Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi My male baby albino Leucistic Texas rat snake "Noodle", started shaking his little tail, the last few times I've tryed to pick him up out of his tank. Real cute, but I know this is a sign that he's scared and trying to mimic a rattlesnake as a first line of defense. He's never bitten me, but I kinda' figure thats next. I get him out and handle him for about 1/2 hour, once a day. He is quite comfortable/gentle in my hands once he's out and really likes it. I wash my hands with scented waterless hand cleaner every time I enter any of my snake enclosures and I really try to get any of my snakes to smell my scent before I touch them. Just seems as of late he is really on the defense more than he was. I also wonder if he may be partially blind, as he really does not seem to notice me until I'm very close to him. Could a pre-shed cause temporary blindness.... (his eyes are not yet clouded over).
I just wonder if he's stressing because I'm handling him too much or if thats possible. Until recently he's never shaken his tail.
My other snakes seem to the like frequent attention. I hope he will too.

Art in Indy

Sounds like you are doing good getting him used to being picked up and handled. Don't worry about the tail-rattle. Yes, this may be a pre-shed situation. Is your snake new/have you been through a shed yet? It's not always as obvious as we think, and if we miss the day or two when the eyes look really cloudy, we might just not know. And...Not all snakes cloud up as obviously as others (I think the LTR's fall in this category). If mine is hiding more than usual and being more defensive, that's a pretty good sign. If he acts like he can't see as well (I sometimes notice this during feeding time!), and/or if he unexpectedly is refusing his meal, you could just give him a few days of peace & quiet...He might appreciate it. Duffy

Babies are almost always more nervous than adults. Don't worry, he'll grow out of it. Keep doing what you're doing.

Kevin

Thanks Kevin....You just hear alot about these Leucy's having a nasty attitude. I just don't want what's starting out to be a good handling animal changing into a savage beast as it grows up...lol. I've never had a Leucy before this one. I did have a common corn at one time that was meaner than one of my old girlfriends. That adult snake was majorly stressed from the time it was offered to me and I never could get it to handle well. Took that one in on a rescue. It had been mistreated and biten by rats.. I've taken a few snakes in that bite to begin with and most eventually calm down.

Art

Mine was nippy as a baby. He'd strike when first picked up. He's a beast now, but certainly NOT a savage one. If yours is starting out calm and easy to handle, then you're in pretty good shape. Should just get calmer and easier with time. They CAN be more nervous when shed time is near, due to poorer vision. I just looked into my big leucy's cage a little while ago, and his eyes were quite cloudy. I'll just leave him alone 'til he sheds, 'cuz that's what he prefers. A few of my other North American Ratsnakes don't seem to mind being handled when "blue" but I usually just leave them alone. Good luck with yours. They are great animals. Duffy

Thanks a bunch Duffy...

You know...I am encountering the symptoms you describe....very good! He never did use his hide area much until recently. He didn't eat his scheduled pinky. And his skin does feel pre-shed rough, even though his eyes have not clouded up (I've observed him daily and he never has clouded up). I've only had him about 4 1/2 weeks and he has not yet shed. I had a feeling he would soon though, as a frequent baby growth shed. He's a late '06 and been eating like a little pig until just recently.

You need to be a vet...lol. I think you hit the nail on the head here.

Do you have a Leucy? This one is quite nice...alot like a good corn. I don't care what people say...some snakes in my opinion do show traits, that do resemble basic emotions (such as pleasure). Noodle likes having his head , neck and chin petted and rubs back against you in return....(perty cool)! He also will tilt his head and rub against your fingers like a cat. I don't think you would call it affection, but a pleasure reaction to the sensation of touch. My wife loves to hold him and an old female adult corn I have. because of this phenomina. She will give what I call ripple hugs, when shes around your neck when you're petting her. She also will rub her head back and forth on the back side of you ears....lol. Yeah...I'm probably crazy..but these are my observations. Alot of learned folks don't think snakes have the capacity for this stuff. I'd like to think they do. At least a couple that I have.

Thanks again Duffy.....Art

...Had him since fall of '02. A friend of mine was breeding them back then. He's probably the 2nd biggest snake in my collection right now, and dog tame. Nippy as a younster, but calmed down pretty quickly for me. You really get to know both your individual snakes and the general patterns of behavior associated with such things as shed, going off feed, etc. It's really fascinating. I can hardly believe how BIG a few of my snakes are now, since I got them ALL when they were little. Enjoy! Duffy

That's awesome Duffy!
I'd really like to see images of your '02. I bet he's gorgious and huge. I will take some shots of Noodle and upload them. But I'll have to borrow my brothers digital camera.

When I first saw the Leuc's on the net a few years back, I thought it was so neat how they had the solid white with no pattern at all and blue eyes. I'm almost sure Noodle is an Albino Leuc., as his iris's are white and his pupils are pink. He doe's have just a tiny bit of the bulbous eye trait, but it's very little. I had my choice of the clutch and his siblings had either one or both eyes buggy with the exception of one female that was nearly identical to my snake.

I'd like to hear more about your snake Duffy....
Art in Indy