Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My juvenile balls tend to cruise the cage more often than the adults. While cruising, they will rub their noses along the bottom of the cage, turning their face sideways so that that part of it rubs along there too, for all the world like they're shedding.
But they aren't shedding! I've seen all four of my juvies do it, and my first thought is that maybe it's some kind of scent marking? There's nothing visibly wrong with them - no spit bubbles, no mites or ticks, no scratches, nothin. I did place the largest male (a pastel) with my 1600 gram female (I consider her a juvie until her 3rd winter), but I didn't see any visual copulations, and they were not very interested in each other.

I'm just not sure what to think. I was worried at first that they might be sick or have been exposed to something, but the behavior has continued regularly since I first noticed it about a month ago. It's not frequent, but it's not uncommon to see them doing it, either.
Maybe they just have an itch. I dunno.

Input appreciated!! Thanks!

~jenny
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"Polysyllabism in no way insures that what you're saying is actually worth being heard." - Blake (an e-friend of mine)

"I have never made but one prayer to god, a very short one: "O lord, make my enemies ridiculous." And he granted it." - Voltaire

Sure hope that's not a problem. Of my eight 06's, all of them do that occasionally -- most frequently as feeding nite approaches, and males seem to do it more regularly than females. Out of six 07's, the two biggest males have started doing exactly the same thing. Never really worried about it (til now) b/c they seem absolutely fine otherwise.

I had first noticed it after I cleaned some cages with bleach wipes, and briefly freaked out before I realized that they were absolutely fine otherwise. Next time I cleaned I didn't use the wipes, and they did the behavior anyway, so I know it's not the wipes.

All the snakes I notice doing it are 06 or later. My female (16 years old!) never does it, but my adult male will do it very occasionally while he's cruising his cage.

Whew, at least it's not just my snakes.

~jenny
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"Polysyllabism in no way insures that what you're saying is actually worth being heard." - Blake (an e-friend of mine)

"I have never made but one prayer to god, a very short one: "O lord, make my enemies ridiculous." And he granted it." - Voltaire

Probably just trying to burrow.

seen it, wasn't sweatin' it.
now that we all know it's out there in other racks i'll definately not sweat it !
thanx for bringin' it up.
ck