Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Gents if anyone still frequents this site, I could do with a few suggestions.

A bit of background about me as well as the snake...
Kept lots of different N.American colubrids over the past 20+ years, but never been interested in breeding any of them. Living in the UK I never heard of winter cooling in the pre internet days, so never really bothered once I found out about it. All my animals have always been in display vivs in the front room, and until now, I've never had any problems.

I have had a male Annectens from hatchling to about six years of age. If ever a snake could be classed as a pet, he is the one. He is out free roaming for at least an hour every day, but usually more. He has always been a snake that wanted to be out roaming, even though he is in a 4'L x 3'W x 20"H stylized viv with plenty of branches and hides to keep him occupied.
Now I am used to male snakes getting the urge to breed, and going into overdrive with the roaming around, but I usually just try and let them out for a bit longer than usual.
Over the past six weeks or so though he has become almost frantic to get out and is beginning to develop nose rub and/or scale damage on his snout. Nothing has changed inside or out of the viv, and no female snakes have come into my small collection, though there has been a juvenile male bull come in in the last 12 months.
He is behaving perfectly normal in every other way, but I am becoming slightly alarmed at his constant rubbing and consequent damaged scales.
I know our snakes are not pets but I have always let my animals free roam one at a time. While the gopher is in this state he is never in the viv, and no one else is getting a look in!
Any suggestions as to how I could put a stop to, or lessen this rubbing behaviour would be very welcome.

Thanks, Paul.

THE FIRST THINGS THAT COME TO MIND ARE MITES OR TEMPERATURES TOO HIGH THAT HE CAN'T ESCAPE FROM. I DOUBT THAT ANY SCENT OF A YOUNG MALE SAYI WOULD PROVOKE THIS. IF YOU CAN ASSUME THAT PARASITES OR TEMPERATURE ARE NOT THE CAUSE PERHAPS THOSE "WALKABOUTS" HAVE SPOILED HIM IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT IS NOW INSTILLED IN THAT LITTLE BRAIN THAT WANDERING/HUNTING ETC IS THE NORM. IT'S A STRETCH BUT PERHAPS REMOVING ALL CURRENT SUBSTRATE AND REPLACING IT WITH SOMETHING ELSE ALTOGETHER THAT WOULD TASTE/SMELL DIFFERENT WOULD STIMULATE HIM IN SUCH A WAY AS TO SATISFY HIS URGES. PARTIALLY BURYING SOME PVC PIPE WOULD AFFORD HIM AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME FOSSORIAL SEARCHES OR HIDING AS WELL. A WEE BIT OF NEOSPORIN OR SIMILER TOPICAL ANTIBIOTIC OINTMENT APPLIED TO THE SNOUT WILL AID IN HEALING THE DAMAGE ALREADY PRESENT IF THE UNDERLYING SCALES ARE STILL INTACT FROM WHICH NEW TISSUE EMITS. GOOD LUCK...

Thanks for the reply (Festive duty prevented me getting back sooner!)
My hot end temps are around 83* with the cool end down around mid 70's, with a 10* night time drop. These are the temps I've always kept my pits at, and the ambient temps of the room they roam in is generally 70* F or there about. The snakes occasionally take themselves back for a warm, before re emerging to continue on the mooch, but not that often.
No sign of mites or any other ailments.
After shedding his behaviour has eased off slightly, and as I'm off for the holidays I can let him out for far longer so his damage hasn't gotten any worse. Hopefully by the time I go back to work the urge will be waning.
Although all my vivs are packed with branches and hides, I do like the idea of tubing as subterranean hides, and think I will introduce these to them all!

Thanks, Paul.