Snake Encounter. - Orchid Board

Junebug · #1 04-02-2011, 10:44 PM

While working in the back yard today I ran upon 2 pieces of recently shed snake skin. Each piece was about 12" long. Both pieces appeared to have come from the mid section of the same snake because they were uniform in size and there was no tapering at the ends. They were situated just a short distance from each other and as I glanced at them I made a mental note to be on the lookout for the snake that shed them.

After finishing up the yard work I began tinkering with the idea of repotting some chids and succulents, so I went to the side of my house to fetch some clean flower pots from my shelving rack. My pots are stacked and nested with the largest ones on the bottom. I needed a 7" one that was located second down from the top of the stack. As I was lifting up the top pot I was startled when I saw movement beneath it. My knee jerk reaction was immediately letting the top pot drop 3" back into the nesting position. After doing so I peered between the pots to see what was down there and I was relieved to see that it was just a beautiful, harmless corn snake. The poor thing was meerly seeking solitude. I decided to go get the camera and give him a few minutes to recover from having his senses knocked out by the flower pot.

When I came back I slowly and carefully removed the whole stack of pots as one unit and sat them on the ground. Then I gently lifted the top pot to see if Mr. Snake was o.k. He seemed fine and he was surprisingly tolerant when I began taking photos. Afterwards I returned the stack of pots to the shelf complete with Mr. Snake inside. He responded by slithering through the bottom hole of the pot to the next privacy level (between the next 2 lower pots) of his terracotta condo.

Initially I thought that the snake skins I'd seen earlier were courtesy of Mr. Snake, but now I think the sheds were from an entirely different snake. It appears that Mr. Snake hasn't begun shedding his skin yet, because he has milky dull patches on areas along his body, on the top of his head, and over his eyes.

phalaephila · #2 04-03-2011, 12:23 AM

Thanks so much for sharing this beauty with us. I love how the snake has some terra-cotta coloring!

WhiteRabbit · #3 04-03-2011, 12:32 AM

awesome! I'm glad snake wasn't hurt

Amanda L · #4 04-03-2011, 01:21 AM

Looks like my Angel!!!! I'm glad both of you are okay! So vibrant, I have only seen the brownish ones here.

Paul · #5 04-03-2011, 12:08 PM

Beautiful snake. Looks like it is having shedding issues, however. If you'd like to help it out, you could gently spray down the pots or perhaps put a large shallow water filled plant saucer amongst the pots for it to soak in. The extra moisture should help with its shed.

PinkCloud · #6 04-03-2011, 02:21 PM

Oh Junebug, I don't think I would have been as brave as you! I would probably have started screaming and ran around like some crazy person! I'm not very good with snakes or spiders or cockroaches or.. and the list goes on and on and on...

Junebug · #7 04-03-2011, 03:56 PM

Thanks everyone. I checked the flower pots frequently today to see if I could see a glimpse of him totally stretched out. He's still there, but for the most part he's staying in seclusion. One time I saw him advancing towards the top of the flower pot so I took another picture, but when I did he retreated and went back between the pots. This afternoon I found him in the base of another stack of smaller 6" pots. I'm guessing he's about 3 to 3 1/2 foot long.

I'm going to do as Paul suggested and water down the pots and give him a dish of water too. His current hiding spot is near my water faucet and a compost pile where rodents are likely to visit. Smart snake, I'd say.

Vanda lover · #8 04-03-2011, 05:26 PM

He's so beautiful! And he matches the flowerpot! I don't understand people who don't like snakes. They can't help it if they don't have legs!

fotofashion · #9 04-03-2011, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

He's so beautiful! And he matches the flowerpot! I don't understand people who don't like snakes. They can't help it if they don't have legs!

Ignorance of the part they play in the ecosystem. Of course, it pays to be cautious if you live where there are poisonous snakes but they usually will run the other way when they hear you coming. (I know there are exceptions, like Copperheads and rattlers).
Beverly A.

Connie Star · #10 04-03-2011, 08:29 PM

You're so lucky to have an outdoor pet.
I actually have a pet corn-snake, my third one since I was 14. That is an especially beautiful one, IMHO