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Restless Snake Solutions...?

qroberts Jan 30, 2006 06:45 AM

The last week or so I've woken up to my corn in the front corner of her enclosure doing what I could almost describe as pacing.

She starts at one side and climbs halfway up the glass diagonally and then slips back down the the ground. Then she climbs up diagonally in the opposite direction and slips down.

She repeats this for what could very well be the entire night judging by the way the substrate is completely pushed back in that part of the tank every morning.

I'm worried that she might rub herself raw; not to mention that spending every night trying to get to an unreachable destination must drive her insane.

Should I put something for her to climb up onto into that area?

I'd heared that placing black tape across the front of the tank up to about a quarter of the way up could get her to stop.

I've had her since october and she's been growing like a weed (14-22 inches in 2.5 months).

Any suggestions or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Replies (7)

phflame Jan 30, 2006 10:47 AM

How old is the snake? Are you sure that it is a female? How hot is your enclosure? Where and how are you measuring the temps?

Reasons for these questions:
If it is a male, he could be getting into the breeding mode and trying to escape to find a female.

If the enclosure is too hot, the snake will try to find a cooler area.
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phflame
kingsnake.com host

qroberts Jan 30, 2006 01:08 PM

I'm sure it's a she.

She is roughly 4 months old.

The temp on the hot side is 85, cool is ambient ~70

The corner of the tank where she "paces" is right on top of the heat pad.

Every night she comes out. Does a complete lap and gets a drink, then starts climbing on things (that's when I fall asleep)

Every morning when I wake up at 7 she is doing the pacing thing or there is evidence that she had been doing it.

The only thing that has changed is that I think she is getting too big for fuzzies. She eats one and aggressively searches for more (got a hold of me last time from the bottom of the feeding box after eating one). They get pooped out in 2 days usually.

Think maybe she is just getting really hungry or something?

draybar Jan 30, 2006 04:42 PM

>>I'm sure it's a she.
>>
>>She is roughly 4 months old.
>>
>>The temp on the hot side is 85, cool is ambient ~70
>>
>>The corner of the tank where she "paces" is right on top of the heat pad.
>>
>>Every night she comes out. Does a complete lap and gets a drink, then starts climbing on things (that's when I fall asleep)
>>
>>Every morning when I wake up at 7 she is doing the pacing thing or there is evidence that she had been doing it.
>>
>>The only thing that has changed is that I think she is getting too big for fuzzies. She eats one and aggressively searches for more (got a hold of me last time from the bottom of the feeding box after eating one). They get pooped out in 2 days usually.
>>
>>Think maybe she is just getting really hungry or something?

where are you checking the temperatures?
Next to the bottom, near the heat sorce or are you checking up above, around mid tank?
If you are checking the temps higher up then it is probably too hot and your snake can't find a cool enough spot.
Try droping the temps a couple of degrees and see what happens.
-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

_____

qroberts Jan 30, 2006 05:48 PM

The thermometer is sitting in the bottom of the tank on the hot side.

I'll try turning the temp down.

She spends all her time on the cool side unless she's shedding anyway.

Here's a picture of her from 3 days ago after a fuzzy meal.

phiber_optikx Jan 30, 2006 12:51 PM

Also, did you just move her to a glass tank? Peaches didn't seem to get the concept of glass for the first week or two and did the exact same thing.
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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Onyx"

janome Jan 31, 2006 03:08 PM

i have a baby butter motley that is relentless in trying to escape. does the same thing you are describing. he does manages to get along the edge of the tank and just crawls along the top. i don't know why he does it either. except maybe he is just hungry looking for more food.

i would stay away from any kind of tape or you could be trying to get the tape off the snake. not a good idea.

qroberts Jan 31, 2006 03:43 PM

I've already had the tape nightmare the very first day I brought her home.

Her feeding response lately has been extremely aggressive. For such a small snake she sure can strike with a lot of force.

I'll try giving her larger food and see if she calms down a bit.

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