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What is normal deppei deppei behavior?

I got my deppei (07/2006 hatchling about 23” long) about two weeks ago and he is in a 20 gallon long aquarium (30x12x12), aspen bedding, two half log hides (one on the cool end and one on the warm side), and a largish water bowl on the cool side. My temps are 75 on the cool end and 85 on the warm end. Both temperatures are measured on the glass under the substrate in the center of the UTH.

His last three feedings are as follows:

10/03/07 – large pink mouse, about 4.0 grams
10/10/07 – fuzzy mouse
10/17/07 – fuzzy mouse, 5.3 grams

He defecated on 10/07/07, and on 10/17/07, there have been no regurgitations.

He used to just hide/borrow all the time, but now for the past couple of days he spends a lot of time (about 3 hours a night between 6:00pm and 9:00pm) “searching” around his tank and trying to climb the corners. He will also stick his nose into the screen mesh and push sideways like he is trying to slide the lid off. He pushes hard enough that he looses grip with his nose and his whole head jerks sideways. The screen holes are large enough to see his nose protrude through the top of the screen. I am concerned that he will injure his nose by doing this. I have put some black paper over each end of the screen (the middle 8 inches is open) to block any light and try to prohibit him thinking that this is an escape route that needs to be investigated.

When I first got him, he would climb the corners and get into the gap that was created by the screen lid and the aquarium lip. Now with my thermostat controlled set up, I cut off that lip on the aquarium to keep him from getting up there (he has been in the new set up for 5 days now). I did this because half the time when “cruising the lip” he would end up falling off and I was again concerned about him getting injured.

He seems to be eating well, and I even saw him drink the other day. Is this change in behavior just from him finally getting “settled in” to his new home or is it signs of stress? Any and all comments are appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Well, it could be a couple of things.

He is seeing how he can get up there inside in the cage along the top, so he does it.

Also, him being in a 20 gallon tank at that size, IMO, could be too big, and that may be spooking him.

Since he is only 23 inches long, the way the cage feels inside for him, which should be a spacious area since 20 gallon longs are good sized, may be spooking him. He may feel like he is out in the " open " so to speak and perhaps a smaller cage will make him feel secure.

Now, it is great though that he is eating, so that is good. A lot of times, if snakes are spooked in a cage too big for them, they will not eat or eat consistently. Because he is eating, then maybe he is not spooked that much.

Or, he could just be having fun checking out his new pad, and he may not be stressed at all. I had a cal king do the same thing when I first got her as a yearling or two year old. She was in a huge tank, and a tall one at that, and she would climb and climb up the corners and along the top all of the time. Pretty soon I would hear a " thump! ", which was herself falling..haha..

He may be spooked but at the same time, since he is eating for you, then he may just be having some fun.

Just some thoughts.
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Genesis 1:1

That's what I had hoped. Him having fun anyway. If he is hidden and I am opening his cage to change his water or look for "presents," he some times comes out of hiding to what is going on. Or if he is out, he doesn't always run for cover when I start messing with his cage.

But it does seem that he is "pacing" at times.

Then from what you are describing, it seems as he is just having fun in his cage and is not spooked, which is great to see!!!
As long as he is eating great, etc., then things are looking good!
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Genesis 1:1

you may want to try eliminating that 85* side, that's what's probably causing the pacing. mexican pines are a montane species & just normal room temps are perfect for them......