Noodle Does A Peek

[IKhaos]

http://i.imgur.com/JJLGX0K.jpg
The cutest little thing!!!

[Tsubaki]

Very cute haha! resizing the picture would be a lot friendlier for us mobile users though :D my phone took ages to load this.

[TRD]

You could ehh "put more vegetables in the noodle soup?" :D

Couple of branches and laying vegetation (some plastic stuff) and noodle would be very happy I think. Snakes don't like open spaces... you know, birds and stuff may just lift them up and swallow them whole.

[SerpentineDream]

Indeed. The more fake plants, branches and hiding places you put in there, the more you will see your snake. It sounds counter intuitive but TRD is right. Snakes--baby snakes especially--are keenly aware of how vulnerable they are out in the open. Even though she's safe inside her cage Noodle's instincts still tell her that she's got to stay close to cover. With a bunch of places to hide she'll feel safer venturing out, knowing that cover is only a few inches away if she needs it. A safe, stable climbing branch will give her an opportunity to exercise. Most corns enjoy the occasional climb. Bonus: Her cage will look spiffy too.

If you want to go whole hog like I do (not necessary) you can put up a background. You'd be amazed at the difference such a simple thing makes. Petbackdrops.com has tons of them for a reasonable price. You can have them do custom backdrops too. It's up for debate as to how much the snakes are aware of them. I try to stick with species-appropriate themes to be on the safe side i.e., jungle backdrops for tropical snakes. Regardless, they sure look great.

Let your imagination run wild. Noodle is absolutely adorable BTW. :)

Here's an example of a desert habitat I set up for my woma python, Ophelia. It looks complicated but it was super easy. Cling on desert background (it's Arizona red rock not Australian red rock, but I was counting on her not to know the difference :D ), couple of hides, couple of branches, 3 fake desert plants and a water dish. Boom. Done.

http://i1361.photobucket.com/albums/r669/Serpentine_Dream/Mobile%20Uploads/20160321_074810_zps7jqrbd5b.jpg (http://s1361.photobucket.com/user/Serpentine_Dream/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160321_074810_zps7jqrbd5b.jpg.html)

Checking out the view? Maybe, maybe not.

http://i1361.photobucket.com/albums/r669/Serpentine_Dream/Mobile%20Uploads/20160316_174728_001_01_zpsvoew7dnv.jpg (http://s1361.photobucket.com/user/Serpentine_Dream/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160316_174728_001_01_zpsvoew7dnv.jpg.html)

Her cool hide has a flat top that doubles as a resting platform and adds additional support to the climbing branches. BTW as a side note, if you ever see your snake in this S position you are about to get bitten. I call it the "S for Strike Stance."

http://i1361.photobucket.com/albums/r669/Serpentine_Dream/Mobile%20Uploads/20160316_172716_005_01_zpsjfva8f86.jpg (http://s1361.photobucket.com/user/Serpentine_Dream/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160316_172716_005_01_zpsjfva8f86.jpg.html)

And here's one I did for one of the corn snakes, Bridget. Not the best shot of the cage as the focus is on the snake but you get the general idea. It's a forest setup.

http://i1361.photobucket.com/albums/r669/Serpentine_Dream/Mobile%20Uploads/20160114_172913_zpsokm4tukt.jpg (http://s1361.photobucket.com/user/Serpentine_Dream/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160114_172913_zpsokm4tukt.jpg.html)

Another example but with Indian dwarf puffer fish instead of snakes. Snake terrariums and fish aquariums are not so very different with regard to setup and decoration.

http://i1361.photobucket.com/albums/r669/Serpentine_Dream/Mobile%20Uploads/20161225_001951_zpsl1ffrqcw.jpg (http://s1361.photobucket.com/user/Serpentine_Dream/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20161225_001951_zpsl1ffrqcw.jpg.html)

[Scubadiver59]

Check out your local arts & crafts stores for the fake plants. They have a variety of silk plants, plastic plants, and suction cups w/hooks for putting those vines up high so the can be draped over the hides, etc.

[REM955]

Sidenote: SerpentineDream, has Ophelia tamed down for you yet?

[SerpentineDream]

Sidenote: SerpentineDream, has Ophelia tamed down for you yet?

Heck no. She still thinks humans are tasty.

We live near Reptile Gardens in South Dakota and I spoke to the curator (Terry Phillip). He suggested a method for conditioning her not to bite. It sounds weird but he probably wouldn't have been entrusted with the care of the world's largest reptile collection for 20 years if he was a flake. So: if she tries to eat me while being handled just spritz her on the nose with a little bit of Windex. The ammonia smell will instantly repel her. As soon as she settles down, wipe her face so she isn't left wearing Windex. Supposedly if I do it enough times she'll learn that this is my "defense mechanism" and that I'm not worth the trouble to swallow. He says once they overcome that powerful feeding response womas are super gentle. Will give it a shot. So to speak.

Sorry OP. The lovely Miss Ophelia has been a source of entertainment and frustration for a while now. /hijack

[IKhaos]

lol you guys are completely fine i love hearing about other snakes as well! so i definitely dont mind the hijacking! and thank you all for commenting on the post though!

[dannybgoode]

@SD- there's no way I'd spray anything remotely chemical directly and intentionally at a snake never mind its face. Sounds like truly dreadful advice imo.

[Scubadiver59]

When I mist my tanks prior to the occupant shedding, they all duck for cover; so, I would think water would be enough

@SD- there's no way I'd spray anything remotely chemical directly and intentionally at a snake never mind its face. Sounds like truly dreadful advice imo.

[SerpentineDream]

@SD- there's no way I'd spray anything remotely chemical directly and intentionally at a snake never mind its face. Sounds like truly dreadful advice imo.

I'm going to ask the vet before I actually do it. Even if it's effective I won't use it if it isn't safe.

ETA: She is the most determined and hardheaded snake I've ever encountered once she decides you are food. She never gives up.

[dannybgoode]

I'm going to ask the vet before I actually do it. Even if it's effective I won't use it if it isn't safe.

ETA: She is the most determined and hardheaded snake I've ever encountered once she decides you are food. She never gives up.

Would you spray Windex in your own face or say that of a child or a dog / cat?

Vet advice, fellow herper advice or whatever, there is no reason on earth bar a proper attack by a snake that could do you real harm to spray chemicals in the face of a reptile even then I'd look to other options first.

To do it because a corn is a bit bitey is bordering on cruelty.

[SerpentineDream]

Oh no, she's not a corn. She's a woma python and once she latches onto you she will not let go. She does a fair bit of damage.

Vet said it was safe but I'm still looking at other options as the whole Windex thing skeeves me out a bit. If you have some ideas just PM me--I'm open to suggestions. :)

OP, how is Noodle coming along?

[IKhaos]

She's doing awesome! She lets me hold her and doesn't try to strike me at all a very well mannered snake and not too slippery at all!