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Cat like behavior

zorpasg Oct 16, 2009 03:28 AM

Hello everybody.

Last night I experienced something that I didn't even know was possible, and I'm still really excited about it.

I have a Dumeril's boa, which sometimes does not shed in one whole piece (let's not get into the details of this). When this happens, I manually take off a few small pieces of skin that may be left on its body.

Yesterday, he shed. When I decided to check up on him he was all coiled up in his cave so I picked him up to check whether anything was left on his body. I noticed that he shed almost in one piece except from a small piece about 3 cm (1.2 inches) long under his throat area. To my amazement, a few seconds after I picked him up, he immediately started to rub his head and throat on my hands. It was just like what a cat does when they want you to scratch them. I was shocked. I was not aware that a snake was capable of such behavior. It was as if he was trying to tell me: "Dude, come on, take it off of me, what are you waiting for".

I immediately run to my wife and we both just stood there watching him rub his throat in my hands and fingers. He just wouldn't stop. And it was funny too. Of course I obliged and took it off at which time he relaxed. Now I'm just beating my head with a stick for not grabbing the camera and recording this. I was too amazed to think of that at the time.

I don't think it's just coincidental that he behaved like this because before I picked him up he was all coiled up in his cave and not trying to get it off. It's as if he knew that when I picked him up I would help him get it off.

Has anybody had this happen to them before?
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1.0.0 Dumerils Boa
1.0.0 Royal Python
1.0.0 Boa Constrictor Imperator

Replies (1)

xscorpio Oct 19, 2009 03:28 PM

Yes, had it happen many times with stuck or partial sheds. They seek out anything they can to get that stuck skin to catch on something so they can peel it off. It is a very cool feeling no doubt, I've seen it with Dumeril's, RTBs, BPs, kings, corns...its pretty much a snake thing.

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