Signs of stress

[Mysnakeau]

I'm not sure if I am imagining there's anything wrong but just today when I've reached to try and pick up Opals she starts moving around at a fairly quick pace. I don't know whether she is upset and trying to find somewhere to hide from me or that she's becoming more active because its warming up. She fell off her light cage, almost fell to the bottom of her cage but managed to grab her branch. Then her pace quickenedd up & her movement seems slightly jerky. But out and about she seemed fine.

I am thinking that I have just peed her off more than anything because I push and poke her to get her off her branch so I can pick her up. But I just worked out that I can get her out with her branch so the poking is not happening anymore. She thinks she's a GTP.

This snake ownership is all new to me. Still learning how to pick her up without peeing her off. But can you please offer me some signs to watch out for when she is stressed? And perhaps what factors that I could look around for, that could cause stress? Thanks

[Nome]

You only recently got her didn't you?

Most young snakes will retreat at a fast pace when you reach in to pick them up. They mostly associate something trying to grab them or come at them as danger and follow their instincts to retreat and try and hide. So yes, I guess it is a stress response.

She should settle down when she gets older...the best thing to do is leave them be for at least 2 weeks after bringing them home and make sure they have a good feed or two before attempting to handle them, especially if they are young. It's in a new scary environment which isn't familiar..that's why it's best to let the snake be and not handle at all for a couple of weeks so it learns it's new cage is a safe place.

A good indication of whether a snake is over stressed or not is if it refuses food or eats well. That's also why getting a couple of feeds in before you begin regular handling is a good idea.

If it is older and if it has been cooled and is still in cooling, regular handling IMO is a bad idea anyway. Their metabolism is slowed down and they are in 'sleep' mode, best to leave them alone. There is no way we would touch unless absolutely necessary a snake in cooling.

So IMO it's best to just wait and see what food response you get if you haven't already...if a snake is eating fine there isn't any reason not to handle it (being mindful of the snake and not overhandling), but if a snake isn't eating or refusing food, this is a sign that it is possibly stressed and needs to learn it's environment is a safe place to be and to eat, without worrying about being picked up all the time. Refusing food is usually a good indication of stress (taking out illness and cooling factors)

Listen to your snake is the best thing.

[Rennie]

When picking them up I like to get them off the ground by sliding a finger or hook under them first or the easiest way is to slide it out of a light globe box cave if thats where it is at the time, but if you need to unwrap her I've heard just tickling the tail gently can work.
I hope that helps.

PS I'm not saying its alright to handle it all the time, as exciting as it is to have a new snake, listen to Nome.

[jeramie85]

also
the snake may have not been handled or not much at all so it is still unsure of the whole thing

also another thing if its coming up towards a shed mine gets a bit jumpy as it cannot see as well as usual

but nome is right

[Mysnakeau]

Thank you guys. Yes she just a newbie. She's fine once I have her out but its getting her out that seems to be upsetting her. But you're right. I'll lay off her for a bit. She refused a feed yesterday but she has been in hybernation, we turned up her heater just a little, about a week ago.

Jeramie its funny you should say yours gets jumpy coming up towards a shed. I am still uncertain what signs to look for when they are coming up to a shed but each time I touch her she jumps like I've startled her, or her skin is sensitive.

My friend will be back during the week to check her out so I think I'll give her a rest till then.