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tdf
Hatchling
61 Posts |
 Posted - 09/04/2009 : 14:37:19
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Had Irwin three weeks now, still getting used to him.
I though he had a great temperament, never minded me lifting up his hide to get him out for a hold or to feed, has feed perfectly and shed well too.
And then today I got him out just for a quick hold, something about him didnt seem right, he looked tense, put him down on my bed to see how he'd behave and after a few mins he was off exploring.
After that I picked him up to put him back, as I was placing him back in his viv he struck out into the air a few times, away from me, I put him down and I've never seen him move so fast.
He went straight under his log, which he never uses. After another few minutes he went back to him normal hide on the hot side, the whole time his neck was tense ready to strike.
Its odd, never seen him like that and its taken me back a bit.
He last feed just over 48 hours ago and I dont think he is coming into shed, his eye's were clear and he only shed on the 22nd of march.
Can't work out the change in him.
Can they have mood swings? Some days just dont feel like being messed with? |
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antw23uk
Yearling
United Kingdom
275 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2009 : 14:46:36
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I think any animal can have its good days and bad days. We shouldnt expect them to be on top form every day of there lives just like we arent!
Poor you though, try not to be too put off, he must have just been having a bad day  |
Ant. |
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matty18714
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
2016 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2009 : 14:47:31
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| Remember that royals are nocturnal, they wont appreciate being handled in the middle of the day. |
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tdf
Hatchling
61 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2009 : 15:02:04
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thanks ant.
Yea i know matt, but he has been fine every other day, never even seemed tense.
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dazb
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
2847 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2009 : 15:16:13
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| prob just woke him up and was in a grumpy mood...dont let it put u off. i always lift the hide off and talk to them so its not as big of a suprise wen i get hold of them... |
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tdf
Hatchling
61 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2009 : 15:19:13
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quote:
Originally posted by dazb
prob just woke him up and was in a grumpy mood...dont let it put u off. i always lift the hide off and talk to them so its not as big of a suprise wen i get hold of them...
have yours had grumpy days too? |
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karl
Fully Grown Royal
1069 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2009 : 18:05:47
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| mine has the odd off day too. then again, so do I |
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dazb
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
2847 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2009 : 18:15:56
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| never been gone for...yet...touch wood |
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karl
Fully Grown Royal
1069 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2009 : 18:23:33
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| the two times I was "gone for" by any Royals I was holding white items, I still think they were mixed response strikes, more than bad temper strikes. |
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Dazzetski
Yearling
United Kingdom
461 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2009 : 23:12:32
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he's probably mid shed, the only time Sofia is "off" with me is this sort of time, don't worry.  |
 
0.2.0 Cats (Spud & Phoebe) RIP Stevie fat man
1.1.0 Royals (Syd & Sofia)
2.2.3 Corns (Hogan, Shaggy, Sparkle, Tango, Fred, Haribo & Go Faster)
0.0.1 Columbian Rainbow Boa (Escobar)
1.1.0 Variable King Snakes (Lancelot & Guinaverre)
0.0.20 Fish |
Edited by - Dazzetski on 09/04/2009 23:13:12 |
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tdf
Hatchling
61 Posts |
Posted - 15/04/2009 : 16:06:32
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five days since i posted that and he is still moody as hell.
Its so odd, for the first few weeks he was fine, used to hide his head when you got him out if anything.
now he strikes at anything that goes near him
i cant work it out
its made him un-handleable
and made me very nervy when i go to try and hold him, which doesnt help.
i thought he'd make a good first snake, what with them being so placid
looks like i got the grumpiest royal ever!!!
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Edited by - tdf on 15/04/2009 16:07:09 |
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tdf
Hatchling
61 Posts |
Posted - 15/04/2009 : 16:08:08
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any advice as to what i can do
if i dont hold him at all its gona be a pain when he is an adult
dont you have to get them used to you while they are young? |
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dazb
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
2847 Posts |
Posted - 15/04/2009 : 17:07:41
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is he ok once he is out of his viv?
Is there any chance he could have injured himself? (unprotected light/ceramic heat source?)
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wolfspirit
Old Royal - I Post too much!
United Kingdom
5741 Posts |
Posted - 15/04/2009 : 17:09:18
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quote:
Originally posted by tdf
any advice as to what i can do
if i dont hold him at all its gona be a pain when he is an adult
dont you have to get them used to you while they are young?
Ok, BE or Daz will probably have the sensible answer, but here is mine and questions for you to
the first one is
has anything changed in the place he is kept? is he in a high traffic area?
Also this wont help, but when i have my snake out he can sense my neighbours next door..and he sits dead still for quite a while and he will either not move or buries himself in me as i am safety for him.
The other thing is , when did he last shed? did he sehd completely?
does he recognise hand movement near the eyes? i am asking this as when i had my Querertaro he had retained shed on his eyes, but it was not so obvious that you could see it clearly until i had him in perfect light, but he had no reaction to my hands near his eyes..
Is it something in his set up?...maybe he is unhappy there...
how often are you handling him?
I handle my royal twice a week, sometimes it is only once.
how often is he feeding?, what are you feeding him on?
It could be many things, or it could just be him...
also if your tense your snake will pick up on that to..
finally you do get grumpy royals not all of them are perfect .
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"No one can go back and make a brand new start. Anyone can start from
now and make a brand new ending."
-- Source Unknown
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tdf
Hatchling
61 Posts |
Posted - 15/04/2009 : 17:47:52
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daz - heat light is protected.
it was when he was last out that he first got grumpy, outside of the viv.
wolf - he last shed almost three weeks ago (without checking) shed in three parts but it was complete, lost eye caps etc.
nothing for him has changed, temp and viv are the same.
he is in my rooms thats quiet.
I started holding him a couple of times a week, now i havent held him for over a week, other than when i got him out to feed.
feeding every 5 days, he is almost a year old, on medium mice.
I am tense now when i try to get him out, but didnt use to be, he used to hide, now he is aggressive.
as soon as i lift his hide he tenses his neck ready to strike.
at night when he was out and about he used to not mind me watching, he'd stop when he noticed me, then carry on.
now he he freezes when he sees me, his neck tightens, then he goes to a hide as quick as possible, im not sure he has been out at night for a week or so, used to see him, never do now!
only thing thats changed is his viv is off the floor and now on top of my drawers! |
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tdf
Hatchling
61 Posts |
Posted - 15/04/2009 : 17:51:40
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| thanks for your replies btw |
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dazb
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
2847 Posts |
Posted - 15/04/2009 : 18:02:21
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If it was me i would just get him out...
He will sense if you are scared and if you hover over him he will get scared also and become defensive. Go in and be confident, chat to him so he knows your there and be firm(but gentle) and just pick him up in one fluid movement.
dont be scared of getting tagged its all the fun of keeping reps... |
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tdf
Hatchling
61 Posts |
Posted - 15/04/2009 : 18:11:26
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hehe, yea i know.
easier said than done now!
thing is though, if im stressing him out i dont want to make it worse! |
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Kazerella
Royal Python Admin
United Kingdom
1196 Posts |
Posted - 15/04/2009 : 18:11:53
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| And it doesn't hurt- Royal bites feel like you've just caught your skin on brambles. |
 
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wolfspirit
Old Royal - I Post too much!
United Kingdom
5741 Posts |
Posted - 15/04/2009 : 18:31:40
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Does he actually strike ar you when you go in the viv?
it is a natural thing for them to ball up and the s shape my snake used to do, as long as your confident he will learn to calm down,
just one other thing, dont take this the wrong way...llol, but it could be a smell he does not like, like soap or something |
"No one can go back and make a brand new start. Anyone can start from
now and make a brand new ending."
-- Source Unknown
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tdf
Hatchling
61 Posts |
Posted - 15/04/2009 : 19:19:02
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TRYING TO SAY I SMELL????
;)
I've thought that, but i like to wash my hands before holding him!
he ops for stricking before the ball now!
Thanks kaz, that helps, i just need him to bite me once so i know what to expect, then i wont be scared! |
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