Twitching/Flinching?

[RedSidedSPR]

Not to worried, but I've never seen my snakes do this...

My concinnus (in shed) is sleeping out in the open as usal so I can see him. He keeps waking up with either a really jumpy flinch, reminds me of my dog dreaming... But he just now started twitching for a few seconds... Like his head started hurting ya know? Kinda twisted his head like we would if one side of our head starting buzzing...

Any ideas? Is he dreaming?:p

[guidofatherof5]

Could just be related to the shedding process.
I'm sure you'll keep an eye on it.
Keep us posted.

[RedSidedSPR]

That's what I had in mind when i mentioned that. Hopefully it's just that.

I will and I will.

[RedSidedSPR]

Just did it again. (after shed) just as he finished curling up under the lamp, he flinched like when you startle him. (wasn't startled though.)

He ate two hours ago, and seems perfectly normal oter than that. Obviously not shed related.

Makes me wonder... Can snakes dream?:D cause I swear it's just like my dog dreaming...

[guidofatherof5]

I have no proof either way but I think they have the mental capacity to do so.
I think garter snakes are much smarter then they are given credit for.

[RedSidedSPR]

I do NOT doubt that. They are smart. It's always when he's sleeping so...

Has anyone seen this in thier snakes? Anything else it could be?

[guidofatherof5]

I've never seen that kind of behavior in any of my snakes.

[RedSidedSPR]

Not sure if that's good or bad.

[kibakiba]

Mama did that when she was sleeping in my hand. That was one of the reasons I was so worried about her.

[d_virginiana]

Never seen mine do it, but if it's only when he's asleep, you might have a nightmare-prone snake :D

[RedSidedSPR]

I hope that's all it is.

[katach]

Willow twitched a little, head to left when she was gravid. She only did it once and started the shedding process shortly after.

[GarField000]

Could it be vitamine B problem? Does he eat much fish with thiamine?
Keep an eye on him and see if it gets worse.

[infernalis]

Nervous "tick" (nerve jumpy) ???

[BLUESIRTALIS]

I think it's just a nervous tick like wayne said but it could never hurt to give him a few extra vitamins to be safe. I think he will be just fine though. Keep us posted on how he does.

[Ryachanira]

Silv twitches a lot. But then again, he has extensive brain damage. So... not really sure how to apply that to a normal snake.. :)

[RedSidedSPR]

Kat - I doubt my baby male is gravid.:D

Wayne what do you mean nervous tick? Are you saying he's a nervous/jumpy snake? Cause he is NOT I swear you'll never meet a calmer snake.

He's never touched thiamin fish....

BLUE, What vitamins should I give him?

[Kantar]

my albino checkered I think has nightmares. In the middle of the night I'll get woken up by loud skittering, sounds like a snake in dry grass. I have a nightlight on all of my tanks and I saw blizzard racing around the tank frantically for about 20 seconds, then she calms down and hides. It happens maybe once a week.

This snake before she became into my posession was a rack snake, had an enclosure that was 12" x 6" x 3". Maybe she has nightmares about being in closed spaces? she is in a large 20g aquarium that she can see out of with a couple buddies now

[RedSidedSPR]

Huh...

[katach]

Kat - I doubt my baby male is gtavid :D

Haha I guess it could be taken that way too. I was just saying that my snake did the twitchy thing too, but she went into shed right after. I guesses I could have left the gravid part out. :D

[BLUESIRTALIS]

I use Zoo Med Reptivite every other feeding but some of the other members use other types. I have always had good luck with it.

[katach]

We have reptical, but since we feed pinkies we don't really use it. We used to before we got them switched over though. Just dipped part of the worm they weren't biting in it. They don't seem to like they "flavor" so we had to trick them.

[RedSidedSPR]

I knew what you meant I just had to say that.:rolleyes:

For vitamins I have the third one In this link. Never used it though.Rep-Cal Supplements (http://www.repcal.com/supp.htm)

Someone gave me this a year ago, never used it either.Healthcare for Reptiles: Fluker's Reptile Vitamins at Drs. Foster and Smith (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=18478)

Will one of those work?

[katach]

From what the vet told us is to use it like shake and bake, but that seemed like way too much and the snakes wouldn't eat the worm when it was completely covered in the stuff. I've never heard of Fluker's though.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Well i have never used either of the two but i think the Rep-cal might be mostly or all calcium. I would get something that is more complete and has thiamine in it. I will have to look up the second one and see whats in it.

[katach]

Reptical has b1 in it along with a bunch of other vitamins and minerals.

[RedSidedSPR]

I'll look up both of those.

Btw the Flukers I showed has something with thiamin, and it has B-12???

[Kantar]

I use reptical sometimes. I don't use it when feeding pinkies, but nightcrawlers I'll sprinkle a little bit on it.

When I first got the stuff I coated it on a worm. When Spot struck at it he got a mouthful of powder and he just stared at me with his mouth wide open. I ended up rinsing the worm off so he could eat it.

[RedSidedSPR]

Yeah I like the idea of liquid spray.

BLUE, is this yours? ReptiVite (http://www.zoomed.com/db/products/EntryDetail.php?EntryID=3&DatabaseID=2&SearchID=1&SearchContext=YTo1OntzOjQ6IlBhZ2UiO3M6MToiMCI7czo4 OiJTZWFyY2hJRCI7czoxOiIxIjtzOjEwOiJEYXRhYmFzZUlEIj tzOjE6IjIiO3M6NzoiSGVhZGluZyI7czo5OiJUZXJyYXJpdW0i O3M6MTU6IlByb2R1Y3RDYXRlZ29yeSI7czoyMDoiVml0YW1pbn MvU3VwcGxlbWVudHMiO30=)

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Yeah that is what i use. There may be some better stuff on the market but since my snakes diet is varried and they get rodents too it works just fine.

[RedSidedSPR]

Does it have the vitimans id need? Thiamine etc?

[RedSidedSPR]

Haven't done the vitamins yet, but I haven't seen him do it lately. Good sign I guess.

[Plissken]

i just got home late tonivht and saw one of my babies doing the same head movement thing. i was really worried at first as she/he was the only snake out. then i realized she was asleep, after picking her up she returned to normal and slithered into the hide. if i had to bet, i would put money on snakes having dreams.

[katach]

I think so too. Willow has done that before, she looked like she was shaking her head no. She was asleep, and like you said once picked up she stopped. I think their mental capacity is underestimated. They are a constant source of wonder for me and my family.

[guidofatherof5]

For being the most studied snake in the world, there is so much we still don't know about these wonderful animals.
I believe they are more intelligent then they are given credit for.
I'm just glad that my mother put one in my hand 48 years ago. Thanks Mom.

[kibakiba]

I have always believed that they are smarter than people make them out to be. I don't see how someone can just look at a garter and say "it doesn't have feelings, it doesn't understand this, it's a breeding and eating machine and nothing more."

[RedSidedSPR]

They are also apperantly smarter then a lot of other snakes