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Thrashing behaviour

K

KatieBoo

New member
So I've had Boo for a few weeks now... she's just starting to come round to being picked up... Well I thought. She's been great- she's eating and pooping well- even had her shed - totally unexpected! However shes got into the habit lately of thrashing around when im handling her. One minute shes perfectly fine the next shes all reared up thrashing around just speeding up the way she moves and throwing her head around. To a new snake owner this is actually quite frightening I look forward to my short handling sessions but of late they're a little scary. I brought her a new viv which shes now used to with much more climbing height and will ever so often be very active climbing and hanging from the sides... but of late any effort to handle she's turned into a right little ---bag. Some advice would be greatly appreciated :/ Am I doing something wrong :(

Katie
 
Make sure your washing your hands before you get her out, they can and will react to smells and residues left on you.

Also double check your temps.
 
Keep handling as normal. That's about the only sure fire way to try and get a feisty one to calm down. Not sure how old it is, but younger snakes definitely can get defensive/anxious/feisty when being held. To them (and even to older snakes) you are a very large thing more than likely intent on eating it. Most usually calm down with frequent handling. It could take a while, it could not, that part is up to each individual snake.

Other things that can be done, as drybgerg mentioned, make sure you wash your hands (preferably with an unscented soap) before handling. Im not gonna comment on cage temps because high temps usually result in a more active/aggressive snake while they are in the cage. If that's also the case in this scenario, then it could be one of many causes. But if it's pretty chill while it's in it's home, then temps are probably pretty good. Lastly, no matter how much of a butt it acts like, don't let it get to you. Just keep handling as normal, with no signs of fear or anxiety... thats what they want, to scare the crap out of you so you wont try to eat it.
 
Thanks for your advice guys... temps are normal... i have been washing my hands- might try the unscented soap idea... I just dont get it one minute hes fine the next thrashing like mad. Ive felt a slightly rough patch on his underneath... as he's shed didn't know if they was part of it... i found no eye caps in the shed but i was away and the finance who isnt too keen left the shed in with boo for a few days till i came back -.-' so I have no clue! He shed in quite a few pieces so I know the humidity mustnt of been great- feel awful i wasnt at home. I just dont know :(
 
drybgerg said:
How old is the snake?
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Yes, give us some more information. How is your tank set up? Do you have a warm and a cool side? How do you heat it? What are the temps on each side? Do you have hides on both sides?

I know it sounds like the "third degree", but this info can help figure out if there is a problem or if this is just a normal, flighty baby.

A shed in several pieces isn't unusual for a first shed in a new home, but did you find the head shed? Are you sure there aren't eyecaps? They are hard to see sometimes, take a pen and touch it where the eyecaps should be to be sure. If they are for sure missing, look over your snake very carefully, especially at his eyes, make sure they are clear, and at the underside where you felt something. Let us know what you find.

Oh, and the unscented soap is really important. Mine HATE anything scented, they try to get away from the fruity or floral scents left from soap. I use unscented Neutrogena soap from a pump, it is the best thing I have found.
 
He'll be one on the 31st... hes got a coconut one side water bowl the other and some bark lent for him to climb. Its 72 on warm side (1/3rd ratio with the heat mat under the tank) and the other end is 63... Cant mess with him anymore today as he wont let me near him but I am a little worried :( hope im doing okay with him- rescued him from a poor home so would hate him to have another bad experience
 
72 on the warm side is to low. Where are you taking that reading from? I like to take it under the substrate directly on the "glass" over the UTH, that temp should be 82°-85°. I don't like my cold side to drop below 70°.
 
KatieBoo said:
Boo had worked the thermometer over the substrate little monkey! It's 81 :)
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Better, but try to hit for 85° on the warm side, and have a real hide on both sides. You can use hot glue to keep the probe in place.

Also, give him some ground cover in the middle to slither through, mimicking as close as possible to the real outdoors. I use aquarium plants, the tall ones lean over and arc so the snakes can crawl under them, and the more "clutter" the more secure they will feel.
 
By the way, LOVE "Boo" as a name! I call my good guy friends "Boo" all the time. "Hey, Boo, whassup?"
 
Hehe Boo is due to his hiding and popping up in random places nature plus I love monsters inc! He's my own little harmless monster :D he handled better yesterday after unscented soap but makes a beeline back for his Viv but won't get in the damn thing when I go to put him in he clings to me. -.-' I've wanted to put aquarium plants in for a while but my other half said stop junking his tank up hehe! Might go have a play at the shops ;)
 
Regardless of what your other half says, the snake wants the cage to be all junked up. :)

I too like the name Boo. Really cute.
 
Yes, feel free to junk the cage up as much as you can. The name Boo always reminds me of the scaredy-ghosts in Super Mario Bros. 3 (I know they appear in other games, but I'm old and haven't played a Mario since 3).
 
The first time I heard "Boo" used as a term of endearment was when I was in a gas station and this guy came over to me and said "hey, Boo, can I be your baby daddy?"! Also the first time I heard the term "baby daddy". Yes, this was a LONG time ago!

I also had a baby doll when I was very little that I named "Baby Boo".

But I digress...
 
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