Burmese Python always trying to get out?

DMR123 · 12-31-12, 11:22 AM

Hi,
I have a 8 month old Burmese Python...

He is always trying to get out of his vivarium, he has done this for a while, he is eating fine and is handled very regularly.

Does anyone know why he may be doing this? He is forever going up the side of the glass. I handle him a lot, but from the second he is back in the viv, he is trying to get back out.

There is a female corn snake in the vivarium below him. But the Corn isnt bothered at all. So I'm assuming this may be a reason?? However, as he eats perfectly I dont think its stress.

Can anyone tell me why this may be happening?

jarich · 12-31-12, 12:08 PM

What does your enclosure look like? If you do not have hides that he is comfortable with, often times the snake will continually search for somewhere it feels safer.

dinosaurdammit · 12-31-12, 12:39 PM

Ive seen it happen to a king snake once and it turned out it was too hot in the set up. Are your temps correct? If the hides arnt the problem maybe check your temps.

SpOoKy · 12-31-12, 01:10 PM

Also be sure to check your temps. if it is too warm in there he may be trying to cool off. What type of gauges are you using to measure temp and humidity? If it is the round ones you stick on the side they have been known to be off in their readings. A infrared temp gun is the best most reliable method.

SpOoKy · 12-31-12, 01:10 PM

Quote:

If the hides arnt the problem maybe check your temps.

Sorry I didn't see this until after I posted

shaunyboy · 12-31-12, 01:18 PM

i have carpets that do it during breeding season...

looking for mates

that said 8 month old may be a little young for this behavoir..

you would need to ask a burm keeper at what age a male is sexually mature

with carpets its around 18 months old

cheers shaun

p.s.earlier in the thread someone asked about hides,this may well be the problem,that your burm's looking for some where he feels secure

Mark Taylor · 12-31-12, 02:41 PM

Don't want you to be worried but have you heard of IBD is he looking up a lot might be early stages if so you might want to quarantine him for a few months so you other snakes are safe.

dinosaurdammit · 12-31-12, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Taylor

Don't want you to be worried but have you heard of IBD is he looking up a lot might be early stages if so you might want to quarantine him for a few months so you other snakes are safe.

honestly i feel like IBD is over guessed. I know its legit but its like every time a snake acts weird its automatically IBD that everyone jumps to

KORBIN5895 · 12-31-12, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Taylor

Don't want you to be worried but have you heard of IBD is he looking up a lot might be early stages if so you might want to quarantine him for a few months so you other snakes are safe.

What made you think ibd was even possible?

Corey209 · 12-31-12, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Taylor

Don't want you to be worried but have you heard of IBD is he looking up a lot might be early stages if so you might want to quarantine him for a few months so you other snakes are safe.

From what I've researched if a python/boa has IBD they're going to be messed up to where they can barely do anything. I would just adjust my temps and see if that settles him down. With my king I had my room temps too high and she would never be in her hide until I lowered the temps then she started to relax.

^ to your post above, stargazing doesn't mean IBD. When you start to see head twisting is when you should be worried.

Inclusion Body Disease

Squirtle · 12-31-12, 06:40 PM

Don't take my word for it, but snakes are pretty dumb. They might not think there's glass in their way on their "Journey to freedom" (escaping by pushing glass). All my snakes that I've owned have done it before, I don't know what kind of caging you have, but if they're trying to escape via screen top, then that can be a problem.

dinosaurdammit · 12-31-12, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squirtle

Don't take my word for it, but snakes are pretty dumb. They might not think there's glass in their way on their "Journey to freedom" (escaping by pushing glass). All my snakes that I've owned have done it before, I don't know what kind of caging you have, but if they're trying to escape via screen top, then that can be a problem.

Pretty sure Athena is a bit touched in the head because she puts her face against glass and resembles a snake version of this, like that is somehow going to magically set her free.

shaunyboy · 12-31-12, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squirtle

Don't take my word for it, but snakes are pretty dumb. They might not think there's glass in their way on their "Journey to freedom" (escaping by pushing glass). All my snakes that I've owned have done it before, I don't know what kind of caging you have, but if they're trying to escape via screen top, then that can be a problem.

yes mate.....

how many times have you seen a snake try and strike you,only to smack its head off the glass,for the 10th,20th,time

for being around so long,you'd think they would be more clever lol

cheers shaun

dinosaurdammit · 12-31-12, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

yes mate.....

how many times have you seen a snake try and strike you,only to smack its head off the glass,for the 10th,20th,time

for being around so long,you'd think they would be more clever lol

cheers shaun

does it make me a bad person to laugh when they do this? Mine has smacked HARD against the glass and just kinda sat there stunned with its mouth still opened and pressed up against the front like some sort of kid making ugly faces at me. Missed the rat by just an inch and BAM snake face. Its only funny when they dont get hurt but I cant help but laugh when they do silly little things like this.

shaunyboy · 12-31-12, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Taylor

Don't want you to be worried but have you heard of IBD is he looking up a lot might be early stages if so you might want to quarantine him for a few months so you other snakes are safe.

the thing everyone seems to forget about IBD is.....

there are a lot more symptoms than star gazing or strange body movments..

for example (pasted in from info i have bookmarked,not my own writing)...

re IBD
Signs of infection in boas include central nervous system disorders such as paralysis, being unable to right itself when turned over, "star-gazing", inability to strike or constrict. Other signs include chronic regurgitation, extreme weight loss, respiratory infections, and dysecdysis due to the inability to control body movements enough to rub off the old skin. The disease is rapidly fatal in young and juvenile boas, typified by rapid onset of flaccid paralysis.

In pythons, the disease progresses much more rapidly than in boas. Along with the above symptoms (excluding the chronic regurgitation), pythons also tend toward infectious stomatitis ("mouth rot"), heightened or exaggerated reflex responses, disorientation (which may be precipitated by the onset of central blindness) and loss of motor coordination.

IMO before suggesting IBD,it would be better asking people...if the snake in question,shows any other symptoms,before alarming them with IBD

also Pythons die within 4 weeks after FIRST showing symptoms,so suggesting that the op should quarantine for months,tells me you have not researched this disease enough,to suggest someones snake has it...!!

^^^^^
i'm NOT being cheeky mate,i'm merely pointing out,before suggesting something so serious,and alarming a new keeper,research the disease and ask about other symptoms

plenty snakes behave the way the op's does

cheers shaun