So my olive that I've had for 3 or 4 years just recently went reclusive in just the same way all my snakes do during their shed cycle. It bothered me a bit because it was too early for her to be shedding again. I always get a bit nervous when they do that because I'm always a bit worried that they might be sick and I wouldn't know and so the weird timing really stuck with me. I told myself not to be a worry wart and leave her in peace but I finally checked on her yesterday and it is not situation normal.
As soon as I hooked her she totally freaked out - her body started shivering all over and each further touch brought on a new wave of shivering. I quit messing with her and she stayed coiled and acted like a snake in shed that kind of wanted you to go away so they could go back to sleep. But, she was clearly wound up because every little movement she made was lighting fast. No striking or anything weird - just regular little head movements but super fast and jerky. Also, it was like she didn't see me.
I closed the cage and turned off the light. She's settled down but I notice that her position is never really relaxed - she always seem bound up. She has that slight curvature to her spine up and down and alternating bunching of the muscles. It reminds me of how a snake's body looks when it is being restrained during a vet visit. Even the end of her tail is always wavy.
She moves every so often. If I turn on the light she'll start the bizarre shivering and contractions again after about 20 minutes. If I turn it off, she settles down.
I'm now really worried and I want to take her to the vet but I'm afraid it is going to be full freakout mode if I try to take her out of there. I might even end up doing more harm than good. I'm going to call the vet tomorrow but if anybody has any knowledge of behavior like this, please let me know. I've disturbed my snakes in shed before and this really doesn't seem like it at all.
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