Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was trying to be brave with my new 4.5ish foot aggressive Mexican Black King that I recently got by letting him glide through my hands while still in his cage... hey, if you saw how this guy attacks things inside and outside of the cage you'd understand why I was being cautious... or wuss. Any way... as he was gliding I heard a noise I'd never heard come from a snake before. It wasn't a hiss. It was coming from the other end. A sort of bubble crackle pop toot. Shortly afterwards it pooped. So do snakes toot, and is it anything to worry about?

MissHisssss.

Gee.. Well... I'd imagine they would... He may have been trying really hard to go on YOU, as that's one of their defense mechanisms and/or their idea of fun...
There are some species which actually use 'popping' as a defense (ie coral snakes) but I don't think kings are one of them.

Well, leave it to me to ask the questions that most would ignore or be too afraid to ask. Yeah, I heard about the poopin for defense thingy.... and have had it happen to me with one of my corns (if that's why she was doing it, that is)... it's just that I'd never heard one toot before and worried that he was having bowl problems, or was making a noise that I wasn't aware that they could make. Thanks for your answer. I think I have a name for him now, though.

MissHisssss

They are just like any other animal and do indeed pass gas occasionally...you were just (un)lucky enough to hear it, lol. I agree with the other respondent though, he was probably trying his damnedest to go on you and just wasn't quite there yet. I often think they hold it sometimes specifically for that purpose. But I tell ya, I'm sure this was an interesting experience for you....but it pales in comparison to having a 12' Burmese python fart while casually hooking the end of his tail around the arm of your glasses! Now that was interesting....
As a side note, I have a young pair of early '02 Mexi Blacks, and the male is hit or miss as far as temperament goes, but the female is one of the nastiest snakes I've ever owned. I spoke to the breeder about this a while back and he said that they're known for it, and tend to just be a very 'moody' breed in general. Take care!
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(i)Klaatu...Verata...Nichtu!(/i)

Check out this recent thread from the field herping forum:
http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=94156,94273

And Snakecharmer.... I visualized your fart experience and had a good laugh. I'll be you were both shocked and sorta insulted. How dare he!!!!! I'm still laughin. Thanks for sharin.

And as far as my Mex Black... at least he was pulling away from me instead of attacking me this time. And he's also getting used to seeing me move my hand outside the cage without bonkin his nose on the glass to catch it. Is this progress, or just a mood?

Thanks again
MissHisssss.

I'd call that progress. Keep it up.
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