Virginia

Virginia · 01-19-09, 01:50 PM

Hi I'm Virginia. I have a question about my ball python would you be able to help me out? Why would my python swish his tail back and forth real fast... at my dog, shes a jack russel? What does that mean?

siz · 01-20-09, 08:27 AM

The dog is probably stressing her out. Jack Russels especially are very hyper and curious, not a particularily good mix with a BP.

Chu'Wuti · 01-20-09, 09:24 AM

I think siz is right on target. Sounds like your BP is trying to warn the dog off. After all, dogs are predators; your BP probably thinks your dog will try to eat him! and Welcome to the forum, Virginia! This is a great place to get all kinds of information about snake keeping and other herps.

Virginia · 01-25-09, 07:17 PM

Well thanks for the reply. I just had my snake out on the floor with me the other day and my dog came running by and my BP did not really react to her. My husband and I built him a cage and right now we have it o the floor, and the dog likes to look in it..... right next to the cage... and the snake is not reacting like he used to. Infact when I hold him and the dog is sitting next to me the snake will sretch out almost LIKE hes smelling her... I think hes warming up to her.

**Aaron_S** · 01-27-09, 04:12 PM

I refrained from posting before. I have never seen a ball python 'wag it's tail' at a predator. They use different defenses than that. I think it might have just been moving around.

Also, I hope you don't plan to really introduce the snake to the dog. It could end up quite bad.

Chu'Wuti · 01-27-09, 04:26 PM

Well, I confess I've never seen my BP shake/wag its tail, either, but I know some of the colubrids will, so I thought perhaps it was a possibility. If that is unlikely to be the reason for the tail-wagging, what could be the cause?

I should have mentioned that both dogs and cats have an instinct to kill snakes previously. I'm glad Aaron pointed it out.

herpocrite27 · 01-27-09, 04:40 PM

WOW. I have never heard of the tail wagging. My BP hates the dog, she curls up in a ball, whenever my dog comes is view. She likes people, but hates dogs.

**Aaron_S** · 01-27-09, 04:56 PM

I don't know because I don't know what the actual action is. It could just have been moving it's lower half of the body closer to itself and not moving the upper half.

I do know that many North American colubrids shake their tails really fast and as it hits the leaf litter on the ground it mimics a rattlesnake. I don't think, or know of African snakes doing the same.

Virginia · 01-28-09, 09:01 AM

I have now discovered that my dog is afraid of my snake. My BP will move right past her, if the snake touches her she moves away and lays down somewhere else.... about the tail switching... it was interesting... it was the very tip of his tail when he did it and the rest of his body was still.

I have another question... the girl from the pet store said I can disaplin my snake by lightly thumping him on the head, and that I can teach him certain things are off limits to eating (like my dog)..... I have not done this, I'm worried this would hurt my snake... is it true you can do this training technique?

siz · 01-28-09, 09:26 AM

I'm not sure if snakes have the capacity to learn like that. Maybe I'm wrong and somebody will correct me but I'm not sure if that would work. I don't think you would hurt your snake (unless you whacked him hahaha) but I can't see it being too beneficial. Hope this helps!

**Aaron_S** · 01-28-09, 10:30 AM

Stop listening to the pet store people. It's not possible. Snakes don't really have the capacity to learn like that. Besides, your dog is bigger than your snake. Snakes don't randomly kill and try to eat bigger predators.

Also, keep the snake away from touching the dog. It's best to keep the two pets seperate.