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mcloum
Snake Mite

United Kingdom
27 Posts

Posted - 10/03/2014 :  23:44:20  Show Profile  Click to see mcloum's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
Hi all,

Since i moved Covus to his new larger Viv hes been very active, and i mean very! All the time im at home and in my room hes never stayed still. Constantly round his new viv and in and out of his hide and up and down his table. Before i moved him he was very chilled out and spent most time hiding behind his driftwood.

Could the move in viv have caused this? I'v changed form a heat mat to a ceramic bulb also which seems to give out better heat. Although im finding it hard to keep one end of the viv at warmer than the other as the heat just spreads!

Or could he be looking for a mate and its just coincidence? Hes getting on 2 1/2 years old now possibly 3 years.

Hes throwing out all the substrate from his new larger hide also, basically trashing his decorations whenever i put them back.

Any ideas?

Kellog
the nice one

United Kingdom
7308 Posts

Posted - 11/03/2014 :  07:55:07  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
It certainly sounds like breeding behaviour Michael, and it is that time of year. I've got 2 males doing the same thing and I'm just waiting for them to stop eating.

What does concern me though is your mention of the temperature in his viv. It's why if anyone asked which I'd recommend I'd always go for a heatmat as opposed to any sort of heat bulb. I know some people use them without a problem but I have also heard of others who have had the same issue as you, the bulb heating too much of the viv. A bit more detail would help. How are you measuring the temps in each end and where (thermometer probe should be lying flat on base of viv). And what the temps are.

His behaviour may well be down to his hormones but it could also be stress due to his environment, so it would be good to work out which.

Xxx


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mcloum
Snake Mite

United Kingdom
27 Posts

Posted - 13/03/2014 :  23:23:16  Show Profile  Click to see mcloum's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
I have the stat temp sensor under the ceramic bulb on the viv floor on top of the substrate and a digital thermometer at the other end of the viv sticking out of his other hide on top of the substrate. This one is reading roughly 24c

I think i might just get him another heat mat if he doesnt settle down in the next week or so, he does look dark so hes due a shed. I did catch him going into his hide by going underneath it instead of through the door so i put his constant movement down to his trying to shed.

I've put him some moss in and sprayed with water bottle and will see how he is in the morning.

How long does the mating period usually last?
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SilverWings
Yearling

United Kingdom
740 Posts

Posted - 14/03/2014 :  00:39:58  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
My boy fasted for 4 months last year. He's been dancing for a few weeks and refused this week, so we'll see how long he goes this time o.O If yours does start fasting keep an eye on his weight, he shouldn't lose a noticeable amount, and just offer every week or so.

2.2.3 Corn snakes; Red, Rosie, Liana, Checkers, Luna, Diego, Snowman
1.0 Taiwanese Beauty Snake; Aleron
1.0 Green Anoles; Doug
1.0 Greyhound; Lee
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mcloum
Snake Mite

United Kingdom
27 Posts

Posted - 14/03/2014 :  08:51:03  Show Profile  Click to see mcloum's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
Hes eaten quite happily in his new viv, hes due a feed this sunday so will see how he gets on.

Also a snake of 3 years how often do people feed them and how many fluffs?
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lupi lou
Fully Grown Corn

United Kingdom
3670 Posts

Posted - 14/03/2014 :  16:17:11  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I would have thought a 3 year old would be on at least small or medium mice by now if not large mice. This could be the other reason he has been very active as he could be hungry. How much and how often are you feeding him at the minuet? My 2 year old is on 1 medium every 7 days and the boy who is 3 this year is on a large every 7 days although I do play about with his routine as he is a lump and doesn't do a lot.


1.0.1 Corns
0.1.0 Dog: springer
1.0.0 Horse
0.4.0 Gerbils
2.2.0 Leopard gecko
0.2.0 Cave gecko
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coxymk2
Sub Adult

United Kingdom
1245 Posts

Posted - 14/03/2014 :  20:21:17  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Just fed my 3 they are all on xlmice now and luckily even though 2 of them are doing the sexy dancing they have still devoured their mice

0.0.1 ANERY (Liquorice)
0.0.1 CAROLINA (Bangle)
0.0.1 AMEL (Boozer)
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Kellog
the nice one

United Kingdom
7308 Posts

Posted - 16/03/2014 :  08:26:43  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
You mention having the stat temp sensor under the ceramic bulb on the viv floor and a digital thermometer in the cool end. Does this mean you don't actually have anything monitoring the temp in the warm end?

The going into his hide by borrowing instead of through the door doesn't necessarily mean he's trying to shed. My lot love to make their own ways into their hides, especially this time of year.

I echo what Lupi Lou has said Michael. My 18month old is on small mice. How much does he weigh? When he eats a fluff does it leave much of a bump?

This thread about feeding might be helpful - http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=27833

Xxx



Edited by - Kellog on 16/03/2014 08:31:24
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mcloum
Snake Mite

United Kingdom
27 Posts

Posted - 25/04/2014 :  18:17:31  Show Profile  Click to see mcloum's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
Apologies for the absence I've been busy at work OK so Cobus shed (which my dog ate!) and has calmed down a lot, he currently hanging out on his table.

I brought home a digital temperature gun which said the ceramic bulb is about 26c and the cold end my thermometer is showing 24.3. I do have a exotera thermometer outside his hide in the warm end which is showing 24c so I don't know which to believe?

I feed him once a week (only just started this routine) and moved him up to a larger rat fluff. I did feed him once every 2 weeks the but with slightly smaller fluffs but 2 of them.



I pick these as the size of this neck I don't think he would be able to swallow anything larger, or am I being stupid? HE currently weighs approx 314g. When he eatt them yes his body has a noticeable bulge to it.

I noticed about a week after he'd shed that near his head and along his back he seems to be missing scales? I can see areas of white flesh between his scales which ive not noticed before. The picture isnt very good im afraid it looks whiter in person.

Scales:


Neck:


Could the shed have pulled off some scales? Also if you look close enough little 'creases' appear to be on certain patches of scales, which im a bit worried if he has a skin condition? I cant get a decent picture of this as he wont stay still when being handled.

Also when being handled he tends to jump and move in short quick spurts? Anyone seen that before?




Edited by - mcloum on 25/04/2014 18:32:00
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SilverWings
Yearling

United Kingdom
740 Posts

Posted - 25/04/2014 :  23:42:32  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hey there ^_^
I'm a bit concerned your hot side might not be hot enough, they need a warm side of about 30C...buuut I can't advise how to improve it because I've never used ceramics.

As for food, corns can manage anything up to 1.5 times their width at the widest point, so the same size as his neck is no problem for him.

His scales look a bit like he might have scraped them the wrong way, my guys do that sometimes. It'll sort itself next shed, as long as theirs no wound or missing scales don;t worry too much. The creases in his scales *may* be due to him being overweight, my overweight male has a lot along his sides from where the skin creases when he curls up. It might be something else though :p Does he have noticeable 'hips' at his vent? There shouldn't be a bulge before his tail, he should just gently taper off when looking at him from above. Rats can be a bit higher in fat than mice, if he was mine I'd probably have him on small mice rather than rat fluffs.

The jumping and moving in spurts...sounds like mating behaviour. Males do that when they're getting jiggy :p

2.2.3 Corn snakes; Red, Rosie, Liana, Checkers, Luna, Diego, Snowman
1.0 Taiwanese Beauty Snake; Aleron
1.0 Green Anoles; Doug
1.0 Greyhound; Lee
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mcloum
Snake Mite

United Kingdom
27 Posts

Posted - 25/04/2014 :  23:55:34  Show Profile  Click to see mcloum's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
Cool i'll try a small mouse next feed and see how he handles it. To me when he has large mice/rats he seems to struggle which makes me cringe and wonder if he would choke :(

There does seem to be scales missing, the picture really doesnt pick it up. I'll try and get a decent Macro shot with my dads camera tomorrow.

I dont remember seeing any 'hips' but there is a slight change in shape near his bum, there's a definite change in taper down to his tail tip.
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mcloum
Snake Mite

United Kingdom
27 Posts

Posted - 26/04/2014 :  00:08:43  Show Profile  Click to see mcloum's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
Heres a clearer picture of the white patches
http://imgur.com/5hic3Os
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Kellog
the nice one

United Kingdom
7308 Posts

Posted - 26/04/2014 :  12:11:46  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I would agree with what Silverwings has said Michael. I'm concerned about your temps. You say that the digital temperature gun said the ceramic bulb was 26oC. Was this aimed at the bulb itself? If so then that explain why the temp is so low in the warm end. You need a temp that is between 27 - 29oC ideally. Anything lower than that and you are risking issues with digestion etc. I know you have the stat probe for the bulb on the floor of the viv in the warm end. What temp is the stat set at? I've found you need to ignore the readings on the stats and tweak them until you get the temperature you want showing on your digital thermometers.

I have a digital thermometer gun and have found that it gives different reading to the digital thermometers I have in the vivs. A lot has to do with how far away you hold the gun when you aim it. The closer you hold it the hotter temp you get. In the end I gave up with it and rely on those permanently in the vivs.

Silverwings is right about him being able to handle a prey item that is up to 1.5 times as wide as his widest part. I know it can be nerve-wracking for us but it's amazing what they can swallow. At that weight I would expect him to be on medium, if not large, mice. A rat fluff is really equivalent to a small mouse or even less - http://iansvivarium.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=75

He's still young and has some growing to do so I wouldn't be too worried about him being over-weight, especially if he was on a feeding schedule of every fortnight. Does he put on much weight between feeds? This thread on telling if your snake is fat may help - http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11891

His jerky behaviour certainly sounds like something Kellog does at this time of year when he's in breeding mode. Is Cobus more active than usual in his viv, out and about, trying to escape?

I'm not sure about what's going on with his scales. The most likely explanation is that it is because of some sort of damage. I'd keep an eye on it and see what it's like after his next shed.

Sorry, that's a bit all over the place . It's a brain fog day . Hope I've made sense.

Xxx


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mcloum
Snake Mite

United Kingdom
27 Posts

Posted - 29/04/2014 :  10:44:09  Show Profile  Click to see mcloum's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
Cool thanks for the information. I was concerned about using a ceramic bulb at first as you cannot control the temperature very well, if the temp is up high then the cold end becomes the same temperature. I get paid tomorrow so im going to get him a heatmat again, he seemed happy with his old one which i no longer have.

He is due a shed (2nd in a month) so once he's shed i'll take a look at his scales see if they have improved. Im also going to try him on a medium mouse this weekend.

Thanks all.
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Kellog
the nice one

United Kingdom
7308 Posts

Posted - 01/05/2014 :  07:36:18  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
That sounds like a good plan Michael . Let us know how he gets on with the medium mouse.

Xxx


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Spacetastic
Snake Mite

United Kingdom
34 Posts

Posted - 26/05/2014 :  13:12:25  Show Profile  Send Spacetastic an AOL message  Reply with Quote
Just been reading your threads and it has put my mind to rest,. Diego is very active at the moment, and trying to escape etc, I was worried he might be hungry, he's on 1x large mouse a week and he's approx 2 1/2 years old. Now I know it's probably breeding season for him, I can relax. Thank you for your knowledge.
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Kellog
the nice one

United Kingdom
7308 Posts

Posted - 27/05/2014 :  06:51:37  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
It's always good to hear of people who have found their answers and been reassured by reading other people's threads Spacetastic .

As mentioned, you do need to double check your set-up to make sure that stress isn't the reason for his behaviour. It's easy to assume its down to breeding season but better to be safe than sorry .

Diego certainly shouldn't need anything bigger than a large mouse weekly. Don't let him fool you into thinking he's hungry . Corns are opportunistic feeders and it's up to us to control their feeding. Once that extra weight has gone on its hard to shift, just like with us .

Xxx


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