| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Calica |
Posted - 09/01/2014 : 20:24:19
I know that snakes tend to rub against their viv when they're ready to mate and such- but Fiesty is only 1 years old and he's always had this habit of pushing up against the gaps in his vivarium with such force that he slips off and bumps his nose against several of the grates and it's causing the skin on his nose to peel back. I know he's not doing it for shedding purposes because he always does this, every day and I was wondering if there was a way to stop him from hurting his nose? Or even if anyone else has had such a nosey always trying to escape snake |
| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| smart bunny |
Posted - 11/01/2014 : 08:39:25
Although I've not experienced this to such a degree, Ember did use to nose around at the top a bit whilst she was in her faun, and I only realised after I noticed a damaged area at the top of her head that the clip at the top for the lid had sharp corners on it. If the faun has sharp corners like mine then I would advise moving to a viv as soon as possible just to prevent any problems, as it took a long time for Ember to shed out the damage to her head. One shed actually made it worse as she had some retained shed and whilst I was trying to help her remove it she pulled away and it bled (I felt awful for weeks until she shed again - this time without incident - and it finally started getting better :( ). |
| Calica |
Posted - 11/01/2014 : 00:53:45
quote:
Originally posted by Razee
Calica, I wish I knew the answer - I have similar problem!
Seb, the little hypo I rehomed, is doing something similar - was doing it since I got him, and was doing it with previous owner, too. He is really active, happily wakes up during day, whenever I enter the bedroom, and wants to come out. Every evening he does a proper round around the viv, some digging, and rearranging, and then he starts on the vents.... Every evening, ( apart from when in blue, and straight after feed ) - he climbs up on the plants, or sometimes just stands up, like a cobra. First, he tries to prize the vent off. After failing - he then starts the pushing. Just like you describe, he pushes his nose onto the vent so hard, that he shakes, and then he slips, and bangs his nose.
It's a really loud bang as well. Then he does it all over again. He doesn't care, if I try to push my finger on the other side of the vent to push him off, or if I open the viv and even stroke him - he is just concentrating really hard on pushing the vent. He hasn't damaged his nose yet ( and I'm touching wood as I type ) - but I do worry. Any new toys and things will keep his attention for a while, but he has to do his vent pushing round, every evening.
Oh, and after the vent pushing comes the falling off the ceiling... he climbs onto the push-on lights, wraps around them, can't quite fit, falls of with a bang. Often lands in his water bowl, splashing water everywhere. Couple of days ago, he actually managed to switch the light on - then fell off, probably frightening himself. This has nothing to do with breeding season, he does this every day. Wakes me up at night sometimes.
The only positive side to this is, that he has an excellent muscle tone, with all the exercise he gets, and stays quite lean. I can't think of anything else to stop him, I think it's a habit now. The only thing would be to get a massive, floor to ceiling display viv - I have a hunch he'd use all that space easily ( probably in his search for the vents ;-) ).
I think some snakes just never give up trying to get out, and lead their own life. My other two have very similar set ups, and never tried pushing the vents once, not even in breeding season.
I'm sorry I'm no help, just wanted to show you're not the only one with this problem.
OH MY GOD!
THAT IS EXACTLY THE SAME THING FIESTY DOES!
Jeez, I guess they're just happy go getters, huh? Haha, well I'm glad I'm not the only one that has a snake doing that just because he can. He's a little monster for it though, and oh he's at it RIGHT NOW. Haha!
It's just so unnerving hearing them making such loud noises though, don't want them hurting themselves just because they're nosey.
But thank you for also knowing what its like lol
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| Razee |
Posted - 10/01/2014 : 19:48:44
Calica, I wish I knew the answer - I have similar problem!
Seb, the little hypo I rehomed, is doing something similar - was doing it since I got him, and was doing it with previous owner, too. He is really active, happily wakes up during day, whenever I enter the bedroom, and wants to come out. Every evening he does a proper round around the viv, some digging, and rearranging, and then he starts on the vents.... Every evening, ( apart from when in blue, and straight after feed ) - he climbs up on the plants, or sometimes just stands up, like a cobra. First, he tries to prize the vent off. After failing - he then starts the pushing. Just like you describe, he pushes his nose onto the vent so hard, that he shakes, and then he slips, and bangs his nose.
It's a really loud bang as well. Then he does it all over again. He doesn't care, if I try to push my finger on the other side of the vent to push him off, or if I open the viv and even stroke him - he is just concentrating really hard on pushing the vent. He hasn't damaged his nose yet ( and I'm touching wood as I type ) - but I do worry. Any new toys and things will keep his attention for a while, but he has to do his vent pushing round, every evening.
Oh, and after the vent pushing comes the falling off the ceiling... he climbs onto the push-on lights, wraps around them, can't quite fit, falls of with a bang. Often lands in his water bowl, splashing water everywhere. Couple of days ago, he actually managed to switch the light on - then fell off, probably frightening himself. This has nothing to do with breeding season, he does this every day. Wakes me up at night sometimes.
The only positive side to this is, that he has an excellent muscle tone, with all the exercise he gets, and stays quite lean. I can't think of anything else to stop him, I think it's a habit now. The only thing would be to get a massive, floor to ceiling display viv - I have a hunch he'd use all that space easily ( probably in his search for the vents ;-) ).
I think some snakes just never give up trying to get out, and lead their own life. My other two have very similar set ups, and never tried pushing the vents once, not even in breeding season.
I'm sorry I'm no help, just wanted to show you're not the only one with this problem.
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| SilverWings |
Posted - 10/01/2014 : 04:55:32
What size is he, and what size viv is he in? You could try putting in some new things for enrichment, worth a shot. Branches, tubes, boxes with a few holes in. One of mine likes to play with plastic cups, waves them around on her head. For the king we've put in a load of tubes and covered them in substrate so she has to burrow to get to them. she dug them all out within a day but it kept her busy for a short while lol
Over a year is a pretty long time for that sort of behaviour o.O |
| Calica |
Posted - 10/01/2014 : 00:41:56
quote:
Originally posted by SilverWings
Our king snake is only just over a year old and is off her food and patrolling her viv, so maybe is it due to breeding behaviour? I don't think there is a way to stop it, all you can do is watch. Last year poor Diego rubbed himself raw for months, never seemed to tire himself out. I'd suggest keeping some tamodine or similar on hand (iodine solution for reptiles) to put on his nose if he does end up hurting himself. Just to prevent infection etc.
I'm pretty certain its not because of breeding because he does this- like I said- every day/night and all the while he's awake and roaming around his viv, he's always done it from the moment I've had him (back in Dec 2012).
Could he be bored? Or want more space to roam around? I'm pretty sure if I put him in his larger vivarium he'd be rubbing all up against the glass all the time- but at least he wouldn't be scratching his nose scales off on venting.
But I'll get some of that just for if he does end up hurting himself, thanks for the tip. |
| SilverWings |
Posted - 09/01/2014 : 21:08:12
Our king snake is only just over a year old and is off her food and patrolling her viv, so maybe is it due to breeding behaviour? I don't think there is a way to stop it, all you can do is watch. Last year poor Diego rubbed himself raw for months, never seemed to tire himself out. I'd suggest keeping some tamodine or similar on hand (iodine solution for reptiles) to put on his nose if he does end up hurting himself. Just to prevent infection etc. |
| Calica |
Posted - 09/01/2014 : 20:24:59
I also don't know if this is in the right section LOL |
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