Silly Snappy

[kibakiba]

So, today I noticed Snap had retained her shed. I misted her tank a bunch and put some extra logs in there for her to rub on. She still hadn't gotten it off after an hour. I decided to be the nice mommy that I am and help her. She did not like that... At all. She played dead. She pooped all over herself, made a weird hissing sound and opened her mouth with her tongue out. The only thing that gave her away was her eyes... You could see her looking at me and looking at the ground. She really stunk... She smelt like she had been rotting for a year. Haha.
Looks like she's been training herself for the next time I try to put medicine on her mouth ;) Maybe I'll get a picture of it next time... She started biting, and I got a bad reaction to it, so I had to put her down to get some antibiotic on my hand.

[guidofatherof5]

Did you get the old shed off?

[BLUESIRTALIS]

They are so funny sometimes.

[kibakiba]

Not yet, I misted her some more. Shes getting it off herself, slowly. I don't want to get the medicine that's on my hand on her. She she hasn't gotten it off in 15 minutes I'll wipe off the medicine and help her again. She rubbed her musk and poop in it... So of course the effect is pretty bad ;)

She got it off the top of her head and I got the rest off. She didn't play dead this time... She did musk and hiss a couple times, but after getting it off half way she stopped fussing. Rubbing her back while she was working her muscles made her go faster, she was probably thinking " the faster I get this off the faster I can chew your nose off! :mad:"

[kibakiba]

Snap calmed down enough for me to pick her up and take her outside. She really seemed to enjoy being out in the warm grass. She was a lot calmer afterward and she's continuing to be a lot more calm.

[guidofatherof5]

Taming the wild beast.:D
They do like getting out in the grass.
First time outside babies smell the grass a lot.

[kibakiba]

Yeah, I let all my snakes except the small babies go out. Even Mama, who is put in the grass any time its warm, sits there and rocks her head from side to side while smelling the grass. It's like a new adventure to her every day. It's so cute. :D
Snaps been sitting out under her lamp, she's usually hiding under her fluff. I hope she'll calm down enough to put back in the tank with the others. Something tells me it won't happen, though.

[kibakiba]

She's done it again! She never ceases to make me laugh. I let her slither around again... I guess she was really feeling like a little wild garter, because when I took a step she took on a little cobra pose, puffed herself up and waved her head back and forth with her mouth open and head flattened. I'm happy have such a large source of entertainment ;)

[kibakiba]

I picked Snap up today because she had something in her mouth, and I lifted her up to my face to see it... This happened.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/Snapbite.JPG

[guidofatherof5]

Niiiiiice.

[kibakiba]

Yeah... I didn't think she'd bite. She's not a biting kind of snake, she's never done anything more than strike at me, or a soft nip. I have learned my lesson to restrain her more, and perhaps not let her get within biting distance of me. I still love her, even though my lip will look like a strawberry soon. :D

[RedSidedSPR]

Niiiiiice.

Verrrry.

[RedSidedSPR]

How big is she?

[kibakiba]

Almost 2 ft. She's growing pretty fast. I'd say no less than 1.5 ft and no more than 2.5 ft

[RedSidedSPR]

Ok, i forgot she wasn't a baby :D not really, but i thought she was smaller.

[kibakiba]

She's not as girthy as Mama, but she's about a year old in August. She's always had a pissy attitude, ever since I got her... She just never took it that far, but it was my fault for having my face so close to hers.

[RedSidedSPR]

Pretty darn cool. I love it when they have attitude!

[kibakiba]

I enjoy calm snakes that I can lay down with, but Snap makes me laugh, acting tough and completely in control.

[RedSidedSPR]

I love both.

[kibakiba]

Snap is one of my favourites. She just acts like a big bad boogie monster :D My mom hates her, has talked about throwing her outside if she were to bite her.

[RedSidedSPR]

lock the cage when you leave.

[kibakiba]

My mom won't go near her and doesn't touch her unless her head and tail are restrained. I also don't leave the house, I have agoraphobia.

[RedSidedSPR]

Why would the tail need to be restrained?

[kibakiba]

Musking and flinging poop. She also whips your hand if you move too fast. Ember is more of a "whipper" than Snap.

[RedSidedSPR]

ah, forgot about that defense...

[kibakiba]

She loves to poop. I have a video on youtube of me showing Snap and Ember, made for Richard... And, she pooped all over my keyboard.

[d_virginiana]

Temperamental snakes make me laugh... Especially when they're little. Kind of like a chihuahua thinking it's a doberman.

Did the keyboard recover from that? :p

[kibakiba]

Yeah, that's how Squirt was. At 5 inches, she acted like she was a giant cobra. It was so funny.

[Bart]

I also don't leave the house, I have agoraphobia.


Never? I don't like to leave the house either but not because I'm afraid of something, I'm just too lazy. :)

[kibakiba]

I have to go out as a way of fighting my fear, even if it's stepping outside for 5 minutes. I also leave the house to go to my therapist, it's the only place I feel comfortable going.

[guidofatherof5]

Hoping you can get out more Chantel.
Many great things out there. Like herping!

[kibakiba]

That is another thing my therapist thinks would help me. With my luck it'll be like last year, all I saw/caught was a giant grasshopper that pooped when I picked it up :D

[kibakiba]

Snap started to go opaque. I should have seen that she was about to shed, as her belly turns a light/ milky green colour when she's 3-5 days away from shedding. I got a picture of her right after she bit me, looking so proud of herself. I've apologized to her and gave her some fish as a make up gift... ;)

[RedSidedSPR]

lol that's how my flame is. Don't mess with me, man, i'm sheddin'.

[katach]

Sounds like Snap is appropriately named...

[Jeff B]

Jeeze by the looks of that bite mark on your lip Snap doesn't mess around, that's not a bluffer.

[kibakiba]

Well, her name is SnapDragon, because her colouring is a lot like the snapdragon flowers my dad had when I lived with him, one of the only happy memories I had being there. Snap is just short for that, and it just happened to fit her snappy attitude ;)

[kibakiba]

"Yeah, take that, mom! Don't you touch me again!"

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Proud.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Proud_2.JPG

[guidofatherof5]

Good looking T.s.concinnus(Red Spotted Garter);)

[kibakiba]

Indeed she is. I love how her face started turning an ocean blue colour that goes down her body. She was a neon green-like colour when I got her, or it looked like that to me. She's precious, except for her attitude. But if you feed her fish, she's a little love.

[Mommy2many]

Such a cutie! Nice photo!

[kibakiba]

I noticed something weird with Snap, and I haven't experienced it with any other snake of mine. Snap is a fat snake, and the last two feedings, it didn;t seem like she digested her food, she remained quite fat. She's pooping like normal, acting like her usual pissy, evil self and everything. The part that worries me is, even though she's fat, her skin is saggy and folding a little bit. She literally feels like her skin is a couple sizes too big. I don't think I'm overfeeding her, she gets a pinkie or two and a worm at feeding time, sometimes a couple pieces of salmon if she's good. Any insight about this?

[RedSidedSPR]

No, other than, if it's like you make it sound, it's not good...

[kibakiba]

Well, obviously. If I didn't think it was bad, I wouldn't have posted about it. ;) She's a strong snake, I'm sure she'll be fine.. I just want to know what's up with her.

Oh, I'd like to add that you can see the skin sagging, you mostly feel it and notice it when she's being held. I doubt a picture could show what I mean.

[RedSidedSPR]

I know, it was mostly a joke.

[brain]

I have learned my lesson to restrain her more, and perhaps not let her get within biting distance of me.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/Snapbite.JPG

Tough leason ...

[kibakiba]

Indeed. It could have been tougher, though. She didn't do nearly as much damage as she could have.

[ConcinusMan]

W
Oh, I'd like to add that you can see the skin sagging, you mostly feel it and notice it when she's being held. I doubt a picture could show what I mean.

That's not good at all. Can't even begin to speculate what's going on without seeing it.

[RedSidedSPR]

Pictures. Here. Now.

[kibakiba]

Richard, I can't take a picture of it, and she's too squirmy to get a video of. Do you have msn or skype, so I may be able to show you what she looks like?

Well, actually, you cant even tell now. She ate yesterday, worms and a little fish, and her skin is a bit tighter. I'll monitor her to see if the skin gets loose again.

[RedSidedSPR]

I wouldn't feed her for a little longer than usuall, and see what it looks like. Than try a pic if you can.

[kibakiba]

Yes, I know. I think the normal week would be fine for that, since she did eat just worms and fish.

[RedSidedSPR]

I've never heard of this... Weird..

[ConcinusMan]

I have. A snake can get impacted, eat, start filling up and looking bloated, all while starving to death at the same time, causing the skin to get loose but also looking fat due to food not passing..

Not sure what's happening here though. No pics.:cool:

[RedSidedSPR]

It happens sometimes from dehydration, and malnutrition. All I know...

[kibakiba]

I have two water dishes in there, and she drinks from them every day, and it cant be malnutrition, unless pinkies, worms and fish aren't good enough, which I highly doubt.

Snap hasn't eaten any substrate, from what I can tell. I monitor her when she eats, but she could have eaten it a couple hours later, if it was food scented or something.

[RedSidedSPR]

"mmm, carefresh! nom nom..." Seriously though, i don't know what happened. I doubt it's either of those...

[kibakiba]

When Mama is in feeding mode, she chews on sticks and water dishes. She'd chew on the babies, if I wasn't watching her and very softly smacking her away from them.

[RedSidedSPR]

lol, yeah, i didn't say that wasn't possible, i was saying i doubted it was the other two. My suggestions.

[d_virginiana]

That's so weird.. Especially since you said she was still pooping and all, cause otherwise it'd sound like impaction. (You did say she was still using the bathroom on the last page, right?) How saggy is the skin? Hope she gets better soon :(

[kibakiba]

She's pooping perfectly fine. She left a large log on my shirt when I was checking her out. before I had fed her, if you were holding her, you could feel the skin folding. It's kind of like when you rub a dogs neck, and they have all the extra skin... But not as bad.

[kibakiba]

I fed the snakes today, and checked on Snap. She's still fat, though she hasn't eaten for a week. She's active, pooped on me (a nice watery mess from the worms and strip of salmon) and her skin isn't sagging anymore. Her body is extremely strong, if she wants something, and you push her away, she'll push back and I'm very serious when I say this, she's like a hulk snake.

[kibakiba]

Snap is doing good. I've been working with her, so she wont be afraid anymore. I rest my hand in the tank for 10 minutes and hold her for 30 minutes every 2 days. tonight she actually fell asleep, fully limp like a comfy sleeping snake should be. She's adorable. I really cherish moments like this.

[guidofatherof5]

So do we.
Thanks for sharing.

[kibakiba]

I hope I can gain her trust before she's an adult... She's about Mama's size right now, a little less girth, though. Mama's bites hurt so bad, I can't imagine an adult Snap bite... Haha. I also don't like her living in fear of me all the time, it makes me feel bad.

[kibakiba]

Today I thought I'd take snap into my bedroom. This is where I take my best buddies... Snap does not consider me a friend, I guess. She flew off my bed and pooped all over my floor. I've never seen a snake poop so much in my life. The smell is stuck into the floor now... Yuck.

Despite that, she's still my lil' buddy. She's laying on a dish cloth, sleeping with my hand over her.

[kibakiba]

Here's some pictures of little miss Snappy. I'm sure Richard will enjoy seeing how big she has gotten. ;)
She's about to shed, also. Isn't she just the prettiest little girl?! :D
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Sillysnappy.JPG
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Sillysnappy2.JPG
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Sillysnappy3.JPG
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Sillysnappy4.JPG

[katach]

She is very pretty!

[guidofatherof5]

Good looking concinnus. They are a special garter snake.

[kibakiba]

Yeah. She's been getting me a lot more attached to her. She was laying across my chest and let me lean my head softly against her. It was really special, to me at least.

[katach]

Awwww, that's sweet.

[kibakiba]

When she calms down she is literally the sweetest little thing on the earth. She just wants to lounge around and rest her head in your hand. I love my lil Snappy.

[katach]

That's how I feel about my Willow.

[kibakiba]

Well, I feel like that about all of my snakes... But Snap is wiggling her way up to number 1 ;) I think she'll be pretty darn cuddly when she's an adult... She's got that strong but soft body that makes it hard not to love on her.

[katach]

Every mom has a favorite ;)

[kibakiba]

They're all my favourite, I cant have just one... But Snap is starting to get up there, instead of being "the annoying snake who hates me" ;)

[katach]

I love all my little snake kids too. They are just wonderful!

[kibakiba]

Cant wait until Snappy is up in the "best friend" ranks and can be taken in my room to lay with me without her pooping right when she touches the bed, haha.

[katach]

That will be a good thing. :)

[kibakiba]

Yeah, indeed it would be!

[RedSidedSPR]

He's beautiful!! Love her face!

[kibakiba]

I love her face too!
She has an expressive (seeming) face. When she isn't all pissy with me, she looks so innocent and sweet, but when you anger her, she actually looks pretty damn angry. Without the flattening of the head, of course.

[RedSidedSPR]

Awesome! How old is she?

[kibakiba]

A year old. I bought her from Richard when she was about 3 months, I believe.

[RedSidedSPR]

Awesome thanks. Nice avatar.;)

[kibakiba]

;) I though it was an adorable face picture... So naturally, I pick the cutest picture evarrrr. :D

[RedSidedSPR]

I want to use one of my snakes as mine, but can't without a computer...

[kibakiba]

Which picture? I could do it for you, cause I'm nice! :D Unless it's one on your camera, cause you're kind of screwed if it is :p

[RedSidedSPR]

Yes its on my camera.:D I think it may actually be on here somewhere but yeah I'm probably screwed.:p

Wait how the heck would you change my avatar?

[kibakiba]

Well, I could crop it for you. I don't know much about iphones, mostly cause I think they're just rip offs :p

[RedSidedSPR]

It's an iPod touch, so they're LESS of rip off.:D:D

Actually, I can do some awesome editing with it, including cropping... then, with a crappy app that barely works I could upload it, then I could post a not-so-great copy here..

But first, I'd have to have it on my iPod, which I dont (actually I could get it off my Imageshack account so nvm:p) but there's no way to edit avatar so all that is useless.:D

[kibakiba]

My boyfriend has the 64 gig one... Paid like 400 for it. It's only useful for the msn and skype app. webcam in bed, yay.

[RedSidedSPR]

HA! I have the 32gig, but let me tell you it may be overpriced, but it's worth it. It's all it's cracked up to be.

However its still Apple, and you know apple. It's got it's problems that's for sure, but the apps are great. There is NO better iPod/tablet related system with better apps.

Than there's a lot of other cool stuff that other devices don't have, BUT.. ZUnes and stuff are better for the actual music and system... just not apps and cameras ad easy access to everything.

Only way to explain it is: it's APPLE. Just like MACs, they're GREAT, but they are overrated and SUCK.:p

[kibakiba]

You sound just like my boyfriend. He hates apple. I don't care, though. He can turn the camera on and bring me around the house. It's nice to watch tv with his family, even when I'm 2000 miles away.

[RedSidedSPR]

Technology. Weird.

[RedSidedSPR]

Ya know, I don't always hate Apple devices, i just hate Apple.

And google.

[kibakiba]

Snap is fully opaque now. She didn't appreciate the warm hand touching her just now, she did a close mouthed strike at me. I guess she was just as agitated as I was yesterday... Hah.

[katach]

At least it was closed mouth. :D

[RedSidedSPR]

Looks like she was kinda opaque in the avatar photo.

[kibakiba]

Yeah, she was going opaque. She is a really mean little snake when she's in shed. Even if she was a sweetheart an hour before, you do not want to even go near the tank. She'll attack the glass. It's hard when Snakey is in there, too... Since he's constantly getting love and treats. ;)

[RedSidedSPR]

Sounds evil.

[kibakiba]

Yeah. She is. I know deep down that she appreciates the treats i give her when she's good, though. Most spoiled snake in the dang world.