Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Took Jack outside the other day. I put him on the front steps, and he must have picked up the scent of something, his tongue started flickering like mad, and he tried to make a bee line towards the shrub. He also seems to enjoy rooting around in the lawn, and I swear he was intentionally trying to get back down in the grass when I picked him up. Normally he just wraps around my hand and stays still, but was almost jumping out of my hand to get back down. The funniest thing was when he was in the grass, I heard a farting sound, and he proceeded to fertilize my lawn.

He was clearly just trying to save you the trouble of cage cleaning this week.
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0.1 Albino Leopard Gecko - Tigger
0.1 Crested Gecko - Pooh-Bear

I actually did mumble a "Thank you" while he was doing it...

>>He was clearly just trying to save you the trouble of cage cleaning this week.
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>>0.1 Albino Leopard Gecko - Tigger
>>0.1 Crested Gecko - Pooh-Bear

Do they Scent mark? I know males can compete for females, but I've never heard of them being territorial. Just a thought.
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5.19 BRB
10.20 BCI
0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa
0.1 Albino Corn Snake
2.8 Leopard Geckos

I certainly think it's possible. Very little seems to be known about the behavior of wild Indigos (which I think is true of most other species as well.) My personal speculation is that there is some type of weak "musking instinct", since he does frequently defecate 5 or 10 minutes after I pick him up.

Then again, maybe he just had to take a dump.

Thanks,
Ed

>>Do they Scent mark? I know males can compete for females, but I've never heard of them being territorial. Just a thought.
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>>5.19 BRB
>>10.20 BCI
>>0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa
>>0.1 Albino Corn Snake
>>2.8 Leopard Geckos

He doesn't defecate on you, does he? It may just be luck, but my snakes have never gone on me (knock on wood). Even when I've handled them for hours they haven't used me as a latrine---but sometimes as soon as I put them back in their tank, they eject a load. It's like they know they're not supposed to soil the hand that feeds them! Or perhaps they're marking their territory. Or it's just a happy coincidence. Take your pick. Me, I'll pretend it's because they're smart serpents with good manners who want to stay in the good graces of their lovely mistress...

...he does frequently defecate 5 or 10 minutes after I pick him up.
>>Ed

Here's lovely little Loki (who's now up to 3 feet or so):

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Renee
1.0 BRB (Loki)
2.0 amel & anery corns (Foxfire & Daguerre)
0.1 blood python (Duchess, arriving later this month)
1.1 Cats (Nightshade & Cuzzy)

Thanks Renee! He did poop on me (and our new couch) once - when he was little. (Good thing I got it cleaned up quickly. My youngest son was there when it happened, and I told him he wouldn't live to see his next birthday if he told Mommy about the incident. ) Maybe he wised up since then. As a reward I got some large (crested) anoles for him to eat.

Loki looks really nice!

Oh, btw, I will be taking Jack to my son's 4th grade class next week. The other night I went to his class's "open house", and the teacher started talking about the kids getting a class pet. When he mentioned that many wanted to get a snake, most of the parents seemed surprised/disgusted, and one even asked, "Why a snake? Where is that coming from?" I raised my hand, and when the teacher called on me, I said, "Probably my son." Anyway, the teacher practically begged me to bring in my snakes to show the class, which I think is great. I'll try to get some pics.

Thanks,
Ed

>>He doesn't defecate on you, does he? It may just be luck, but my snakes have never gone on me (knock on wood). Even when I've handled them for hours they haven't used me as a latrine---but sometimes as soon as I put them back in their tank, they eject a load. It's like they know they're not supposed to soil the hand that feeds them! Or perhaps they're marking their territory. Or it's just a happy coincidence. Take your pick. Me, I'll pretend it's because they're smart serpents with good manners who want to stay in the good graces of their lovely mistress...
>>
>> ...he does frequently defecate 5 or 10 minutes after I pick him up.
>> >>Ed
>>
>>Here's lovely little Loki (who's now up to 3 feet or so):
>>
>>
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>>Renee
>>1.0 BRB (Loki)
>>2.0 amel & anery corns (Foxfire & Daguerre)
>>0.1 blood python (Duchess, arriving later this month)
>>1.1 Cats (Nightshade & Cuzzy)

That should be a blast! Kids don't usually have the prejudices against snakes that many adults have---unless their parents have already indoctrinated them. It's fun to get them excited about the animals, teach them interesting facts and make them aware of the true value of snakes.

I can't wait for the Minnesota Renaissance Festival---which starts this weekend. I'll be out there most Sundays through the end of September, in Renaissance garb educating people about reptiles. I've always brought my corn snakes, and this year I'm bringing Loki out there for the first time (I thought he was too young to handle all the crowds last year).

It's the Minnesota Herpetological Society's biggest fundraiser of the year (and definitely puts the "fun" in fundraiser). It's hard to keep from laughing when people ask "is that real?" when your snake is actively moving around, flickering his tongue.

Let us know how the fourth graders respond to Jack and his posse. Definitely post pics! (I'll try to post pics of the Ren Fest too when I can, but I can't use a camera while I'm working since they didn't have those in the 1500's...)

>>Oh, btw, I will be taking Jack to my son's 4th grade class next week. The other night I went to his class's "open house", and the teacher started talking about the kids getting a class pet. When he mentioned that many wanted to get a snake, most of the parents seemed surprised/disgusted, and one even asked, "Why a snake? Where is that coming from?" I raised my hand, and when the teacher called on me, I said, "Probably my son." Anyway, the teacher practically begged me to bring in my snakes to show the class, which I think is great. I'll try to get some pics.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Ed
>>
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Renee
1.0 BRB (Loki)
2.0 amel & anery corns (Foxfire & Daguerre)
0.1 blood python (Duchess, arriving later this month)
1.1 Cats (Nightshade & Cuzzy)