mysticsnake
New member
When irritated, do corn snakes "puff up" their throats/necks? I've noticed mine doing this quite a bit and would like to get clear on why it's happening. Thanks, mysticsnake
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Puffing up throat
- Thread starter mysticsnake
- Start date
bitsy
Owned by Corns since 1991
Agreed. Never experienced it personally, but I've been around this forum for several years now. Whenever it's been discussed, it has always been followed by a shed. I can't remember ever seeing a discussion where the Corn didn't shed shortly after the throat puffing/swelling started. I think it's part of the process some of them use to loosen the old skin. The shed starts from the tip of the snout, so loosening the skin round the throat is a logical thing to happen.
If they feel threatened (not irritated!) then they're more likely to make their heads go flat and wide, to make themselves look more threatening to the percieved predator.
If they feel threatened (not irritated!) then they're more likely to make their heads go flat and wide, to make themselves look more threatening to the percieved predator.
Cassie16
New member
Like bitsy said, corn snakes kind of flatten and widen their necks when they feel threatened. It could be described as "puffing out" a little bit,too. I've seen my corn snake doing it when he's startled. Sometimes he does it when I'm letting him roam the carpet. I think he's making himself look bigger in case he encounters something frightening in such a big, open space. One time, we were cleaning her tank, and put him in a separate tub to do it. It agitated him, and when my boyfriend went to pick him up, he bit him. He had "puffed" out his neck before and after. Sometimes he only puffs out one side, and it looks like when a human has a swollen lymph node in their neck!
I don't know anything about them getting puffy before shedding, but I'm a pretty new owner, so that would explain why I've never noticed it. I'll have to inspect mine next time he's about to shed. It makes sense that it would happen, though. The first time mine shed, he was making weird puffing noises when he breathed. Posters on here shared with me that, since they start their shed at their heads, sometimes flaps can form near the nostrils, making that sound.
I don't know anything about them getting puffy before shedding, but I'm a pretty new owner, so that would explain why I've never noticed it. I'll have to inspect mine next time he's about to shed. It makes sense that it would happen, though. The first time mine shed, he was making weird puffing noises when he breathed. Posters on here shared with me that, since they start their shed at their heads, sometimes flaps can form near the nostrils, making that sound.
mysticsnake
New member
Thanks for the input.
She's not at all ready to shed, as she did so two weeks ago. I'm observing her just hanging out in her cage, sometimes "puffed up", sometimes not. I'll get in touch with my herp vet and see if there's any possibility of an infection of sorts that would cause this, though she seems healthy and has a great appetite. I had always felt that this was a display to express agitation when I roused her from a cozy hide box, but seeing her just chillin' and looking this way causes me to wonder.... I'll do some more research and continue the thread when I find out more.
She's not at all ready to shed, as she did so two weeks ago. I'm observing her just hanging out in her cage, sometimes "puffed up", sometimes not. I'll get in touch with my herp vet and see if there's any possibility of an infection of sorts that would cause this, though she seems healthy and has a great appetite. I had always felt that this was a display to express agitation when I roused her from a cozy hide box, but seeing her just chillin' and looking this way causes me to wonder.... I'll do some more research and continue the thread when I find out more.