Re: Behavior Experiment plus pics!
Quote:
Originally Posted by liam
i want tht tank...can i have ur setup i like the natural look it makes nskaes feel more at home...can i have sites from were u got stuff. time to break out the credit card :)... well my parents credit card :P
x2
Re: Behavior Experiment plus pics!
Quote:
Originally Posted by rabernet
Ambush hunters don't generally actively hunt for their food, they wait for it to come to them. If any of my kiddos are out and actively roaming on feeding day, then 9 times out of 10 they will refuse their food when offered to them. As a result, at least with my crew - roaming indicates that something is "tweaking" or stressing them if it's not happening late at night when they normally take a "cruise".
Well I do feed in a separate enclosure so Snakey knows he has to be taken out to eat. (I'm happy not to discuss the merits of that practice right now if you're not :) )
Based on what you're saying, though, maybe I'm misinterpreting what he's doing. It sounds like he's doing what you call a "normal cruise". He does it at night and it has a very relaxed pace to it. He usually doesn't make any effort to get out and, if he does, its only brief.
The hunting thing is interesting to me though. I don't call it hunting because I think he looks like he's actually stalking something. The way he sits motionless for several minutes and then repositions looks alot like trying different ambush spots. I guess in the wild they would have to at least get off their lazy snake-behinds enough to move to an opportunistic spot for the ambush. :D
(Not tonight though - or least not for my eyes. He had another shot yesterday evening and is mad again. His cage is next to the computer and ever since this whole thing started with the exams and shots he's started picking this hiding spot that's in a location that puts his big grape-wood log right between the two of us. After a while he gets over it and goes back to his regular spot where I can see his coils a bit and he can stick his nose out a bit and watch me. Problem is, its time for another shot by then :( . Only four more to go...)
Re: Behavior Experiment plus pics!
Hope he feels better soon!
Re: Behavior Experiment plus pics!
Quote:
Originally Posted by fishmommy
Lately my BP has been exhibiting a really strong feeding response througout the week. As soon as he sees me enter the room he comes out of his hide and gets into position for a feed. If I leave the room for more than 10 or 15 minutes, he goes back to his hide.
Today he was doing that again as I went about my business cleaning his neighbors (fish) tank. I started to wonder if he recognized me in particular as the food-bringer, or whether he just saw this big warm person-thing and responded to that as a general food-bringer.
Actually I am a bit curious about the feeding thing. As I mentioned above I feed in a separate enclosure based on recommendations about associating the food with the cage etc. Most people here don't agree with that and many claim to have alot of snakes and no problema. One of the most common things I hear is that the reasoning is false because the snake is not fed every time you open the enclosure (and so can't make a direct association). That makes perfect sense to me but this thread made me wonder. Isn't that whats happening here?
So my question is: fishmommy, when your BP is doing this behavior do you have any problems taking it out for handling?
Re: Behavior Experiment plus pics!
the answer is....nope :)
he has not yet mistaken my hand for a mouse. When I want to handle him I slowly bring my hand next to him, he usually flicks it with his tongue, and then I stroke his body once or twice. He generally retracts from his feeding posture right away when he realizes I am not a mouse. I just pick him up from there.
I try to stick very closely to a routine and procedure. He seems to take to conditioning pretty well and respond appropriately.
In the last couple weeks as he has been behaving in this assertive manner, I have tried to open the cage and let him smell my hand when he starts posturing. I'm thinking he might get the idea that my presence doesn't always equal food. Part of me likes that he's doing this though, since I get to see him being the gorgeous little predator that he is.
I think that every snake is different and what works for one might not work for another.
I am also the type that if bitten would think 'AWWW, Isn't that adorable!' so my willingness to be bitten is probably greater than some folks :carrot:
anyway, to be clear his behavior is not roaming at all...he comes out and gets into strike position, and if I leave the room for 10 minutes he gives up and goes back to his hide. He roams a bit at night but it's a much more aimless and relaxed process.
Re: Behavior Experiment plus pics!
Re: Behavior Experiment plus pics!
you won't be saying aww thats cute if he bites you in a feeding response, not fun at all, they squeeze like crazy
Re: Behavior Experiment plus pics!
I've been bitten by a few snakes in my time, just not my own :)
Re: Behavior Experiment plus pics!
fishmommy, you never did tell us anything about the enclosure. Is it a secret? :P Where'd ya get it?
Re: Behavior Experiment plus pics!
Quote:
Originally Posted by jeffjr464
you won't be saying aww thats cute if he bites you in a feeding response, not fun at all, they squeeze like crazy
yea, this other guy posted a story recently (ball bite - blood). His ball managed to cuff him! I mean I'm sure he could have gotten out if he had been willing to harm the snake, which he wasn't, so he had to just wait to be released!
Every now and again you get a hint of how strong they are from simple handling but recently I've had to assist in some injections and I got a whole new respect. My BP is about 370g, 30" long. I was in charge of restraint and the other guy was in charge of operating the needle. I was easily able to prevent any thrashing but trying to keep him relatively straight and still would have required much more force than I was comfortable applying.