What is wrong with my snake?

Question

Im not sure what type it is as we are looking after it for my school. It is brown with darker brown sripes runing down the length of its body, and is a constrictor. We feed it every two weeks with adult mice and water it when nessesary.

whats wrong is that it is jumpy and has bit me lately as i went to touch him, everytime i go to the cage i tap on the glass so not to startle it as i put my hand in, i did this and put my hand in and he bit me. Now whenever i go near the cage he is jumpy and follows my every move, he also tried to bite me today but the glass was between us.

I realy need to know whats wrong because until he lets us touch him we cannot clean his cage out.

his head is a large arrow shape and the snake is about 3 foot long and is skinny about 2 inches thick, i have had it for about 4 weeks now and he hasnt been handled very much (about once every 3 days) and it was fed on 3 days ago.

It is definatly not a python

It is definatly not a python, has simular pattern to this: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Elaphe_bairdi.jpg/200px-Elaphe_bairdi.jpg

We have identified it as being a texas rat snake. So can you tell us what wrong?

this is what it looks like.

this is what it looks likehttp://www.stetson.edu/~pmay/herps/elaobsgr%201.jpg.

Answer 1

DO NOT TAP ON THE GLASS and FEED IT EVERY WEEK. 2 weeks is a little too long to wait, and especially 3 to 4 weeks, like someone here suggested, that is too long. it is true that they can wait a while before eating, but it isnt healthy. and if you do not have a python, and it doesnt sound like a boa to me, then you do not have a constrictor. you need to take the snake out of the cage when you feed it. this will help the snake not associate your hand with food in it. i would either use a glove when you take it out to feed it, and while you are feeding it, clean the cage, or i would buy a snake hook, although, unless you know how to use one, it is hard with smaller snakes.


as for the seperate feeding container, you could use anything, like a shoebox size tupperware container, or a cardboard box.


i would take the snake to a pet store and ask someone in person what kind of snake it is. and i would also feed it about 1 or 2 adult mice a week. this will show that the snake becomes less jumpy, and will not bite you as much.

goodluck, and do not listen to bad advice from people who know nothing about snakes on this site.

Answer 2

There are many things that contribute to moodyness in snakes. Females tend to be alot worse than males. It may be that the rats you are feeding it are not as big as the ones the owner were feeding it, Therefore the snake will be hungry and jumpy. Also it is quite possible that it is breeding season as snakes tend to get grumpy when looking for a mate. It may also be that the snake is in unfamiliar surroundings and this is stressing it. You just need to be persistent. Try to handle the snake for at least half an hour every day. If you are worried about being bitten put on a pair of thick gardening gloves as most snakes can not penetrate through these.

Answer 3

It might be about to shed. My snake gets REALLY pissy up to a week before he's to shed. The skin will be a little darker and the eyes will turn a cloudy blue (eyes will turn back to normal right before the shed) They are so aggressive during sheds because the thin layer of skin over their eyes comes off too; and when they're preparing to shed their sight is impaired by this loosening skin. They're senses are blurred.

Don't try to handle or even touch the snake at this time. The only thing I do is change my ball's water and mist the cage. Keep the snake nice and moist, as this helps with the shedding process. Also, there should be a bowl of water big enough for the snake to sumberge in completely at ALL TIMES. That way it can get a drink or cool off whenever it pleases (the second is especially impt, as a reptile's body can't regulate its own temp---even more so when it's about to shed)

Good luck!

Answer 4

Tapping the glass sends a vibration in the enviornment that actually can scare the snake.

First off, get a hook to pull him out, don't just do it by hand. Try not to use anything that could harm the snake, like the hooked end of a coat hanger.

Also, feed your snake, then don't touch it after you feed it. Let it rest for a few days.

Make a change to the snakes enviornment when you feed it. For example: If you have a big piece of Tree Bark in there, remove it. Try to make it resemble a different feeding ground.

Finally, do not feed it or maintain it's cage with a bunch of screaming and excited kids nearby. The kids could agitate the snake, which would also help to explain it's behavior.

Answer 5

Ok, well it would help alot depending on whate snake it is, but with out that information this is the best answer i can think of. Use garden gloves and reach into his tank one last time, keep dropping you're hand until he decides to strike. That may not seem smart but i once owned a ball python who i thought was going to strike untill i fully reached in, the whole time the little guy was nervous pulling his head back, not going to strike. If that doesnt work then once again use the garden gloves and reach into the cage just grab him (not forcefully) and take him out and socalize with him, play and let him gain trust after that it wouldnt hurt to feed him, well i hope this Helps!

Answer 6

I don't know exactly what is wrong with your snake, but if his eyes are cloudy then he is in "blue" which means he is about to shed his skin. The eyes look cloudy because the scale that covers the eye has pulled away, and this does make the snake jumpy because he cannot see very well. Also, they do not eat while they are in "blue". I learned this when I used to be a zookeeper and worked in the aquarium. I hope this helps you.

Answer 7

Sounds like he is stressed out for some reason.. Could be too many people touching the snake if he is from your school. Just start using gloves when you hold him. Also make sure you wash your hands before and after touching the snake.

Answer 8

It sounds like you have a Ball Python or a Burmese Python. If it is large enough to be eating adult mice, you shouldn't be feeding it every two weeks. Give it 1-3 mice every three to four weeks. Make sure it has a heating rock to aid it's digestion. Don't tap on the glass.

You need to get him used to being held. You can get some gardening gloves that are thick enough that his bites won't hurt. Pull him out, clean the cage, and start holding him ever few days.

Don't hold him for a few days after he eats.

Answer 9

quite often by using fact they are no longer knowledgeable sufficient approximately them. If a snake bites or constricts you, that's %ninety 9 of the time something you probably did incorrect. they do no longer understand that and that they watch to many video clips that supply them a bad popularity.

Answer 10

Try washing your hands first. You may have a scent on them that startles it.

Also, you may want to move its cage to another location or cover it to see if the stress goes down. You did not say what type you have, but unless they have a reason to feel threatened, normally they'll take handling well.