Snakes shed their skins regularly, the frequency of which depends on the species and age of the snake. The main reason snakes shed is because they outgrow their old skin. Unlike humans, a snake's skin does not grow along with the rest of its body, and so the old, outer layer must be sloughed off when the new skin forms under it. Because snakes continue to grow throughout their lives, they shed on a regular basis, albeit at a slower pace as they mature (every two to four months on average for an adult snake). While other animals also shed parts of their bodies, like old skin cells or hair or feathers, snakes are unique in that they shed their old layer of skin all at once and, usually, in one intact piece. Thus when you find a shed skin in the wild, it will look like a transparent snake, complete from its rounded head with noticeable eye scales down to the tip of its tail. Whether you're an amateur naturalist or just a curious collector, preserving a shed snake skin is a fun and easy way to bring a bit of nature closer to home (without the complication of, say, bringing home a live snake!).
Instructions
Simplest Methods
1. Remove any dirt, plants or fecal matter from the shed skin by very gently brushing with your fingers or using a tweezers or small, soft-bristled brush. Remember the skin is very fragile, so proceed with care.
2. Let the skin dry completely. Skins you find in the wild are already likely to be dry, but if your pet snake just shed, the skin will be a bit moist at first. Allow it to air dry for a few hours before preparing it for display.
3. Decide how you want to display the skin. One way is simply to place it in a glass jar with a lid. The airless, dry environment inside the jar will preserve the skin for years.
4. Or put the skin in a clear plastic file page and seal the top with tape. These type of pages are found at any office supply store.
5. Or flatten the skin on a piece of cardboard or poster board and glue or tape it in place. For long-term display, cover it with clear plastic.
An Alternative Method
6. Place the shed skin in water and allow to soak for about an hour.
7. Make a pinning board long and wide enough to accommodate your snake skin. Use either cardboard or a long piece of Styrofoam thick enough to use with straight pins.
8. Place the wet skin on the pinning board and stretch it out to full length very carefully. With a sharp scissors, cut the skin lengthwise along the belly side so that the skin can be laid out flat. (Imagine you're cutting a paper towel tube lengthwise and then flattening it out.)
9. Pin the skin to the board with straight pins placed along the skin's edges every 1/4 to 3/4 inches.
10. Let the skin dry completely on the board for one to two days. Then afix the skin to a display surface of your choosing, such as cardboard, poster board or a mounting board made specifically for natural history specimens.
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