Quote Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy View Post
I don’t know sis. He’s got a beautiful enclosure and he gets out for exercise fairly regularly. I keep my hot spot closer to 86-88. You could try slightly cooler temps. Maybe it’s seasonal or hormonal but I’d try feeding him a little more often. He’s a BIG growing boy and even though they can survive on very little food, he still has a big appetite. Some folks forget that big snakes need big food. We can’t feed scrubs like kingsnakes and BPs. Nobody wants an obese snake, but I don’t want a snake that’s always hungry either. My scrub is about the same age/size as Pop, Klauss may be a little thicker, but the only time he’s ultra restless is when he’s hungry. He eats a large or jumbo rat every 2-3 weeks. After a meal he’ll usually stay perched for a few days. After that he’ll be active at night but he never pushes. My Olive python will push a bit when he’s hungry but he mellows right out after a meal. He eats every 2-3 weeks as well. I also agree that a jungle gym or cat tree might be a good idea. I’m not patient enough for choice based handling or target training, and getting Klauss out of his enclosure can sometimes be a challenge, but he seems to enjoy the jungle gym I had made. He’ll stay on it for a good bit before he climbs down onto the floor. I’ll let him stretch out for 15-30 minutes and then back to the enclosure. I’m sure you’ll figure out what’s got him so antsy. Let us know how you fix it. ✌🏾❤️
Thank you for your insight, Lee!! That makes me feel better. I was actually going to ask you how often you feed Klauss! His body condition is good and if that is his schedule, I think I am under feeding. I’ve wondered if that was the case for awhile - they have such slender necks, it’s incredibly deceiving! And I got paranoid that the scrub keepers would judge me for having a fat boy🤣🤣 A certain person who was the first to breed them in the US specifically cautioned me about it early on - saying he has bred them at 400 grams and never had one exceed 5 feet. Apophis is already pushing 8 feet and he’s only 5 or 6 years old!

So the point is: I think you’re right. I bet he’s probably hungry. I doubt that’s what it’s all about…but likely a big player. Heat could also be one! He just loves sitting in the absolute hottest spot he can, so I just assumed that was fine🤷🏻:cens0r:♀️. I mean, his temps are set based upon the highs and lows of the Tanimbars (which I check regularly), so I didn’t pull it out of a hat or anything.🤣 But 2 of the guys from the group, Mack and John, came over to help me with the cage recently and I know they keep their scrubs in the temperature range you mentioned. So I’ll drop his hot spot for a week or so and see how that goes! I bet he will be more relaxed. Even though I’m sitting by him right now and he has been tucked up in that hot spot for the entire day!! He has nearly given me a heart attack before, trying to get as close to the lights as possible - he’ll bask under a 95 degree hot spot for hours. He’s a weirdo. I bet that’s like giving a Red Bull to a toddler, though. I’ll drop his temps and THEN feed him more😉

Also - I’m 100% sure the only reason we successfully practice “choice based handling” is because he’s always trying to escape!🤣🤣🤣

Thank you SO much for your suggestions - it is all extremely useful!✨