Back cracking

While handling my boy this morning, I was able to relax him to the point where I was able to stretch him to where the entire length of his back cracked, making a sound like running a stick along a picket fence.

He seemed absolutely enchanted by it. Afterwords, he just laid down for like 30 seconds and was perfectly still and then he placed his head on my lips and tasted my breath for about 30 more seconds and then he crawled back through my fingers like he wanted to do the whole thing again. After 45 minutes of this or so, I put him back in his cage, and he has been asleep for like 10 hours straight.

I imagine this is pretty common. But, I was also able to make him fart. Twice. I thought it was kind of funny, but then i noticed that he deficated afterwards. Maybe I lossened him up and relaxed him at the same time.

I'm thinking I might have a talent for this. If being a high end fine dining server doesn't work out, maybe I will become a snake chiropractor and on the side offer alternative laxitive therapy for snakes.

Rachel :floating:

i dont know if his back cracking is so good. how big is he? i read somewhere that the hatchlings are very delicate, and not to handle them roughly. im not sure if this is true but i wouldnt quit your day job and become a snake chiropractor.;)

He initiated it. I think it is prolly kinda like cracking your own back. I don't think he was endangered by it at all.

Rachel

i think it's pretty common for them to crack their backs like that. mine will do it on their own if i a have my hand around their body as they slither through it. you obviously don't want to try and make their vertebrae crack or anything but if it happens during normal handling it's no big deal. that amount of movement and handling will also often stimulate them enough that they deficate, though i've never had any of my snakes pass gas in front of me. :)

i cracked montys back once or twice really got scared the first time cause like u said a fterwards he laid down and dint move for a bit and i thought i had killed him but alls well that ends well