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Jerky Movements

A

adominea

New member
I've had my little corn snake for about 2-3 weeks now and he's been doing great. I'm very worried at the moment though because a few days ago I noticed him jerkily poking his head around.

Most of the time (always when slithering around) he acts normally and is very graceful. He's always like this when he's moving around the viv. But sometimes if he's just sitting up against the side of the tank, he makes weird jerky movements, like jerking his head around. Very slightly though, as if shaking. I tried to take a video of this but it is so slight and quick you can't even notice it on camera. I definitely notice it though. Other than this he eats normally, and is perfectly fine. Should I be worried?

The only reason I'm so worried right now is because someone else posted a question like this somewhere else and someone said that if there's no reason for it, its almost always a neurological problem with the snake. ):​
 
How old is the snake? Do you have a mature females around him? First thing that comes to mind is that it's getting into breeding season.
Is he doing anything else, like tipping his head back, or appear to have coordination problems that would indicate neuro problems?
 
The first thing that came into my mind, when I read the title, was star gazing. But Heather has a point about the breeding season thing. Has he been doing this since you got him? Or is he just now starting to do it?
 
The first time I saw that type of movement, was when I was new to snakes, & took in some adult corns to help rehome for a friend, & one of them was making that jerky head movement, & I later found out is was because she was ovulating. LOL (I've seen both males & females do it.)
 
I had one of my snakes start to make jerky movements today. Then I remembered that it is that time of the year. If there are no other symptoms (the snake is alert, is able to move around normally, etc.) then it is probably the 'herky jerky' love dance.
 
Shmoges,

yes. they can. not all do of course, i have 2 males that will eat forever and breed as well, and i have some that completely refuse food November to March or so.
 
Thats what my anery is doing atm :p I guesed it was cause of that. I'm just glad he dooesn't try to mate with my neck after I hold the female then him
 
good way to sex an unknown snake? hold it up to a mature, proven female during breeding season...if a hemipene emerges, your unknown is a male!! that's how i confirmed my snow, LOL!

OP, how old did you say your snake is?
 
Is he poking his head into the glass? My corn seems to think he can burrow through glass and it looks strange/funny... maybe that's what yours is exhibiting?
 
No, what mine is doing is it will move a little like 1/4 an inch then stop then do it again then again like he is trying to dance. I am told this is a breeding season behavior
 
He does only really do it when he's around the sides of the tank, so sort of poking at the glass. He's about 6 months old, and male. He's been doing it since I got him, but that wasn't very long ago. I've only had him for a few weeks.

Other than that he's fine, he eats like a monster like usual. There's really been no change in his other behavior. ​
 
adominea said:
He does only really do it when he's around the sides of the tank, so sort of poking at the glass. He's about 6 months old, and male. He's been doing it since I got him, but that wasn't very long ago. I've only had him for a few weeks.

Other than that he's fine, he eats like a monster like usual. There's really been no change in his other behavior. ​
Click to expand...

Sounds like pretty normal behavoir, then. He is probably investigating the sides of the tank.
 
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