Rainbow-Serpent
Very Well-Known Member
Hey everyone,
So I have a spotted python who is currently acting very strangely, normally I wouldn't be worried by slight changes in behavior but this is something else. I don't actually know the sex (I didn't exactly get him from a reliable source), but I'll refer to it as "him". His movements have become jerky and shaky, and he's unusually overactive. He's constantly pressing himself against the glass and the roof of the enclosure and he's been soaking in the water bowl more than usual.
Normally I'd take the obvious guess that he's over-heated, but because of the hot weather we're having lately he doesn't actually have the heating in his tank turned on. The room he's in has plenty of natural light and is well ventilated, I've even put the fan on for him for during the day.
He normally prefers to sleep in his cave all day, but for the past 24 hours he's just been upside down, pressed against the roof of the enclosure and following anyone who walks past the enclosure.
He's shed recently, I keep him well fed, the enclosure is in a low-traffic room, and he has no reason to be stressed. So what's with the jerking and shaking?
The person who I got him from told me that he's about 4 or 5 years old, and has never bitten in his life. And it's true, he normally is one of the most puppy-dog tame snakes, I've let young children handle him. He's not even viv defensive, you can just reach in and pick him up or adjust things and he's curious and friendly. But yesterday I went to fill up his water bowl (my hand was barely in the enclosure) and he bit the absolute crap about of me.
Summary: My normally placid and healthy snake is biting, overactive, jerking in his movements and shaking for no apparent reason - has anyone else encountered this kind of thing? Am I overlooking something? Because I've never had a snake that has showed these symptoms :?
P.S; although the person I got him from was a bit dodgy (and likely unlicensed), he normally seems to be a very healthy snake; no mites etc.
Thanks for any help you can give
-J
So I have a spotted python who is currently acting very strangely, normally I wouldn't be worried by slight changes in behavior but this is something else. I don't actually know the sex (I didn't exactly get him from a reliable source), but I'll refer to it as "him". His movements have become jerky and shaky, and he's unusually overactive. He's constantly pressing himself against the glass and the roof of the enclosure and he's been soaking in the water bowl more than usual.
Normally I'd take the obvious guess that he's over-heated, but because of the hot weather we're having lately he doesn't actually have the heating in his tank turned on. The room he's in has plenty of natural light and is well ventilated, I've even put the fan on for him for during the day.
He normally prefers to sleep in his cave all day, but for the past 24 hours he's just been upside down, pressed against the roof of the enclosure and following anyone who walks past the enclosure.
He's shed recently, I keep him well fed, the enclosure is in a low-traffic room, and he has no reason to be stressed. So what's with the jerking and shaking?
The person who I got him from told me that he's about 4 or 5 years old, and has never bitten in his life. And it's true, he normally is one of the most puppy-dog tame snakes, I've let young children handle him. He's not even viv defensive, you can just reach in and pick him up or adjust things and he's curious and friendly. But yesterday I went to fill up his water bowl (my hand was barely in the enclosure) and he bit the absolute crap about of me.
Summary: My normally placid and healthy snake is biting, overactive, jerking in his movements and shaking for no apparent reason - has anyone else encountered this kind of thing? Am I overlooking something? Because I've never had a snake that has showed these symptoms :?
P.S; although the person I got him from was a bit dodgy (and likely unlicensed), he normally seems to be a very healthy snake; no mites etc.
Thanks for any help you can give
-J