Difference Between Normal S-Neck and About to Strike?

[Patricia]

Remember too that just because this snake came with it's own home doesn't mean it's not totally stressed out. It may not have been well cared for in it's previous home and even if it was your home smells completely differently than it's own home. Your home has different rhythms, different vibrations, different temperature signatures and so forth. For an animal as finely tuned as a snake, an animal that exists in a world of sensory input far beyond what we can see or hear - it's a huge change.

Oh no, I had no idea!

Well, shoot, the Acu-Rite is showing 98 degrees in its hide. Should we move it to increase the amount of bark in that spot, or leave it alone? Until we get the thermostat we ordered, it seems that increasing the amount of bark to keep more distance from the UTH is all we can do for the time being. That's what we did yesterday when Acu-Rite showed it to be only 80, otherwise we wouldn't have touched BP. Oh dear...

[frankykeno]

Not to worry. It's not like these snakes never know stress in a wild situation. Just do what needs done to stablize the temps, leave the snake be to adjust, give it a week after you've messed about with it's home a lot and then offer it some dinner. While we strive to do our best for these animals it is important to realize they are quite capable of surviving our fiddling about with them. Just find your balance between being a concerned new keeper versus getting yourself too overloaded and stressed out with worry. You and that snake will get through this - many have - many more will. Gawd knows I'm about as anal and OCD about details as one can get and I survived my first days as a snake keeper. If I can, anyone can LOL

[Vypyrz]

Oh no, I had no idea!

Well, shoot, the Acu-Rite is showing 98 degrees in its hide. Should we move it to increase the amount of bark in that spot, or leave it alone? Until we get the thermostat we ordered, it seems that increasing the amount of bark to keep more distance from the UTH is all we can do for the time being. That's what we did yesterday when Acu-Rite showed it to be only 80, otherwise we wouldn't have touched BP. Oh dear...

98 is too hot. While you are waiting for you t-stat to arrive you can get a lamp dimmer from Lowes or Home Depot to control the heat. You can add more substrate but if your snakes moves it out of the way and ends up on the glass right on top of the heater it could get burned. I'm guessing the reason your snake hangs out on top of it's tree hide is the previous owner used the lamp instead of a UTH so it is used to getting it's heat that way. I'm sure once you get a couple of snug hides in there he will adjust and be alot more relaxed...


Rob

[WingedWolfPsion]

If the snake turns its head to follow your every move rapidly, that's a warning sign.
I've also noticed that they get very tense, and you can see the muscles bunch up in their neck behind their jaw as if they're clenching it. <lol>

[frankykeno]

Here's a sticky on how to turn a lamp dimmer into a working rheostat to control your UTH. You can find these at any major home supply store for about $10.00

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...=855662#855662

[sg1trogdor]

well just watch to see how attentive they are. If they are on you like a heat seeking missile then they are probably about to strike. Its not as simple as that of course but thats a decent way to tell. I have some that strike without any warning, and other that will hiss at you for an hour before finally giving that final "im fed up with you" strike.

[sg1trogdor]

98 is too hot. While you are waiting for you t-stat to arrive you can get a lamp dimmer from Lowes or Home Depot to control the heat. You can add more substrate but if your snakes moves it out of the way and ends up on the glass right on top of the heater it could get burned. I'm guessing the reason your snake hangs out on top of it's tree hide is the previous owner used the lamp instead of a UTH so it is used to getting it's heat that way. I'm sure once you get a couple of snug hides in there he will adjust and be alot more relaxed...


Rob

Its probably in the tree because its the only place it can cool off.

[Patricia]

Just find your balance between being a concerned new keeper versus getting yourself too overloaded and stressed out with worry. You and that snake will get through this - many have - many more will. Gawd knows I'm about as anal and OCD about details as one can get and I survived my first days as a snake keeper. If I can, anyone can LOL

Thanks, I guess I really needed to hear that. I've been stressing over our newest addition and probably driving it crazy in the process. It's so different from every other critter I've had to just leave it totally alone, but it's probably breathing a sigh of relief now!

Thanks also for the strike descriptions posted here. Everything posted, I saw. Not the first time around -- was being too careless/trusting and wasn't even watching BP when I was tapped (as soft as a cotton ball... maybe it's younger than 6 months?) -- but after that I saw it do everything mentioned here.

BTW, that lamp dimmer sticky is so clearly explained, thanks!