If snakes could smile

[Jim Smith]

I'm not posting this to generate any contentious discussions on tubs Vs cages, but rather a simple observation on my part. I keep my Honduran Milk Snakes in 36x23x14 PVC enclosures with SaniChips bedding, hides, etc., and an under-tank heat pad on a thermostat. A little over a week ago, I decided to do a complete cage cleaning on one of my adult hondos and treat for mites as a precaution because I had mites on two snakes in that same stack of cages. (I think I've finally wiped those little critters out, but man are they persistent) Anyway, I moved my girl to a large tub with newspaper bedding, water and a hide. I washed her enclosure down with a bleach/water solution and sprayed it down with a solution of Nix and water. I kept her in the tub for one week to ensure that any mites and their eggs were killed. During that week, she spent 90% of her time in her water bowl and refused to even consider eating even though it was several days past her scheduled feeding. Yesterday, I set her cage back up and move her back in, and she's acting like a completely different animal. If she could, I believe she would have smiled at me;) She took about an hour exploring her "new" home - I know that this is normal behavior and I think they are mainly checking it out for escape routes. She then slipped in to her hide with her head poking out watching what was going on. This morning, I offered her a jumbo-sized mouse and she gobbled it right up. Even if snakes had emotions (other than fear), it's impossible to tell what they are, but from my perspective, she is much "happier" in a cage with bedding and interesting things to explore than she was in the tub where she sort of just existed. Again, this is just my observations and I am in no way trying to start a big discussion on the merits of either type enclosure.

[EL Ziggy]

I'm glad she's back in her "happy place" Jim. :)

[jjhill001]

I'm going to post two replies to this with both trains of thought on this.

1. Well, its just simple that the stress of the move is what caused your milk snake (shy species anyways) to not want to eat. The snake could have been in the water because it's possible that some mites got to it, or its maybe a bit closer to a shed than you thought. Snakes don't care about anything as long as they are kept at the appropriate temperature, humidity and hiding requirements are met. They are plenty happy chilling in a little tub because it's snug and secure.

2. All animals regardless of emotion level respond to their environment. This is a good thing. A reptile is no different. Having fake plants to crawl through, dirt to bury in or a stick to climb on gives an animal something in its environment to interact with and explore. A snake takes advantage of this in the same way that a chameleon will interact with branches in its cage and in the way a hamster will crawl through a tube. It's good for any animal to experience some kind of enrichment within their environment. Just because they don't play doesn't mean that it's not good for them to have something to do.

[daisymaisy]

my milk loves his tunnels he creates in the aspen bedding. I'm glad yours is comfy back in her home!