow them. This happens continually, because snakes keep growing throughout their lives, although more slowly as they get older.

The skins are discarded at regular intervals of one to three months, according to the variety of snake. During this process, which is known as sloughing, the old skin is turned back on itself, beginning at the lips and gradually revealing the new skin underneath. When sloughing has ended, the old skin will have been turned completely inside out and left in one piece.