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vertebrae popping?

attackturtle

attackturtle

Registered Superhero
Sometimes while holding my snake, I have heard slightly, (more like feel) what sounds like her vertebrae popping. It sounds/feels like how you can crack your knuckles, back, neck. It generally occurs when She has slithered somewhere that requires her to be pulled back/out rather than lifted up and away. Its not that I am pulling hard but the sounds scares me. I have searched a bit here and on the internet and don't see anything. I have read many books on snake care and don't remember this comming up. Anybody else have this happen? Is it harmless?
 
I, too, have wondered the same thing. :)

I notice when I'm having to restrain or remove my snakes from around something, their back pops. I've not noticed anything abnormal from it however. Then again, my back pops when I bend over too.
 
I have also noticed this, though not with corns. I noticed it a lot when I lost my ball python in my dad's car in an ill-advised attempt to find the mouse that I had lost in my dad's car the week before and had been unable to catch. The back popping didn't seem to hurt him. But I didn't pull hard enough to get him out, either. I had to remove the car seats and disassemble the air conditioning vent system.

All this with the car parked in the garage below my dad's bedroom. I have no idea what would've happened had he caught me, but it definitely would not have been good.

edited to add: This was not a recent event. I was in the 8th grade.
 
i've had this too, with both of my boas and both of my corns. friends have had it with their boas and pythons as well. as far as i understand, and i could very well be wrong, is that it's harmless. it's just some stretching. anyone who's ever had their snake get hurt could tell you that when that happens, you get a reaction! they make sudden moves etc. it's not like they turn around and yell at you, but you can definately notice when it's happening. when i take my snakes out i make it a bit of a priority to make them exercise and "work" to get from hand to hand or where ever they are going. in this process they often feel like they're "popping". i can't say if it's the same as us popping our knuckles, 'cause snakes are simply made quite different than us. but i am pretty confident in saying that it's not a harmfull thing. i'm guessing it has to do with sitting still for so long, and then getting exercise when we take them out. in the wild they'd probably be moving a lot more than when in captivity. if i'm wrong on this someone please tell me and i will change my exercise practices!!! :D
 
I am so glad you asked this question. I too have had this experience with one of my corns but always forgot to ask about it. Like you and the others have mentioned it certainly doesn't seem to hurt them but it sure feels weird in my hand when it does. Hmm, maybe someone will reply who knows exactly what is happening in the snakes body when this occurs :shrugs:
 
I have been wondering about this sometimes too! I've felt it in my corns mostly. It does feel like you hurt them indeed but they do not seem to react to it. I hope some VET hanging around here pops up knowing hte answer!
 
Well, Im glad Im not alone then. I really was surprised when I searched and didn't find the same question as before. It does sound just like when I pop my own back.
 
see, when i get it, it's never like an actual popping sound nor does it feel like when i pop my knuclkes. it's more like a stretching of sorts. it's more gradual than an actual sudden pop. maybe i'll keep a closer eye on it next time, but every snake i've had does it. if i let them slither in both hands and gently pull my hands togeather when they flex to not lose balance they slightly stretch. they do it when they're going for a corner of the table, or something else they can "grab" onto, and i try to get them back. i wonder if it has anything to do with being couped up in a cage all the time???

:cheers:
 
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