Interesting change in behavior

[d_virginiana]

When I renovated Houdini's enclosure for the summer I was hoping to see some sort of change in his activity levels, and I'm very excited that even after just a week or two I have noticed big changes in his behavior!
His previous enclosure had nothing really in it, and he spent a lot of his time just curled up in a corner. Also, even though he was handled fairly often, he was typically very jumpy.
Now he is usually in a different place every time I walk into the room, so I can tell he's being a lot more active than previously. Also, this is more likely to be a result of him being handled a lot more since I've been home than the change of scenery, but he's much calmer now. In fact, recently, he's been content to just lay draped over my shoulders or in my lap for a while as I'm doing work, reading, or whatever. He even drank water while I was holding him the other day, which he's never done before.

I know these things are probably typical, but the change has just been very noticeable and I thought it'd be interesting to share.

[guidofatherof5]

All good signs.
Glad you shared them.

[kibakiba]

Well, that's how my Big Mama was before she gave birth. Changes in the enclosure could actually make him feel more secure with you, alone with the handling. When I got Snakey I held him for 3 hours a day, every day with no fail... Of course, back then I didn't know overhandling could be bad for him. He trusted me quite a lot, he'd drink water out of my hands or if I had a dish of water while I was holding him, he'd slither off my head and down my arm to get to the water. He even trusted me enough to court my fingers!

This was before Mama, he was the only snake I ever handled, so I had no female scent on me. Well, other than my own scent

After Mama he got high strung and never stops moving. Even if you try holding him still, he'll wiggle around until he can move to where he wants to explore.
He's always "sniffing" around, it startles people when they hold him, because the forks on his tongue are so long that it always touches you when he sticks it out. It's really tickly.

[ConcinusMan]

Butters (albino checkered) is very calm and relaxed in my hand or in her enclosure (which has quite a bit of cover and "clutter") but if you get her in the open, such as on the floor, she gets very jumpy and completely freaks out, frantically looking for a place to hide. Most snakes do not like to feel exposed all out in the open. It's instinctive, for obvious reasons.

[RedSidedSPR]

That's how mine changed when i did the same thing, I think it just makes them feel more secure.

[Sonya610]

His new enclosure looks great. Is that the 10 gal you mentioned?

If he is a lot happier with the new decorations in the 10 gal you should keep your eyes peeled for a good deal on a larger tank, craigs list, thrift stores, you could pick one up super cheap.

I am just guessing here but my little guys use every inch of their enclosure for hours at a time (even after eating) and I have to wonder if it stimulates their natural "hunting" instinct with more shrubbery and stuff to check out.

[d_virginiana]

There's been another development; Houdini's recent good moods are converting others into snake lovers. My fiance is normally somewhat scared of snakes, but since Houdini's been being a lot calmer lately he will actually get him out and hold him on his own. He's even started talking about wanting to get him a friend

His new enclosure looks great. Is that the 10 gal you mentioned?

If he is a lot happier with the new decorations in the 10 gal you should keep your eyes peeled for a good deal on a larger tank, craigs list, thrift stores, you could pick one up super cheap.

I am just guessing here but my little guys use every inch of their enclosure for hours at a time (even after eating) and I have to wonder if it stimulates their natural "hunting" instinct with more shrubbery and stuff to check out.

Nah, this one's a 25 gallon. We got it at a really good price from a friend He seems to like the fake ivy hanging down off the side the best. It's a way for him to be out in the open without feeling too exposed. I wonder if maybe the texture difference between the bedding and hide and fake plants makes him more active because it's more like he's actually changing locations or something?

[ConcinusMan]

I've been saying it all along. It's all in how you landscape your setup and how you provide light/heat/micro climate zones. It can make a big difference in how your snake behaves, eats, and grows. They can act all scardy cat and shy, hiding all the time, or if the setup is done right, they can act like a normal garter snake and be active and curious as they should be. More like how they would be if they were living outside. There's nothing more satisfying than watching a garter in captivity, going about it's business, perfectly content as if it weren't in captivity. Their captive home doesn't have to be a cage, if you know what I mean.

[Sonya610]

I wonder if maybe the texture difference between the bedding and hide and fake plants makes him more active because it's more like he's actually changing locations or something?

I think it is twofold. Think about it, these guys are naturally wired to hunt and scavange around, even if they aren't hungry their natural hobby/activity would be to bebop around looking for either sex or tasty treats.

Imagine you are them, and somebody puts you in a cage that is really a big flat empty football field surrounded by a super tall fence. You can see EVERYTHING in your world at a glance and you darn well know there are no hidden snacks, or cute sexy partners lurking around in that big empty field. Why bother wandering about or investigating? What is there to look for? Plus if you wander around in a big open field your chances of getting eaten by a predator go way up.

Maybe some people like sparse cages so they can "see their animal more" but like Richard said it seems to be the opposite. The more stuff there is for them to hide in and poke through the more likely they are to WANT to be out and about exploring. Throw another dollar store plant in there and see what happens, he probably loves the changes! Mine could easily hid all day in the wood/plants, instead they spend hours exploring each plant, and each inch of the enclosure, plus lots of time staring out the glass waiting for a treat.

[ConcinusMan]

Mine could easily hid all day in the wood/plants, instead they spend hours exploring each plant, and each inch of the enclosure, plus lots of time staring out the glass waiting for a treat.

Or just hanging out with friends.