Comfortable snake?

[nickdolin]

We call that "periscoping" and it just means they are checkin' stuff out. Usually the more adventurous ones do it.

Mine doesn't do that so much while out but I always wondered why he looked like he was trying to flip backwards. I also think I have an "exploration" type as he is pretty active and while he doesn't stay still much while out, he isn't flying off my arm like my CRB tries to do. He just moves slowly and calmly.

[Vypyrz]

An exploring snake will have tongue flickering often, but their flicker time is somewhat extended. They move towards objects with a more purposeful posture, not just to get away from them. Remember, their tongue is like a dog's nose, if they find something interesting they want to explore, they'll use their tongues, move slower, more cautiously, but nevertheless towards the object of their "desire."

Here is an example of a curious and exploring snake. And thanks to Dianna for posting it. I still think it's funny...


http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ongue+flicking

[BuckeyeBalls]

We call that "periscoping" and it just means they are checkin' stuff out. Usually the more adventurous ones do it.

lol he does it non stop its so funny. He will go so high then fall backwards a bit then do it all over again lol

[Kaorte]

Falling backwards isn't periscoping. This: http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ht=periscoping is periscoping.

[Laxhitman316]

I hear that you should not feed a snake in its cage because it will teach the snake feeding is when you open the cage and he may strike you.... But what if i left the mouse in the cage overnight... not actually holding the mouse with tongs .. would this promote the same response?

[RockyTop]

I hear that you should not feed a snake in its cage because it will teach the snake feeding is when you open the cage and he may strike you.... But what if i left the mouse in the cage overnight... not actually holding the mouse with tongs .. would this promote the same response?

If it is a FT mouse, go for it. I know some people have very shy snakes that will eat the mouse over night. If the snake does not eat it over night, remove the dead mouse and try again in a week.

If it is live, you are asking for trouble. A live mouse unattended can possible cause some serious damage to your snake. If can chew and claw the flesh and meat off of your snake. It is better to supervise a live feeding, and if the snake refuses- pull the mouse out and try again in a week

[Laxhitman316]

I am currently using a F/t Mouse but the mouse that was given to me was about a week ago was freshly killed ... will this matter at all ? Btw he didnt eat a week ago i am reusing the mouse given to me

[Kaorte]

I hear that you should not feed a snake in its cage because it will teach the snake feeding is when you open the cage and he may strike you.... But what if i left the mouse in the cage overnight... not actually holding the mouse with tongs .. would this promote the same response?

I, as well as many other keepers, feed all my snakes in their home enclosure. They aren't stupid. If you don't smell like a mouse and you don't look like a mouse then they shouldn't look at your hand and see food. You only feed once a week. If you go in the cage for any other reason other than feeding then no association between opening the cage and feeding should be made unless you are under feeding your snake and it it constantly hungry.

[Laxhitman316]

Thank you and btw K iv been reading alot of your posts your a big help =)

[OhhWatALoser]

I, as well as many other keepers, feed all my snakes in their home enclosure. They aren't stupid. If you don't smell like a mouse and you don't look like a mouse then they shouldn't look at your hand and see food. You only feed once a week. If you go in the cage for any other reason other than feeding then no association between opening the cage and feeding should be made unless you are under feeding your snake and it it constantly hungry.

if you do nothing but just open the cage to feed your snake and clean the cage, they can get "trained" into having a feeding response when the cage is opened, it doesn't have to be underfed, its just all they know. breaking the auto-feed response once its there can be hard tho. Friends of mine have a few snakes that just have an auto-feed response, it almost look like he snake is chasing them until it realizes "oh, wait, thats not food", those snakes arn't handled at all unless I come over lol. watching some BHB videos it looks like they have some snakes that are like that also but, I don't know for sure.

but like Kaorte said, most of us feed in their enclosure and have no problems.