Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

Scott W · Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 12:14 pm Post subject: Am I mad? Electric pulse??

I was checking over some of my bigger royals and noticed what felt like an electric 'charge/pulse' on them when I touched them gently, litterally just resting a finger on the sides of them. It kinda felt like extremely fast vibrations running down their bodies.

I thought it was possibly connected to the heat mats but the snakes are in plastic tubs so it can't be them.

I showed two other people and they both noticed the same feeling, I haven't noticed this on anything else and wasn't about to stroke my rattlesnakes to see if they had the same effect Confused

Anyone else notice this on their snakes or know what it is?
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mark · Captivebred Communist Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Posts: 1063

yep i noticed this on my wild caught female royal but everybody thought i was mad my female burm also does it sometimes near her lower region it really is like vibrating fast but you cant see it not a clue what its all about though
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Stuart · Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 3:08 pm Post subject:

thats shocking!... Laughing

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mark · Captivebred Communist Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Posts: 1063

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boas and burms

955i · Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 3:36 pm Post subject:

Subsonic calling Laughing

scarlettvegetable · Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 3:44 pm Post subject:

Iv noticed that on my Royals too, only the bigger ones mind...Its a weird feeling, I thought it was me stroking them the wrong way at first and it was just the bumps of the scales, but they do it when Im not moving my fingers too. I dont know what it is though Laughing

Dan · Captivebred Communist Joined: 08 Sep 2005 Posts: 1306

It could be the mechanism for egg temperature control.

Egg laying species are known to be able to control temperature to a fine degree. Larger specimens can be visibly seen to "shimmer". When you think about it this will cause a small electrical field if done at the correct frequency.
Smaller snakes are also known to be able to regulate temperature although no shimmering is actually seen. There are theories that suggest the manipulation of electrical fields to create energy (and therefore heat) are used, something to do with nerve endings firing at a set frequency if i recall correctly. No idea if anyone has studied this in any detail, just something i picked up off a friend who is no longer with us.
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rachel132002 · Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 9:53 pm Post subject:

I notice on almost ALL my snakes when they crawl in their vivs, almost like a buzzing sensation maybe its something to do with muscle movements? I dunno they've all done it more or less and most of em are still here.

Rach
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20 Corns
30 Royals
3 BCI
2 BCC
2 JCP
2 Leos
1 Beardy
2 Cresties

garethsloan · I'm new here... Joined: 21 Jan 2006 Posts: 10

i have never noticed this on any of my snakes

Kate · Contributing Member Joined: 17 Oct 2005 Posts: 100

I'd put money on the fact that everyone who has experienced it - any species - uses heatmats as their heat provider.

I mentioned this years ago when I first started in the hobby and everyone shrugged it off or suggested neurological disorders!!!!

I simply switched the snake I was talking about to ceramics and never experienced it again..

All my boids have ceramics now, the colubrids I use heatmats for, but the heatmats are affixed to the back wall so they can't sit on it - Scott plastic tubs or no, I guarantee it's the mat.