Normal behaviour? Pics provided

[Ash81]

Hi all, I'm a worried bp owner, first time snake owner. I've posted on here a couple of times due to various worries and it's been a great help!
My bp has taken to resting her head looking upwards just lately? Also she is rubbing her nose area on the viv sides or on her hide? She refused food for the first time this week, had her a month and usually eats weekly. She shed last week, then ate the day after but just looks over the mouse this week then leaves it?

[Ash81]

Like this as well? Normal? She does have heat from above too, could she just be looking to the heat ?

[dr del]

Yep that's fine.

You only have to worry about raised heads being a sign of a problem if her mouth is always open slightly or you have seen other signs something is strange.

[Ash81]

Didn't know if I was being paranoid sorry! Although I did see her mouth open last nite but only slightly and she did it a couple of times? Yawns quite a lot too? I'm probably over thinking things, worry about her being sick plus off food . Thanks

[Velrys]

You only have to worry about raised heads being a sign of a problem if her mouth is always open slightly

This can mean there is an infection in or around their mouth. This can be diagnosed as mouth rot at the vet.

BUT, infections smell funny so you would know. And from a distance, don't head butt your snake trying to smell in it's mouth. I did it on accident one time and I almost died haha

The typical panic button for snakes seems to be sitting in their water dish, the way it decides to sit around the tank doesn't really say much otherwise.

[Ash81]

She has never sat in her water, in fact I haven't seen her drink for ages ( I used to see her drink daily), why would she be rubbing her nose/mouth area? She has been doing it for a few days although not constantly. I don't want to pull her out and inspect her if she is unwell, nor do I fancy getting bit! Guess I'm still slightly nervous of handling.

[Velrys]

Honestly if it will make you feel better, other than a little stress, there is no harm in going to a vet.

It will be far easier to get her out and inspect during the day. I have some animals I wont open the drawer on unless I'm feeding or its before 5 haha.... cause my hand is not food. Then you just catch them when they are out of it and generally more docile. Take a look around the mouth and smell.

Unless you have crazy humidity or maybe the animal was unhealthy from the start it is unlikely there is any rotting since you say it has not been sitting constantly in it's water... but it would be on their belly or in/around their mouth if there was.

Just to be clear what you're describing doesn't sound out of the ordinary however.

And, if you HAVE to handle your snake it will be when she is unhappy about it so might as well get some practice. If you expect to get bit, have a glass of water nearby to pour over the head if it wont release(which I do when I'm taking eggs away). Also wash your hands VERY thoroughly the greatest danger in a bite is the snake picking something up from your skin. We carry staff around all over the place and reptiles have a low resistance to it.

[Diaspora]

I'm also a new owner
You'll see, picking your snake up will get easier every time
I pick mine up almost daily now, and she's doing fine
She's even used to my dad now
Never got bitten though, but as I red on the forum it's not really painful

About its position, mine, when out of her tank, always stands like this a few times, checks everything out and goes back to lying down or wandering around

She also yawns a lot (also always when she's out of her tank) but once back in, she stops

I'd say try to pick her up to check her out
Just be very gentle, like handling porcelain or something fragile and you'll be fine

[calmolly1]

I'm a fairly new owner too, Prec is 5 months old now and I've had her since she was a few days....I handle her everyday she is either not digesting (normally 48 hours after eating but she starts moving around again) or in blue or shedding. Any other time she comes out with me but I started with 10 min sessions of her balled up protected in my hands while I sat still. Now she loves to hang out. They aren't that fragile, handle her with confidence and hold her gently but firmly so she knows you've got her.


Molly & Steve
0.1 Normal BP. PRECIOUCESS
0.1 Normal Columbian BCI. LUNA

[Velrys]

calmolly1 has something there. In fact if your BP is striking it shows just how uncomfortable it is. A good way to handle your animal is to start by forcing it into the balled up position. This starts the animal out in a comfortable safe feeling position.

Then just hold it for a while, it will eventually open up and start looking around and exploring. At some point it may start doing something that I call running, the anywhere but here kind of behavior. This is the point that I think they have had enough and if it gets to this point, do everything I can to get them back.