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A post for all you snakey psychologists out there...

Gonzo, my '04 Anery Corn has some strange habits. Aside from the grubby magazines I found under his water bowl and using bad language, the other morning, I found that he had up-ended all three of his hides (plastic flower pots - of varying sizes - cut in half) He had also dug a trench in his substrate all the way around the edge of his viv.

He has done this a couple of times now.

Is he trying to tell me something; or is he just going through "a phase".

It's not easy being a snakey daddy...

Cheers for your help!

Tim, Cat & Gonzo.

Well, you have multiple hides so that is good. It's not that he is searching for a new hide. I think he might be a bit restless because of temps change. Could it be that in your country the temps have dropped drastically lately? Males can tend to get all riled up about comming 'breeding' season. Even at the age of yours. He might even go off food.

Marcel

>>A post for all you snakey psychologists out there...
>>
>>Gonzo, my '04 Anery Corn has some strange habits. Aside from the grubby magazines I found under his water bowl and using bad language, the other morning, I found that he had up-ended all three of his hides (plastic flower pots - of varying sizes - cut in half) He had also dug a trench in his substrate all the way around the edge of his viv.
>>
>>He has done this a couple of times now.
>>
>>Is he trying to tell me something; or is he just going through "a phase".
>>
>>It's not easy being a snakey daddy...
>>
>>
>>Cheers for your help!
>>
>>
>>Tim, Cat & Gonzo.
-----
Marcel Poots (Holland)
'Where is your crown King Nothing?' James Hettfield
http://www.marcelpoots.com

Well, you said he's an '04 - does that mean you just got him? Often, when a snake finds itself in a new enclosure, it'll search every corner and edge from top to bottom making every effort to find a way out. If that's what it's doing, after a while it'll calm itself, probably just staying in its hide most of the time. As far as the tunneling, I'm pretty sure they all do that. Some of my snakes prefer to dig trenches to chill in rather than staying in a hide. Sometimes I get nervous that they got out, and have to go digging through the substrate to make sure they're still there.

Thanks for the replies!

Yes, it has got a little colder here in the UK; but I don't think for enough that Gonzo would have noticed... have recently changed his heat mat - so that may be a factor?

He has been "our" snakey baby since September, and as soon as I figure out how to put pics onto this website I will do so. But not tonight as he is all grey and blue eyed and looking very sorry for himself.... But hopefully he will look lovely again tomorrow!

Thanks again for the replies - we will keep you posted!

Tim, Cat & Gonzo

'gray and blue eyed' sounds like he is in shedding mode. will take up to a week or so before he sheds. not over night.

i have a honduran milk that was real restless a few months ago. i think it was because he just wanted out. so i put him in a bigger tank. he seems happy now.
my ghost corn was very restless a few months ago also. i think that was because he wanted to mate. he is 3 1/2 foot long and a 2 year old. he has calmed down now too.

you mentioned you have a new heat mat? be sure it's not getting to hot for him/her. could be trying to find a comfy zone.