Strange telescoping behavior

[Snagrio]

So, my BP lives in the basement, and as such it's usually pretty dim with just few overhead lights on most of the time. I've noticed that whenever I pass under those lights while he's with me, he cranes straight upwards towards them. He's perfectly healthy and never exhibits this behavior otherwise so it's rather odd.

My guess is he thinks that it's an opening of a tunnel to the "surface" and he's trying to reach it to scout out the area?

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[Luvyna]

Hmm interesting observation! Maybe he's attracted to the heat produced by the lights?

By BP does something similar but under different circumstances - when it's dark in a room and I'm holding him he starts bizarrely reaching straight up for the ceiling and sometimes goes up so far that he falls backward a bit. He also doesn't do that behaviour in any other situation and I'm still trying to figure out the reason why.

[nikkubus]

I'm not sure the reasoning, but I see mine telescoping at night more than any other time so I presume it's some kind of hunting instinct.

[Snagrio]

Hmm interesting observation! Maybe he's attracted to the heat produced by the lights?

By BP does something similar but under different circumstances - when it's dark in a room and I'm holding him he starts bizarrely reaching straight up for the ceiling and sometimes goes up so far that he falls backward a bit. He also doesn't do that behaviour in any other situation and I'm still trying to figure out the reason why.

Maybe? Since the heat pits would pick up the heat signature? Then again you don't typically see them reaching up towards bulbs shining into their enclosures.

You mentioning the craning in darkness made me remember he does that too, though again, usually when passing by isolated lighting.

No matter what angle I try to approach it, I can't really think of a real answer. Hunting? Privacy? Curiosity?

[Bogertophis]

Maybe? Since the heat pits would pick up the heat signature? Then again you don't typically see them reaching up towards bulbs shining into their enclosures...

I'd tend to favor the heat explanation, but I'm not sure how little heat they can detect though? Maybe it's also instinctive to seek out the light (sun) for warmth, even if they aren't quite feeling it. Perhaps he's trying to tell you he's ready for a day of basking on the beach in the Bahamas?

Maybe they do the same thing in their enclosures but only at first (& you didn't notice?), & then they get used to that light so it doesn't entice their curiosity.

Either that or he's been doing some deep reading about the afterlife & being drawn into the light...

[Snagrio]

Maybe they do the same thing in their enclosures but only at first (& you didn't notice?), & then they get used to that light so it doesn't entice their curiosity.

If he did, it would've had to have been very brief. Each time he's moved to a new enclosure the "exploration period" has gotten consistently shorter. When I first got him he slithered around scoping out every nook and cranny for a few days. Then when he moved to the tub he gave a little cursory look around for a day if even that much. And finally when he moved into his T10 he didn't even really explore at all and went straight to the first hide he could find in mere minutes.

I didn't know snakes could have diminishing returns and have an "I'm done with this..." attitude about moving but he sure taught me.

[Bogertophis]

... And finally when he moved into his T10 he didn't even really explore at all and went straight to the first hide he could find in mere minutes.

I didn't know snakes could have diminishing returns and have an "I'm done with this..." attitude about moving but he sure taught me.

He was probably mumbling under his breath "Here we go again!"