I am not sure about BP's since my little one has not gone through a shed with me yet,,.... but my male albino checkered garter is a year old and still can not shed his tail on his own. I have to help him. The breeder did not know that he had a bit stuck on the tip of his tail and when I helped my little guy get it off he lost the tip of his tail. Now he is not able to shed on his own.