that silly snake scared me half to death!

froggsong · #1 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 11:10 PM

Sooooooo, I decided to put the snake in my shirt, where it was nice and warm... I had peaked at it already like 5 times, and then my husband came up and I told him to look, and I guess I lifted the shirt a little too fast that time, cause the darn snake struck at me... It missed, and I doubt it would have hurt anyway, it wasn't a very hard strike, but dang, it scared the crap out of me! My heart was beating soooooo fast... It really just startled me, but whoooo I don't think I'm going to try that again until we are both much more used to each other. Anyway, I thought someone might get a giggle out of that, lol...

Athen · #2 (**permalink**) 07-12-2008, 10:14 AM

are you sure it was a strike? from what i have noticed with my balls and my friends that have them... ok that didnt rly sound right but you get the drift lol... they are very head shy and if any thing gets near their heads they will with draw their head very quickly which will sometimes seem like a strike another thing that i have read alot is that when you get a new BP it is generally a good idea to give them a week or 2 to get accustomed to their new home before handling/ feeding them a good rule of thumb is if they are out and about exploring their cage they arent settled in yet a happy comfortable BP is one that hangs out in their hide =)

froggsong · #3 (**permalink**) 07-12-2008, 01:14 PM

Yeah, I know I shouldn't be taking it out... I have read that, and I really do get it, I just can't help myself. He is actually staying in the hides all the time already, he only explored for a day or so. I have to go in and turn the dang heater back on every two hours, and he is always in one of the hides.

I'm pretty sure it was a strike, he came from the back of where I had him in my shirt to the front where my fingers were, aimed at my hand.

I think I have satisfied my excitement a little now and will be able to leave the poor guy alone for a week (I know that sounds terrible, but I really can't help myself, I have wanted one for so long I just can't keep from holding it). I'm going to try to feed him probably next friday.

Athen · #4 (**permalink**) 07-12-2008, 02:12 PM

yeah i know the desire to hold the snake i was the same way as long as he is comfortable in his home it should be ok for occasional handling but at a minimal level until like any other animal it learns that you arent there to hurt it rather you are there to care for it. also learning its temperments and what it likes and doesnt like i havnt seen very many BP's that like anything near their head which is actually how they got their name most that i see generally dont strike but simply pull their head a way quickly but the case for yours might be the fact that it still is getting used to you and something came close to its head and it isnt aware that you dont mean to hurt him and he thought he was in danger so he attempted to protect himself. that is not at all common for BP's but isnt impossible my female which i have had for about a month now is just now getting fully used to me and its home it took a few feedings but she realizes my role in her life for the longest time when i would move her hide to take her out she would start hissing at me never struck tho. ona side note with my Kingsnake one of their defense mechanisms is to either play dead or imitate their prey some which happens to be rattlesnakes... and my kingsnake seems to like the latter option one day i was reaching into its tank to take it out for feeding and i was very amused to see the tip of its tail very vigouously vibrating back and forth imitating the rattle of a rattlesnake i thought it was hillarious.

froggsong · #5 (**permalink**) 07-12-2008, 03:59 PM

yeah, I was surprised that it snapped at me. It wasn't a full strike I don't think, but I think I REALLY startled it. There was one in the same tank that kept snapping at the pet care person when she'd stick in her hand to take any of them out for me. The first couple of days I had mine, it wouldn't ball up at all, which I found a little odd, but now it balls up when I move a hide and doesn't unwind itself until it feels comfortable. I generally only keep it out for ten minutes or so, but I think I am good to leave it alone for a week now since it scared me half to death! lol...

LadyParvati · #6 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 04:56 PM

Athen--Re the kingsnake's rattle--imagine that tail vibrating in dry leaves--then it sounds a lot like a rattlesnake's rattle! I froze one time when my sons & I were out hunting for whatever interesting animals we could see because I thought I was really close to a rattlesnake--my oldest son spotted the kingsnake that was only about 1.5 feet away doing his best to scare me away. He was a gorgeous speckled kingsnake.

Meghan, If you haven't read McCurley's book, he tells a short story (pp. 59-60) to describe how the snake must feel when one of us grabs him--imagine you're the snake and Godzilla just picked you up. It's a good reminder that we're big predators in the snake's perspective--we could be getting ready to eat him! It will take time for the snake to learn to trust you, especially with that reptile brain that operates significantly from instinct. They're gorgeous creatures, but not as intelligent as a dog, so it may seem that time passes slowly as you try to get him to feel safe with you. Fortunately, it is a ball python--a snake with a very placid temperament, so it won't take forever!

Athen · #7 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 07:26 PM

Lady was the kingsnake soild black with yellow or cream colored speckling? if so that is the species of kingsnake i have and indeed they are a beautiful specimen! honestly though the only reason i got it is because for one it is a desert snake and i just HAD to have a desert snake to even out my collection.. to give it Zen if you will lol. and also because it was an absolutely beautiful snake!i dont prefer them so much because although they get to a very respectable length they realy havnt got much girth and i like larger snakes hence my love for BP's! they get ro a nice length but have wonderful girth!

LadyParvati · #8 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 09:44 PM

The one we found was black with white spots; we identified it as a Speckled Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula holbrooki), partly by its description and partly by the fact that we found it in Arkansas. If you have a Desert Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula splendida), it may have "a profusion of white or yellowish dots on the sides & a middorsal series of plain black or dark brown spots. Each such spot is separated from its neighbor by a row of light dots across the back. Belly chiefly black." (Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles & Amphibians, Eastern/Central North America, 1991, p. 206). These two snakes intergrade throughout the area from Nebraska to Texas, so it could be difficult to say something is one and not the other. Either way--speckled or desert--a very beautiful snake! Before we got our BP, I was thinking of getting another kingsnake. However, dh wanted the python (surprised me--I never though he was particularly interested in snakes! So of course, once he said he liked them, we HAD to get the BP!) I'm pretty happy with our BP--he's not so spectacular, but he's lovely in his own way, and his behavior is quite interesting. I find it very interesting that their scales are so much smaller. I'm really glad that my dh has become so interested/involved in setting up the vivarium; he even tried to feed our guy the other day--first time he's ever done that!

No guinea pigs? I really like the way they whistle and greet their humans! ;-) We used to have a mini lop--my youngest son's--he was the only one who could touch her--she would growl ferociously (I SWEAR!!!) and box at the rest of us!

I have to go look up the blue spiny lizard so I know approximately what yours looks like! Take care!

JohnEDove · #9 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyParvati

Athen--Re the kingsnake's rattle--imagine that tail vibrating in dry leaves--then it sounds a lot like a rattlesnake's rattle! I froze one time when my sons & I were out hunting for whatever interesting animals we could see because I thought I was really close to a rattlesnake--my oldest son spotted the kingsnake that was only about 1.5 feet away doing his best to scare me away.

Of course you do realize that the fact the snakes tail was in dried leaves was pure chance and the shaking of the tail is a nervous reaction just as it is with Rattle Snakes. Kings, Corns etc don't actually try to immitate Rattle Snakes they just have the same stress reaction.
It felt fear and it was shaking, as much as it is possible for a snake to shake with fear.

LadyParvati · #10 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 11:40 PM

Yes--shaking with fear and warning--I think it's a lot like a dog growling. Whether that's true or not, when I hear a rattler rattle, it hits me in the gut--it's one of the most primal reactions I've ever had. My son had one that ALWAYS rattled at the slighest movement--footstep, him turning over in his sleep . . . As soon as he moved, the snake rattled, and he was NOT asleep.

"Trying" to imitate? no. of course not. Works the same way, though!

;-)

Sandy