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Snakes hiding away a lot! Is it ok to handle them?

A

Arby

New member
Hey all,

My two snakes, Ammy and Taka (see sig) like to hide away a lot - day and night, they don't seem to want to come out. I've read that they are nocturnal, but I'm up at night a lot and even then they don't seem to come out much.

I'm not too worried - they are, apparently, secretive animals by default.
I'm just wondering if it's ok to take them out of their snake caves and handle them, or if I should wait until they come out by themselves?

I've heard that daily handling helps them grow accustomed to their owner, and to settle down more and make them less likely to strike / run away when out. However I don't want to forcefully take them out if they are choosing to hide away from humans.

Therefore I haven't touched them except to check that they're there during the daily water-change, and to moisten the moss. But do you guys/gals think it would be a good idea to take them out of their caves daily anyway, so they get used to being held?


And two more short questions:

1. I fed them both last Friday (23rd), and neither seems to have poo'ed yet. Is that ok?

2. They both have two caves, one with moss and one with Aspen. They never go in the Aspen ones (that I've seen, anyway), but only in the moss one. Should I maybe put moss in the other caves too, rather than Aspen? And if so, should I moisten one and keep one dry or moisten both / leave both dry?


Thanks!
 
Arby said:
Hey all,

My two snakes, Ammy and Taka (see sig) like to hide away a lot - day and night, they don't seem to want to come out. I've read that they are nocturnal, but I'm up at night a lot and even then they don't seem to come out much.

I'm not too worried - they are, apparently, secretive animals by default.
I'm just wondering if it's ok to take them out of their snake caves and handle them, or if I should wait until they come out by themselves?

I've heard that daily handling helps them grow accustomed to their owner, and to settle down more and make them less likely to strike / run away when out. However I don't want to forcefully take them out if they are choosing to hide away from humans.

Therefore I haven't touched them except to check that they're there during the daily water-change, and to moisten the moss. But do you guys/gals think it would be a good idea to take them out of their caves daily anyway, so they get used to being held?
Click to expand...

It will be fine to take them out, even when they are hiding. I do that all the time. At first only hold them for a few minutes. Then over time, gradually hold them longer.

The only time not to hold them is for 2-3 days after feeding.

Arby said:
1. I fed them both last Friday (23rd), and neither seems to have poo'ed yet. Is that ok?
Click to expand...

That is fine. Unless you are keeping them on paper, their poo may be hard to find. But regardless, keep them on their regular feeding schedule.

Arby said:
2. They both have two caves, one with moss and one with Aspen. They never go in the Aspen ones (that I've seen, anyway), but only in the moss one. Should I maybe put moss in the other caves too, rather than Aspen? And if so, should I moisten one and keep one dry or moisten both / leave both dry?


Thanks!
Click to expand...

It is normal for them to have a "favorite" hide. Do not get concerned if they use only one hide. It wouldn't hurt to add another moss hide and make it moist.
 
Since I have lots of snakes (8!!) I usually handle whoever is out. Some are out all the time, some are never out. For the ones that are rarely out, I just get them out when I want to see them. The ones that beg to come out get out more.

Nanci
 
Ah! Thanks for the advice :D.

There isn't room for another hide, since they are only babies and in the smaller plastic vivs, but I think I might put moss in the other ones anyway - after all, there's plenty of Aspen on the base of the tank I suppose :).

Thanks again!


Nanci - Ah, that's cool - I only have two though. I'd love more but there would be a problem finding room for all the vivs when they grow to adult size!
 
Is it the kind of hide that comes with moss? I've heard they go crazy for those. Choco has a Gladware moist hide with moss, that I let dry out between sheds. He loves it in there.
 
It is indeed - both tanks have two caves each. Three of them are the same.. I don't know the brand off-hand, but there are photos of it in my pictures thread I think (see sig). The fourth hide is another random-brand one - that didn't come with moss so I put Aspen in there.

Each snake has two hides, one with moss (came included with the hide) that I moisten every day along with a water-change (this hide is right at the cool end), and one with Aspen which is located about in the middle of the tank, just off-edge of the heat mat.
 
Arby said:
I'd love more but there would be a problem finding room for all the vivs when they grow to adult size!
Click to expand...

You just aren't trying hard enough! I have two 10g on my dresser. Two 24x24 stacked on a kitchen counter. Two 20L on a stand in the LR. A 12x12 on an end table. A 10g on a small table in the LR. A 20L on a cupboard thing in the kitchen. A 40 breeder on a coffee table in the kitchen. Two toads in giant Rubbermaids stuffed under tables. And soon- Friday- my first rack that will hold five.

I don't think my house looks weird...
 
Woah! Nice :D.

Sadly I still live at home, and my parents don't want those "nasty slimy creatures" anywhere in the house, so they stay in my room :(. Plus, as my g/f has moved in, and it's only a tiny room to begin with (remember, I'm in the UK - our houses' rooms are matchbox sized), so there is literally no room - I have cupboards and shelves all over the walls and floor. The only way to fit any more 4-foot vivs in here would be to remove things - although they're in smaller ones now, my g/f's animation lightbox is going to have to be removed to make room for the big vivs, when it is time.

Though, when I move out and get a nice house (which will be a LONG TIME given current UK house prices, although I don't want to stay here anyway - I've always planned to move out to the US when I've got my degree and worked for a year or two in industry, but that's getting off the point), I plan on having a snake room. Just for snakes :D. And maybe some tropical fish (another thing that I really want but don't have the room or money for, lol).

That's awesome though. I want a house like yours someday :D.
 
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