Reptile & Amphibian Forums

LOL...I've tryed everything from PVCC pipe to cereal boxes. This baby snake is a regular socialite! She doesn't even try to hide. She always wants out of her tank and to be held. As soon as I come into the room shes up the side of her tank wanting out. I think I hold her too much. Heck she would stay in my hands for hours if I'd let her. Probem is I've got 6 other snakes that want held too....lol.
I need to send pics of Noodle she is awesome and is a cute little rascal.

Art in Indy

If the hide is too big, she may not feel comfortable. Snakes like tight spaces. Also, she may be hungry, mine will wander if they have not been fed enough.
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"I'll be back at 6 if not 7. 8 the very latest but definatly no later than 9...ish...Moscow time."

You know, I have a leucy black rat that is exactly the same way. Mine is a male, 2 1/2 years old, and has always been very "social" as far as snakes go! Whenever I enter the room, he pops out of his hide and checks out what's going on... and he does seem to enjoy being handled and exploring the room.

He has multiple hides in his cage of all different sizes, uses them frequently, but doesn't really stay put in one place for very long. Eats like a champ every week, and has perfect sheds.

One thing you might want to check is the temp gradient in the cage... I keep mine at 74-75 cool side and 80-81 on the hot side under the basking site. He seems to do very well at these temps. If your cage is too hot or cold overall, your snake may be looking for a more comfortable spot. Do you have a hide box at both ends of the cage (hot and cool)?

I dunno - if everything seems OK otherwise, I wouldn't stress over it TOO much - I think some ratsnakes are just more social than others. Best of luck with Noodle!
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::i believe in joy > http://www.winds.org/nekomi/hope.html

::my homepage > http://www.winds.org/nekomi

My Growing Zoo:

1.0 Husband (Byron)
0.1 black cat (Shade)
0.1 rescued stray grey cat (Ghost)
2.1 rescued feral tabby kittens (Big Boy, Frosty, and Starlet)
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Zia)
1.0 Leucistic Black Ratsnake (Houdini)
1.0 White-Lipped Python (Midas) - RIP, poor fella

Thanks for the posts guys! I've tryed small and large hides that I've used over the years and she just prefers to stay out in the open. She's not roaming looking for food. The animal is most well kept on pinkies 2 at a time on regular weekly cycles. In fact she just stays motionless streched out most of the time or curled around her tree limb (until she sees me that is..lol) Then she wants out. I've got her in a 55 gallon desert reptarium with a nice temp gradient from 72-73 on the cool end and 85-90 in the 2 basking spots (1 low 1 high). She usually stays in the center. I use both under tank heat tape on a thermostat and 2 100 watt ceramic reptilamps (1 opti-red and 1 dayglow). I think she just wants daddys attention...thats all....spoiled. I design my reptariums after setups at the Indy zoo. A good friend of mine is the currator of the deserts exibit there. I've gained much appreciated help from this gent.
Cool post on the Leuc. black rat...sounds like you love your snakes as we love ours. Its wonderful to see these beautiful (many times mis-understood) creatures have good homes/lives.

Art in Indy

Sounds like you have the hot and cold side covered, but what about the "medium" side? Perhaps she wants to stay in the medium range.
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