Change in behavior?

red_tail_ale · 02-03-12, 08:36 PM

My RTB Basil has been exhibiting some strange behavior today. Normally she's calm, complacent and non-active.

Yesterday night she managed to escape from her cage (eek!) and crawled up inside a recliner in my bedroom. She'd poked at the top and found a weak spot. Luckily the door was closed, but it took me a lot of time trying to get her out of the recliner. The space she was stuck in was tight and cramped, and it took me some time to finally pry open the slats of wood so I could get her out. She fought against me the whole time and I had to stop occasionally when she showed defensive signs. Admittedly, I was a tad rough with her towards the end and I'm worried if she could've gotten hurt.

Once I got her back in her cage (and secured the top), she'd risen herself up and was poking at the top as she usually does once I put her back up. I thought nothing of it and went to bed.
The next morning, I discovered she was still doing it. She was poking at the bottom corners of the glass as well. When I came home from work she had stopped, but wasn't soaking in her water dish as she normally does.

It WAS feeding day, and she's growing quite a bit. So I removed her and fed her in her action packer as normal. But once I put her back up, she started poking at the top again. She's been doing this for about an hour.

I should mention she's currently housed in an 55 gallon aquarium. I measure belly heat and temperature gradients with a heat gun so I know it's not too hot. But, it doesn't hold humidity very well. I'm also working on an enclosure that could easily accommodate her up to 7 feet, when I'll build a permanent enclosure.

Why is she acting this way? Could it be stress, poor husbandry, too much handling? Any ideas/tips would be greatly appreciated.

KORBIN5895 · 02-03-12, 08:45 PM

She just wants out. She has learned how to do it once so she will do it again or die trying.

red_tail_ale · 02-03-12, 09:05 PM

But besides when I first got her and whenever I put her back up, I never saw her poking at the cage. Especially not for as long as she has been. Sure, snakes are escape artists, but if it's something I can tone down with some changes in environment (stress, humidity) it'd be good to know.

Unless I'm being paranoid, that can't be ruled out either

KORBIN5895 · 02-03-12, 09:18 PM

Don't sweat it. She thinks she can escape and is looked for a weak spot.

Trent · 02-03-12, 09:20 PM

How old is she?? could be looking to breed or could be she found a way out and she wants freedom..i have had snake do the same thing..get out and keep trying for weeks after to escape.

red_tail_ale · 02-03-12, 09:27 PM

I'm not sure on age, I was told about a year old by the breeder. She's almost 5ft long, so I imagine about a year.

Trent · 02-03-12, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red_tail_ale

I'm not sure on age, I was told about a year old by the breeder. She's almost 5ft long, so I imagine about a year.

I would say closer two years old to be five feet...I would guess she just found a way out and keeps trying to find another....

shaunyboy · 02-04-12, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

She just wants out. She has learned how to do it once so she will do it again or die trying.

^^^^^
pretty much covers it pal

once a snake finds a way out they try and find it again

nothing to worry about though,it just your snake being a snake

cheers shaun