Snakeskin

The top 2 energy-sapping activities in a Snake's life are the following:

1. Killing/Swallowing/Digesting prey
2. Shedding skin/Moulting

Other than the above, Python Dante spends a lot of time in one corner of his glass case, coiled quietly by the heating "rock". His forked tongue flicks in and out, smelling his environment.  His  always-open eyes give every indication of being alert.  How do I know he can see adequately?  I don't, but he looks like he's staring back at me, ready to pounce.  At other times, he's at the other end of the glass case, checking-out what's going on.  I think this end is also his main bathroom.    

Here are pictures of activity number 2.  He was unusually subdued for over 10 days before this occurrence.    The actual shedding took about an hour.  Man, he was all-muscle!  The process almost reminded me of giving birth.  Just push that baby out (or off, in his case). The end result looked like half of a used-up panty hose.  Python Dante was quite active afterwards, almost as if  endorphins were working their way through his system after quite a workout (and indeed it was!).  Time for him to relax and paaaaaarty!  And get re-energized.  Hey, Waiter!

It began at the snout area; his eyes still partly covered

Ta-daaaaa!!!!!