freaked out?

[Trollbie]

I just went to give Penelope a mouse. She was cruising around her cage, which normally means she's not going to get startled. I had to move some things around to put the plate with the mouse in, so she knew I was in there and came to smell me. But the I accidentally touched her (gently) and she freaked out. I've never seen her freak out like that. Ever. I don't understand why she got so startled. She was even ready to musk which is very unlikely of her.

I thought maybe my roommate tried to hold her while i was gone and didn't properly handle her, but she hasn't responded to my text yet so I'm not sure.

Any ideas why she'd freak out like that? I'm worried she won't eat now :(

[alessia55]

She got startled... it's really no big deal. Just offer her the rat, she'll be fine...

[Trollbie]

But she knew I was there and smelled my hand. She gets a little startled if she's buried and I touch her, but nothing like this. I took her out and she calmed down immediately, but damn!

[alessia55]

But she knew I was there and smelled my hand. She gets a little startled if she's buried and I touch her, but nothing like this. I took her out and she calmed down immediately, but damn!

Yeah, who knows. It's really no big deal and no reason for you to worry. Just feed her lol. Pretend like nothing's happened. She's already forgotten about it.

[Trollbie]

Yeah, who knows. It's really no big deal and no reason for you to worry. Just feed her lol. Pretend like nothing's happened. She's already forgotten about it.

The mouse is in there... She hasn't showed interest yet. She didn't eat last week, so I hope she eats today.

[CK SandBoas]

Milk Snakes are normally very flighty, nervous snakes to begin with, so even the slightest abnormal movement or sound can startle them. My Grey Banded King is the same, i accidentally dropped his mouse on him by mistake, and i swear he jumped 4 feet:)

[Trollbie]

Milk Snakes are normally very flighty, nervous snakes to begin with, so even the slightest abnormal movement or sound can startle them. My Grey Banded King is the same, i accidentally dropped his mouse on him by mistake, and i swear he jumped 4 feet:)

I know they're like that. This was just so unlike her that it made me wonder. I'm gonna be pissed if I find out that my roommate and her friends tried to hold her without me being there...

[Trollbie]

Well, she's cuddling with mouse now -_-

[alessia55]

Well, she's cuddling with mouse now -_-

Cover her enclosure so that it's dark in there and leave it with her overnight. She might change her mind later.

[Trollbie]

Cover her enclosure so that it's dark in there and leave it with her overnight. She might change her mind later.

She's already in a dark corner. She may be eating now. But she could also just be laying her head on the mouse. I can't tell lol

[Lankyrob]

Just because she sniffed your hand doesnt mean that she was expecting to be touched on her body. Most of my snakes "react" to being touched in order to be handled even tho they are fully aware of my presence.

[mykee]

Trollbie, freaked out?! Who woulda though it.
You worry too much about nothing.
You're gonna stress yourself to an early grave.
RELAX!!!!!

[Trollbie]

Trollbie, freaked out?! Who woulda though it.
You worry too much about nothing.
You're gonna stress yourself to an early grave.
RELAX!!!!!

It didn't worry me or stress me out. It was just unusual for her so I wanted to figure out why.

[Gungirl]

You really do need to stop over analyzing every little thing.

[Trollbie]

I'd rather be safe than sorry.

But never mind. I'll just stop posting threads when I'm concerned.

[mykee]

Despite the hint of sarcasm in your last post, that might be best.

[Aaron_S]

I'd rather be safe than sorry.

But never mind. I'll just stop posting threads when I'm concerned.

If you're really concerned and think you need someone to assure you that it's fine just PM a few people that you talk to on here. Not everything needs a thread is all we're trying to say.

When something is truely out of whack you'll notice it.

[Trollbie]

If you're really concerned and think you need someone to assure you that it's fine just PM a few people that you talk to on here. Not everything needs a thread is all we're trying to say.

When something is truely out of whack you'll notice it.

Yeah, I realize now that asking a few people privately is the better way to get answers without annoying other members. But I'm still new to snake keeping, so I'm still learning some of the basics.

Before I had snakes, I had hermit crabs and fish (I still have my fish), so I'm used to questioning anything out of the ordinary because it usually means that something is wrong.

[Trollbie]

Despite the hint of sarcasm in your last post, that might be best.

No sarcasm. Just a realization that I have connected with enough experienced people to get answers from without posting obnoxious threads.

[Lankyrob]

Yeah, I realize now that asking a few people privately is the better way to get answers without annoying other members. But I'm still new to snake keeping, so I'm still learning some of the basics.

Before I had snakes, I had hermit crabs and fish (I still have my fish), so I'm used to questioning anything out of the ordinary because it usually means that something is wrong.

Part of the issue with this part of the statement is that because you are relatively new to the hobby (as i am) is that you havent had enough time with them to know what is "the ordinary". I have had my 7 for 2 years now and they still surprise me on a regular basis but over time you learn what things are just "different" and what things are to be concerned about.:)

[alessia55]

Yeah, I realize now that asking a few people privately is the better way to get answers without annoying other members. But I'm still new to snake keeping, so I'm still learning some of the basics.

Before I had snakes, I had hermit crabs and fish (I still have my fish), so I'm used to questioning anything out of the ordinary because it usually means that something is wrong.
You can always PM me or facebook me. :)

[Trollbie]

You can always PM me or facebook me. :)

Thank you :)

[exwizard]

Yeah, I realize now that asking a few people privately is the better way to get answers without annoying other members. But I'm still new to snake keeping, so I'm still learning some of the basics.

Before I had snakes, I had hermit crabs and fish (I still have my fish), so I'm used to questioning anything out of the ordinary because it usually means that something is wrong.
I am also willing to answer any questions you have for me in PM. Im sorry you had this type of reaction from certain other members.

[mykee]

I posted not to deter her from posting, but to deter her from worrying about nothing CAUSING her to post.

[exwizard]

its ok Mykee. We all understand. :)

[Aaron_S]

I get the whole fish thing. My daughter has an aquarium that I do all the work for. She likes looking at pretty fish and man o man there's so many things that can go wrong in an instant.

With snakes, and the snakes you own, they are pretty hardy so you shouldn't have to wonder too often. Always keep an eye on things and see if it happens again. If not then it was nothing.

[KORBIN5895]

Okay. I seriously just chocked at the thought of Aaron reproducing and having children!

[Trollbie]

I am also willing to answer any questions you have for me in PM. Im sorry you had this type of reaction from certain other members.

Thank you :)

I posted not to deter her from posting, but to deter her from worrying about nothing CAUSING her to post.

Well there's gonna be times when I worry. And like I said, I'd rather be safe than sorry. So rather than being told that I worry too much, I'd rather ask the people who will actually answer my questions. I don't want there to be a time when something is really wrong, but I just blow it off because people kept telling me I'm a worry wart. I'm going to get the hang of it eventually, but I can't possibly know everything after only 2 months of having snakes.

I get the whole fish thing. My daughter has an aquarium that I do all the work for. She likes looking at pretty fish and man o man there's so many things that can go wrong in an instant.

With snakes, and the snakes you own, they are pretty hardy so you shouldn't have to wonder too often. Always keep an eye on things and see if it happens again. If not then it was nothing.

I don't really worry about my Milk anymore. I just want to understand better why she does the things she does. Zeus being a baby, and having more specific needs, I'm going to be concerned if something doesn't seem right. But the best way for me to learn is to ask questions and hear multiple answers which is unfortunately obnoxious to some people.

I just want the best for my animals. If it means that I'm going to worry until I get the hang of it, then so be it. But at least I know that I'm doing the best I can for them.

[KORBIN5895]

Your snake could have thought the mouse attacked it. I have been thinking you were lucky you didn't get tagged in that situation.

[Trollbie]

Your snake could have thought the mouse attacked it. I have been thinking you were lucky you didn't get tagged in that situation.

The mouse wasn't even in the picture at that point.

[KORBIN5895]

I just went to give Penelope a mouse. She was cruising around her cage, which normally means she's not going to get startled. I had to move some things around to put the plate with the mouse in, so she knew I was in there and came to smell me. But the I accidentally touched her (gently) and she freaked out. I've never seen her freak out like that. Ever. I don't understand why she got so startled. She was even ready to musk which is very unlikely of her.

I thought maybe my roommate tried to hold her while i was gone and didn't properly handle her, but she hasn't responded to my text yet so I'm not sure.

Any ideas why she'd freak out like that? I'm worried she won't eat now :(

The way I read it is you had the mouse with you and were trying to make room in the tank. So she could have smelled the mouse and it could have been on your hands. It was just how I read it.

[Trollbie]

The way I read it is you had the mouse with you and were trying to make room in the tank. So she could have smelled the mouse and it could have been on your hands. It was just how I read it.

I meant that I was getting ready to. But I use the top of her repti shelter as a plate, so I had to move things around a bit first to fit it.

[KORBIN5895]

Okay. I understand now.

[jaleely]

OH fuss fuss. It's an open forum. Post what you want. You can't please everyone and if they don't like it, they don't have to click. I know i click on a lot of threads, and don't respond, and i purposely don't click on others...it's no big deal...or it shouldn't be anyway.

You go ahead and post (or PM if you want :) what you want until you feel comfortable. Even if you get a bunch of fussy replies, you may get one that helps you understand the snake's behavior, or may even alert you to an issue you didn't know was there...that wouldn't have come up if there hadn't been a conversation...or it just may be nothing and you will get piece of mind.

I really don't know why people get so settled in that it becomes a big deal when they see a post they don't think is necessary. If you really think that...then don't click it, or don't respond. Just let people talk and enjoy themselves online.
I don't know how many times i have personally felt embarrassed after a post, when i realized that people didn't like it, or thought it was pointless. There's no real need to make anyone feel that way.
I'm ranting, but it's just like the "derailed thread" argument. If you don't like it, start another thread on it...if you're mad someone "hijacked" your thread, then just respond like a normal person and ask the question again to get back on track...no need to get offended or fussy.

I'm not throwing this out there at any one in particular btw. No one in mind, just in in-general throwing of hands in the air at something i notice that happens a lot here, as well as other places.

[Trollbie]

OH fuss fuss. It's an open forum. Post what you want. You can't please everyone and if they don't like it, they don't have to click. I know i click on a lot of threads, and don't respond, and i purposely don't click on others...it's no big deal...or it shouldn't be anyway.

You go ahead and post (or PM if you want :) what you want until you feel comfortable. Even if you get a bunch of fussy replies, you may get one that helps you understand the snake's behavior, or may even alert you to an issue you didn't know was there...that wouldn't have come up if there hadn't been a conversation...or it just may be nothing and you will get piece of mind.

I really don't know why people get so settled in that it becomes a big deal when they see a post they don't think is necessary. If you really think that...then don't click it, or don't respond. Just let people talk and enjoy themselves online.
I don't know how many times i have personally felt embarrassed after a post, when i realized that people didn't like it, or thought it was pointless. There's no real need to make anyone feel that way.
I'm ranting, but it's just like the "derailed thread" argument. If you don't like it, start another thread on it...if you're mad someone "hijacked" your thread, then just respond like a normal person and ask the question again to get back on track...no need to get offended or fussy.

I'm not throwing this out there at any one in particular btw. No one in mind, just in in-general throwing of hands in the air at something i notice that happens a lot here, as well as other places.

Thank you!!!!
I feel the same way. I almost feel stupid for trying to learn... All I want is to understand my snakeys as much as one possibly can. I can't become an expert overnight.

[jaleely]

Oh we all just get protective, or settled in on our websites. It's sometimes hard to have patience, or remember we're all new at something at some point. I am still learning as well. You can't grow unless you ask questions and learn. : )

[Aaron_S]

Thank you!!!!
I feel the same way. I almost feel stupid for trying to learn... All I want is to understand my snakeys as much as one possibly can. I can't become an expert overnight.

We know this. We all were there. We just believe keep observing your snakes and you'll learn. We're just saying there's no need to rush to us when something like the original post happens.I believe if it happens more than once then worry, otherwise eh. The snake is fine. You're still really new so you just don't see "normal" snake behaviour yet.