Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi Folks,
My blk pine has been acting kinda strange. She used to move around her tank often. Here recently she has just been staying under her hide. When I take the hide away, I'm guessing she is sleeping. She doesn't move. I can stroke her side and even poke her, still no movement.

If I pick her up, she just hangs there untill I get both hands under her. Even then she just sits there for a minute or two. Then she starts moving around and seems fine. When I put her back into her tank, I usually put her head by the water incase shes thirsty. Sometime she drinks, sometimes not. She'll roam around her tank for a little bit then go back under her hide and stay there.

She's eating fine. She shed on 6/19 then ate on the following dates: 6/20 mouse and rat pup, 6/24 2 mice, 6/29 2 mice.

She's in 30 gal long tank with aspen as bedding Temps under her hide in the substrate are about 84, not sure what the surrounding air temp is, but probably around 75-78 deg, possibly less.

Thanks for your thoughts on this,
Rob
-----
"I reject your reality and substitute my own" Adam Savage
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa-Ziggy
1.0 Creamscicle motley corn--Cozmo
0.1 Creamscicle corn--Wanda
0.0.1 Normal corn
0.1 Black Pine - Spazz
1.0 Eastern King-Ozy
1.0 Bearded Dragon - Gomer

if it is eating and defecating fine...
i would dare speculate that its previous behavior was more curious than what it does now. most of the time black pines will spend in their hide spots. wandering is often a sign of an enclosure that is too warm, not enough hide spots or a hungry pine snake. i do not know how big your snake is, but you might consider switching to appropriate size f/t rats.
is the snake hanging limp when you pick it up or is there some attempt at body control/showing some muscular condition? in spite of what i have mentioned, a limp snake probably needs to see a vet.

black pines are magnificent animals, best of luck with yours.
daveb

Thanks for the reply Dave
>>i do not know how big your snake is, but you might consider switching to appropriate size f/t rats.

Shes approx 32" to 34" long. I was giving her 2 mice because I have plenty of them. Figured two slightly smaller instead of one larger would be better.

>>is the snake hanging limp when you pick it up or is there some attempt at body control/showing some muscular condition?

I picked her up after I posted this and she seemed fine. Got her out of the tank and she was moving around in my hand, wrapped her tail end around my arm. She only hangs limp for a short amount of time.

>>in spite of what i have mentioned, a limp snake probably needs to see a vet.
I may just do that. Can a vet force a snake to poop to get a sample? Generally speaking, when samples are brought into the vet, do they have to be fresh, like right out of the snake?? Can it be few/several hours old?

Thanks
Rob
-----
"I reject your reality and substitute my own" Adam Savage
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa-Ziggy
1.0 Creamscicle motley corn--Cozmo
0.1 Creamscicle corn--Wanda
0.0.1 Normal corn
0.1 Black Pine - Spazz
1.0 Eastern King-Ozy
1.0 Bearded Dragon - Gomer

the philosophy of two smaller prey rather than one large is fine, just keep in mind that when your pine is 6' it is easier on your pocket to feed several small rats instead of many adult mice. some develop a taste for a particular item and may be difficult to chase at a later stage. obviously it makes sense to use what you have now.
a fresh sample is always best, several hours shouldn't make too much of a difference. if it is going to be more than a few hours, keep it cool (baggie in ice water) until it can be dropped off.
post pics of your beast when you have the chance.
daveb