Can't tell if MBK is being weird, or not.

Obsidian_Dragon · 07-13-14, 03:15 PM

So I've only had this MBK hatchling as of a week since Friday, so I don't know what is "normal" behavior or not.

For the first several days he was relatively active--I'd catch him out and about, etc. Fed on Tuesday, was fine.

Wednesday, I didn't spot him at all (he's in another room, so I spot check). Ditto Thursday. Friday he peeked his nose out and I dug him out to handle him briefly, then put him back. Saturday and so far today...haven't even seen him stick his nose out. I also used to sometimes see him curled up in one of his hides--as of Wednesday, that is no longer the case. He seems to ONLY be hiding out in the substrate.

He has 4 hides--one warm, one cool, two hanging out in the middle. Temps are currently 85 on the warm side, 71 on the cool end. Humidity is about 50 right now. It did drop low the other day, but I fixed it.

Has he maybe just settled down and decided to hide in the substrate most of the time? I see signs of his moving about but never see him anymore. Could he be sick? Should I leave him alone or try to find him? Wait until feeding time and see if he resurfaces to eat?

I've thought about removing some of the substrate (it's pretty deep) and making it so I don't have to have a mining expedition if I want to find out where he is.

Kera · 07-13-14, 03:54 PM

I think he's okay, these snakes often burrow like that.

**EL Ziggy** · 07-13-14, 05:46 PM

Doesn't sound too unusual. My MBK was probably my most shy snake. I hardly ever saw her for the first few months I had her. She's a lot more active now that she's larger and older. Has your snake eaten recently? Could he be getting ready to shed? They're really reclusive during those times.

franks · 07-13-14, 06:13 PM

Babies hide. He is acting pretty normal. Leave the substrate deep, he likes it and it actually will increase the likelihood that he will move around. Your snake may just be out roaming at night, or he may be watching you. I know it doesn't seem like it, but he knows when you are in the room. Give him time to get used to you and grow into himself. Like stated above, the bigger a snake gets the more confident it will generally feel.

LiL Zap · 07-13-14, 06:15 PM

Everything sounds okay to me. Even with all the hiding spots in the world, sometimes snakes will choose to burrow in their substrate.

As long as the little guy is eating well, I wouldn't worry.

Obsidian_Dragon · 07-13-14, 06:23 PM

Okay. I feel better now, and will leave him be.

It's so hard to know what is normal when you are new to reptiles!

"Dinner" is on Tuesday. I'll thaw it on top of the cage in hopes of enticing him out--but if not, eh, I'll leave it where he can find it.

sharthun · 07-13-14, 06:58 PM

Sounds normal to me.

drumcrush · 07-13-14, 10:41 PM

I agree with everyone else, completley normal. As he gets older, I wouldn't be too surprised if you see him out more

if mine isn't digesting a meal or in shed, she is typically out most of the time.

nyjon · 07-15-14, 10:11 PM

i never see my milk snake lol he even runs from me when i have food lol

some guys are just shy. give him some time and youll get to know him

Obsidian_Dragon · 07-16-14, 07:54 AM

Well, he never came out for his dinner last night (left the mouse, untouched this morning), and I haven't seen any SURE signs of him in a couple of days--so I think I'm going to go digging for a snake.

I hate to stress him out if he's fine but I'm stressed out.

I don't think my set up is so poor as to have murdered a snake inside two weeks, but it's possible that the initial purchase/move stress induced something from the pet store, I don't know. He ate so readily last week I can't help but regard this as weird.

Hi, my name is Amber and I'm apparently a neurotic first time snake owner. /rolls eyes at self

sharthun · 07-16-14, 10:40 AM

Try not to be stressed Amber!

He may be going into shed. My snakes won't eat in shed but others will. Check to see if his eyes are getting cloudy and skin is turning pale.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Obsidian_Dragon

Well, he never came out for his dinner last night (left the mouse, untouched this morning), and I haven't seen any SURE signs of him in a couple of days--so I think I'm going to go digging for a snake.

I hate to stress him out if he's fine but I'm stressed out.

I don't think my set up is so poor as to have murdered a snake inside two weeks, but it's possible that the initial purchase/move stress induced something from the pet store, I don't know. He ate so readily last week I can't help but regard this as weird.

Hi, my name is Amber and I'm apparently a neurotic first time snake owner. /rolls eyes at self

Obsidian_Dragon · 07-16-14, 08:13 PM

I dug up a very mad little baby who does, indeed, seem to be going into shed.

I got the rattlesnake tail act and cracked up. I feel MUCH better now and will go back to leaving him alone. I whipped up a humid hide with an old margarine tub, so hopefully that'll be a help--if he feels like coming out of the dirt.

sharthun · 07-16-14, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Obsidian_Dragon

I dug up a very mad little baby who does, indeed, seem to be going into shed.

I got the rattlesnake tail act and cracked up. I feel MUCH better now and will go back to leaving him alone. I whipped up a humid hide with an old margarine tub, so hopefully that'll be a help--if he feels like coming out of the dirt.

Good news! Some snakes can be cranky during shed.

Obsidian_Dragon · 07-22-14, 10:00 AM

So it's feeding day again....but I don't know if he's shed or not!

On the other hand, not sure if I WOULD find it. Is it possible the shed skin is somewhere in Noodle's Tunnel Empire, or would the very nature of shedding mean I SHOULD find it out in the open somewhere?

I ask mostly because I hate to waste the mice. :x If he HAS shed I assume he's hungry, but...

sharthun · 07-22-14, 10:15 AM

My black milk likes to shed while burrowing through the Aspen. I usually have to dig through the substrate to find his shed skin. Nothing wrong with slowly sifting through the substrate with fingers to search for skin.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Obsidian_Dragon

So it's feeding day again....but I don't know if he's shed or not!

On the other hand, not sure if I WOULD find it. Is it possible the shed skin is somewhere in Noodle's Tunnel Empire, or would the very nature of shedding mean I SHOULD find it out in the open somewhere?

I ask mostly because I hate to waste the mice. :x If he HAS shed I assume he's hungry, but...