Rattlesnakes usually have between eight and thirteen segments in their rattles. These segments can continues to increase throughout long tailed rattlesnake throughout its lifetime, but the rate at which they do so time the snake sheds them can vary. As they age, snakes shed their skin less frequently, typically between two to four times a year when they're young. However, it's important to note that the number of segments in a rattlesnake's rattle does not accurately reflect their age, as segments can fall off, and the rate of new segment growth can differ.