Is there a way to tell if a snake is sleeping?

[Luvyna]

They never close their eyes and sit very still so you just never know...

[MR Snakes]

They narrow their pupil so it looks like a line. More oblong when awake.

[Bogertophis]

When they're snoring... (wouldn't that be cute?)

Not really. The only ones you can be fairly sure about are the ones with round pupils...their pupils sink to the "6 o'clock" position with asleep.

Vertical pupils can narrow or expand in response to light alone, not an indication of sleep.

[55fingers]

Usually I see my BP's eyes focus on me when he's awake. They don't move or look at me when he's asleep. And snakes don't flick their tongue when asleep so there's that.

[zina10]

Well..there was one time I could tell she WAS sleeping.

Large female. Laid down almost upside down. Had her head resting on the ground sideways. I opened the tub and she stayed in that position. I thought OMG SHE IS DEAD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and poked her. She jumped and so did I.

Well, I then knew she had been sleeping. Until I woke her up.

Female was gravid (pregnant) and they do like to lay in strange poses during that time.

[Skyrivers]

You tickle their feet!

[Sonny1318]

Well..there was one time I could tell she WAS sleeping.

Large female. Laid down almost upside down. Had her head resting on the ground sideways. I opened the tub and she stayed in that position. I thought OMG SHE IS DEAD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and poked her. She jumped and so did I.

Well, I then knew she had been sleeping. Until I woke her up.

Female was gravid (pregnant) and they do like to lay in strange poses during that time.

I had that happen once, my male clown literally looked dead. He was just sleeping, on his side curled up. And just like you, when I reached to check. He jumped, I jumped. I swore, then I started laughing. And it this wasn’t my first “sleeping” snake experience. Lol

[Bogertophis]

You tickle their feet!

We need a demonstration...can we get this on video?

[Bogertophis]

I had that happen once, my male clown literally looked dead. He was just sleeping, on his side curled up. And just like you, when I reached to check. He jumped, I jumped. I swore, then I started laughing. And it this wasn’t my first “sleeping” snake experience. Lol

Oh yeah, now that you mention it, I've had a few scares like that too...it's not only the "big" snakes that do that. Sometimes a rat snake will just sprawl out to sleep
in an unusual way & be very sound asleep with their head at an unusual angle that just looks wrong...

Once or twice I've also seen my small Aussie Spotted python asleep coiled upside-down in her humid hide...I can only see part of her thru the opening but her tummy
is light-colored...what a little weirdo. Ha ha! "Snake practical jokers" eh?

[Luvyna]

Thanks for all the replies!

Wow that's a cool thing about the pupils, which species of snakes does that apply to? Would a corn snake's eyes do that?

I can relate to the "are they dead or asleep" scares haha. Sometimes snakes sleep in positions that I just can't imagine are comfortable.