Woody is a Climber

Hi everyone.
This is first post on a forum like this but it's because I don't know where else to ask about this. This being the really weird behavior of my 6 month old male, Woody.
He's my first snake, ever, and it's been a blast so far. But lately, around the last two weeks, I've been finding him posted up along the top edge of his tank, supporting himself between a thin lip and the top mesh lid.(I attached a picture for reference.)
I'm concerned because 1) I have no idea how he gets up there, and 2) I can't open the tank without him falling back down onto the substrate.

I personally don't think it has anything to do with the temperature, since my apartment ranges from 65 to 75, and his tank has a cool side that stays around 70 consistently and a small heating pad under his hide.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Hi!



Going to go with totally normal, though you'd probably see a little bit less of this particular behavior if his cage wasn't so big and empty. Open spaces are dangerous territory for snakes in the wild, allowing them to be spotted by both ground and aerial predators, and are thus avoided whenever possible. Most care guides for colubrids recommend a minimum of two hides, one on the warm side and one on the cool. Add a few more hides, some climbing branches, and maybe a fake plant or two to clutter it up, and you might convince him that the ground is where it's at!

he's probably found what he thinks is a better place to hide than the sparse conditions you currently have him in. That or he's looking for a way to escape, which he will do if given the opportunity.

Corn snakes like (need) plenty of places to hide. Your cage is wide open. He's probably going crazy in there. Throw in some of those fake vines and plants, and 3 or 4 more hiding places. Make sure there is at least one decent place to hide over the warm spot, one on the cool spot, and another somewhere in between.

If you can look into the cage and see the snake, then you don't have nearly enough clutter. And if you can see him, he can see you. And that probably freaks him out.

And if he's seen you open the lid a few times, he "knows" that's the way out to a "better place."

Huh, I hadn't even thought about that. Thanks guys.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by WartHaug

Huh, I hadn't even thought about that. Thanks guys.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

A little research about keeping snakes before obtaining one is a good thing

Originally Posted by Karl_Mcknight

A little research about keeping snakes before obtaining one is a good thing

On this note make sure you have a thermostat too, Some say its not recommended but i have 1 thermostat with every reptile i own.

I would say fake plants and some decor would be great and you can get a knife or anything to cut the inside lip off the tank

I have one that likes to do that but she only does it when she is roaming her tank


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Look at his house- he doesn't have anywhere safe to hide! Snakes don't like big open hides; they like small, cozy hides. Hatchlings, especially, feel safe with lots and lots and lots of vines. He's like vines suction cupped to the back and sides, and more vines on the ground. Toilet paper tubes, squished flat, make excellent hides. Lots of snakes even like reptile hammocks! It's totally normal for hatchlings to go up in that crack, though- they love it there. They feel safe and unexposed, there.