We have had the snake for 2 weeks and we kept it in a box. Now we have a cage and since we put it in the cage he or she hisses everytime we touch her but before my son could hold her and it would wrap around his wrist and was really calm and also its eyes have turned blue I need help.
2007-06-12 14:15:51 · 14 answers · asked by ewortham29 1 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
Hissing is one of the bull snake's primary defenses, they try to appear as threatening as possible, even puffing themselves up a bit to seem even larger & more intimidating to scare off predators. It sounds like your snake is getting ready to shed it's skin ( the milky blue eyes are a sure sign). These, and all snakes, get very defensive during this process since their vision is reduced further by the clouded eyes and they can strike out when they feel a threat, real or imagined.
As to all the PETA wannabes, there's nothing wrong with taking a specimen from the wild as long as the snake isn't threatened or endangered and it's not against the law in your locale. Do your homework & make sure that you become familiar with all this snake's needs to properly maintain it in the safest & healthiest manner possible. If this seems like too large of a task, then release the snake back where it was found, but these snakes are a great creature to study & care for. Good luck.
2007-06-13 12:01:08 · answer #1 · answered by preacher55 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If its eyes are blue that means its sheding and is partially blind so it will be a little more aggresive. It is best not to handle it while it is sheding and make sure its has something it can soak in and keep humidity up. Also have something rough it can rub up against. Also snakes become a little more agresive in larger cages sometimes because they feel less secure. How big is the cage and how big is the snake?
2007-06-12 14:33:13 · answer #2 · answered by Florida Guy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In many places, it is illegal to keep a wild caught Bull Snake, they are protected native species.
Wild caught Bull snakes are also very hard to acclimate, and often end up dying. Let it go, or it is bound to be a very disappointing first reptile experience for your son. As long as you already have a cage, I would suggest buying a captive bred corn snake or something similar, and give that a go. They make great pets, are easily cared for, and are not illegal. : )
And the eyes turning blue means he is preparing to shed. He will be "in blue" for a couple days, then clear again, and then shed his skin.
2007-06-12 18:46:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The snake is shedding his skin. Make sure you have a limb from a tree in the cage. He will calm down after he's shed all of his skin, this may take up to a month. Depends on how long they are, how much of the limb they can utilize. I always had a bowl of water for my snakes to get into. After he's thru shedding you might need to feed him before your son starts handling him again. Make sure that you wash your hands before handling the snake, if your hands smell like food to the snake it will lash out. Is the cage glass? If so it may take it a while to get used to the movement in the house. When you took him out of the box it was happy to see daylight! I had one before, kept it 2 years then set it free. Still see it on occassions. I live out in the country with no neighbors for a mile. Depending on how big it is will depend on how often it needs to be fed. Good luck!
2007-06-12 18:40:31 · answer #4 · answered by Cassie0544 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My first response is to let the wild animal back into the wild.
But if you keep it, it sounds like she's shedding. She'll need something like a peice of rough wood to rub against to get her skin off. As someone else said, snakes get angry when they're in this lowered-defense state and will lash out. Be sure the humidity is high enough as well with shedding (actually, I'm not sure if the humidity part applies to snakes, but it does to lizards, but it couldn't hurt).
2007-06-12 14:28:04 · answer #5 · answered by the_rusty_machete 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you should let it go and buy one at a pet store. The one you caught might have an illness. It is better to let it go just to be safe. Even the snakes at a pet store might be a bit ill, but they are more safe than wild ones because they are used to being in a cage and around people.
2007-06-12 14:29:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
You need to set it free! Wild animals are not pets. They belong in nature, and it is cruel to keep them away from their home. Since you clearly didn't research it at all before doing this, the snake is going to end up dying from neglect, improper care, or depression. Think about it--how would you feel if someone ripped you away from your home and your family and tried to force you to adapt to a completely different lifestyle? By taking this snake out of the wild, you are disrupting the ecosystem and destroying the life of a helpless creature. Trust me, he will be FAR happier in the wild!!!
2007-06-12 14:26:37 · answer #7 · answered by Dr Fernando 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Release the poor creature immediately.
Snakes are not toys for the taking but wild animals that should be left alone.
IF you really need to satisfy your shortcomings by owning a snake go get a corn from the pet shop but please don't go capturing wild animals and then asking how to take care of them. How ignorant.
2007-06-12 20:17:30 · answer #8 · answered by Mimik 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Let it go. Snakes cant adapt like other animals to drastic changes like habitat relocation if there not bred captive.
2016-05-18 22:13:52 · answer #9 · answered by renate 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
anything that is wild is just that, unpredictable. overall it probably needs time to adapt but if you were outside in the fresh air and someone put you in a cage, how would you act? there are snakes breed in captivity to be pets, stop being so cheap and get one of those.
2007-06-12 14:22:21 · answer #10 · answered by nightsong 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋