Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got Nefertiti out about 40 mins ago. It's 3:47 pm EST now. I kept her out for 15 mins. She was breathing hard to me, but not fast. Is this stress? She would take a deep breath then a shallow one or back to back deep breaths followed by a shallow. She really does not move much at all when on my hand. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks. Steven

` Until you know the snake well, the best way to tell is to watch her breathing before you disturb her. Then, watch how much it increases as you start to handle her. After three or four minutes, it should start to slow back down, if she's not working out physically. If it stays quick, doesn't slow down, or stays shallow, then she may be/probably is stressing.
` Breathing should increase some when you pick them up, but not become rapid and shallow. Like us, when they work, it will increase naturally, and this is actually beneficial. Just like for us, exercise is good, at the right times.
` In the local snake store recently, they got in a neonate Burm. As I approached the cage, it started hyperventilating. When I opened the cage and reached in, it panicked, and started breathing so fast, I thought it might seize up right there. It never moved, it was scared stiff. I backed away a few feet, and it started breathing slower immediately. Your snake may be placid because it's calm, or it may be too scared to move much. Remember, you are a big, giant monster. The snake's incredible sense of smell tells it that you're no herbivore. That snake just knows it's a snack. It can only get over this with time, and lots of it.
` Also, keep in mind that stress is accumulative. Too much, too often builds up, and can reach a damaging point. It takes months for stress to completely disappear, and only if there is no new stress input. Put a shirt you've worn in the cage with the snake. Your scent will become a common background for the snake, that way.
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sk