Marnie's Snakes

[kueluck]

Could Sadie see you as a threat to Cee Cee? Is she just trying to protect her territory and roomy? This is just a shot in the dark.

[EasternGirl]

I have no idea but I would think that she would have done it before then...this is the first time this ever happened. Just the day before I was holding her and she was fine. And she didn't react when I went near Cee Cee...just when I tried to touch her. Now, Cee Cee is very protective. She will come over to my hand and check on things if I go near Sadie and she used to do the same thing when Seeley was in with her. Sadie has been more out and about today which is good...because as I mentioned to Steve on the phone yesterday she has been hiding a lot and not as active as I would like. But she is eating, pooping, drinking, and tongue flicking. If she continues to act oddly though, I will take her to the vet.

[EasternGirl]

Productive day...my son's team won their swim meet...which we had to be there at 8am. Cleaned the guinea pig cage..and fed all the snakies. Little Zeus is getting ready to shed again...and he refused food this time. I think I figured out what Sadie's problem might have been the other day...sometimes when I feed Cee Cee and Sadie both...although never together...they will get confused by the reflection on the scenery paper on the back wall of the tank...you can see in it almost like a mirror...and when I reach in with the food on the hemostats...they will start looking for it on the back wall. I often tap them gently on the back with the stats to let them know where the food is...and Sadie will swing around and chomp! So I think that now sometimes when I reach in and touch her...she swings around to chomp out of a learned feeding response...and bites at me even when there is no food. See...brains as well as personality! Lol....

[EasternGirl]

Just had one of those funny "scared the crap out of me" snake owner moments. I went to check on the babies and I know little Zeus is getting ready to shed so I knew I wouldn't see him out and about...but then when I started moving the substrate around and picking up hides...I couldn't find him anywhere. My son and I tore the enclosure completely apart...and of course, he was lying very still along side his water dish...trying not to be found. He is fine and after I put everything back together...he went right back to hide. Little stinker! Scared me to death.

[guidofatherof5]

They know exactly what they are doing.

[EasternGirl]

I know...they love to keep us on our toes. Steve did you read my post above about my theory on why Sadie has been acting the way she has?

[guidofatherof5]

I know...they love to keep us on our toes. Steve did you read my post above about my theory on why Sadie has been acting the way she has?

Yes I did. Sounds like a good hypothesis.
Shouldn't be too hard to prove out.

[EasternGirl]

Maybe I should find a different way to feed her. I was feeding her by hand while holding her before...but then I used the hemostats a couple of times just because I have a lot of snakes to feed at once and it is a lot to move everyone around to feed tanks, supervise the babies while they eat, and then take Sadie out and feed her. Perhaps I should try putting her in a feed tank and putting her food on a dish and reserve feeding her by hand for little treats now and then when I am holding her. What do you think?

[guidofatherof5]

She's never been container fed. She's always been group fed.
I think all you can do is try some different thing to see what works.

[EasternGirl]

Well...she was living on her own for a while...and I do separate her from Cee Cee when I feed her. I have actually been moving Cee Cee into another tank so that Sadie will not get stressed by moving...but the same tank I use for feeding Cee Cee...I have also moved Sadie into for swim time. I just don't like the idea of feeding her in her tank with all the aspen. I don't use containers for feeding...I use an extra 20 gallon that I have....large critter keepers for the smaller snakes. I will try some ideas I have and keep you posted.