Weather related Reptile Behavior????? Anyone else noticed?

[dakski]

We had a big thunderstorm come through yesterday. We even lost power for about 15 minutes (the whole home generator kicked in as it should, so that eases my mind somewhat, that it's working properly).

The snakes were bonkers last night. I've witnessed this before, with weather being weird (with Shayna and Figment), but it was my first experience with Behira (BCI).

Shayna (BP) was totally jumpy and timid. I literally had her out for 2 minutes to see if her eyes were clear (she is going to shed and had cloudy eyes a few days ago) and she did not enjoy any of it.

She was clearly distressed, but not biting or hissing, just distressed. I did a quick once over and then had her back in her tank.

Behira had eaten Sunday night, and I've been sick in bed since then, so last night was my first opportunity to see her/take her out.

Same thing as Shayna. It took 6-7 hook handle strokes (she's hook trained) to get her to calm down even little (I honestly thought she might nail the hook handle). She did not strike after all, and let me pick her up easily, but was very active and couldn't seem to get comfortable.

I put her back pretty quick also.

Of course, today, a nice sunny day here in CT, everyone was totally fine.

Shayna was calm and I removed her to clean up some waste and check humidity. No issues. Behira was chill and back to her curious self and calm as ever.

Anyone else experience similar behavior changes with extreme weather?

[Sonny1318]

I definitely believe the weather patterns effect them. Most boas try and give birth during a rain as a way of protecting their babies. The rain gets rid of the afterbirth and the smell witch would send a ton of predators after all those worms. I also witnessed some hyper behavior out of my ball pythons during storms, I believe it has to do somewhat with the barometric pressure. We just had a big storm on Monday and one of my shyest boys, was going bonkers all morning. I have noticed this time and time again when really big storms roll through. So yes, I personally have also.

[Bogertophis]

I totally believe they can sense something different, maybe the air pressure dropping when a front goes thru, or? I'll definitely be paying attention to see
if I notice anything similar during our next big storm, but it's been a while- lately storms have been mostly dancing around my area. On the other hand,
there is also the very human phenomenon of "seeing that which we expect to see" so what we really need is some good independent research done. It
would certainly favor their survival though, if they had the ability to detect major storms and get to high ground or give birth etc.

[dakski]

I totally believe they can sense something different, maybe the air pressure dropping when a front goes thru, or? I'll definitely be paying attention to see
if I notice anything similar during our next big storm, but it's been a while- lately storms have been mostly dancing around my area. On the other hand,
there is also the very human phenomenon of "seeing that which we expect to see" so what we really need is some good independent research done. It
would certainly favor their survival though, if they had the ability to detect major storms and get to high ground or give birth etc.

Hard to be conclusively unbiased, but I didn't even think about the storm until after I saw the behavior.

The storm had passed through in the early afternoon and I was sick and sleeping through it.

That night, after handling the snake briefly, it hit me, that we had a storm earlier in the day.

I wonder how we would scientifically and quantitatively measure behavior patterns?

[AbsoluteApril]

barometric pressure drops (storms) commonly cause changes and can also be a useful trigger to breed in some boid species (probably others as well)

[Craiga 01453]

Django (my Cal King) was an absolute maniac last night after the storms rolled through my neck of the woods here in MA. He can be a bit high strung at times, but I can usually get him to calm down pretty quickly. Last night, I didn't even bother trying, he made it pretty clear he was in NO mood to chill.

They must be able to feel the change in atmospheric pressure, it would lend itself nicely to their survival. I know I can feel it in my geriatric bones. Between the arthritis (hands, shoulder, knees) the screws in my knees, and the metal rod in my leg, I always feel the storms. I cant imagine they dont feel it as well. And, I'm sure some feel it more than others and some react to it differently than others.

[dakski]

Django (my Cal King) was an absolute maniac last night after the storms rolled through my neck of the woods here in MA. He can be a bit high strung at times, but I can usually get him to calm down pretty quickly. Last night, I didn't even bother trying, he made it pretty clear he was in NO mood to chill.

They must be able to feel the change in atmospheric pressure, it would lend itself nicely to their survival. I know I can feel it in my geriatric bones. Between the arthritis (hands, shoulder, knees) the screws in my knees, and the metal rod in my leg, I always feel the storms. I cant imagine they dont feel it as well. And, I'm sure some feel it more than others and some react to it differently than others.

Yeah the storms hit me here in Northern CT and then headed your way.

I feel you brother.