My Anery corn, Mr Jingles was rattling his tail at me when getting him out for a feed, I have never experienced tail rattling before with any of my corns, are they more inclined to bite when they rattle their tail? she didnt bite me, i'm just curious!

Rattling the tail is usually a warning put out by snakes, however it can also sometimes be a sign of excitement.. our male creamsicle corn and our female blotched king rattle their tails every time they feed! - they strike at the food, constrict and rattle the whole time they are eating! It's quite comical, and we interpret it as a sign of excitement and contentment.

Sounds like Mr Jingles was giving you a warning this time though - perhaps you disturbed him, or he may have known it was feeding time, or may have been hungry and wanting food.

Just as a note - many people are often surprised when a snake rattles its tail, as they only associate that with rattlesnakes, but in fact all snakes rattle, it's just not often heard unless they are in a confined space, like a tank, where there is something for the sound to bounce off, or for the tail to touch as it rattles.

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"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004

I'm not sure but Loretta did that to me right before the first time I fed her. I thought maybe she was just agitated so I put her back and came back later, and she was fine

So I would say she was startled, or agitated and probably nothing to worry about.

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Randy

I plan to live forever... And so far its working

0.2.0 Ball Python (Jaxxie and Kyree)
1.0.0 Savanah Monitor (Sullivan)

there a new scent on your hand? Did you handle the food with the hand you picked him up with? My corn, Smokey, struck at my daughter and she had been handling a feeder mouse.

Thanks, I had no idea that all snakes could rattle their tails! Coming originally from California, I've had the "pleasure" of encountering a few wild rattlesnakes and experiencing that sound.
My Brazilian Rainbow Boa hasn't tried it on me yet. But at least now I won't be too freaked out if she does!!!
COOL!!!!

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Andrea

I use tongues to hold prey items, and wash my hands after every touch of the toungues, and feeder tubs, and with 10 snakes thats a lot of running in and out of the bathroom lol, I also wash my hands after holding whichever snake I am feeding or handling, lizard etc, I think mr Jingles was in a grumpy mood lol

I have never seen tail rattling with boas and pythons. It may be limited to colubrids.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Never seen a garter snake do it. Doesn't mean they're not capable of it though I guess. Hey Merlin, don't forget vipers though

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Hey Merlin,
My Brazilian Rainbow Boa actually does rattle her tail!! It doesn't make any audible noise, but as I was putting her back in her terrarium last night (and I have noticed this before) the last inch or inch and a half of her tail was vibrating strongly. Until I read this thread I always thought it was some other kind of vibration or sensation on my skin, but I called my husband over and he felt her tail and it was still vibrating.... SOOO COOOOOOL!
She didn't seem aggressive or upset at all: we had just finished a nice "handling session" and she just seemed to be excited to be going back "home".
I learn so much about her every day!!

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Andrea

Cool. None of my pythons or boas have ever done that. I just learned something new!
It doesn't make any sound unless its in dry leaves or against the wall of the cage. The 6 ft bullsnake I had would bang his tail on the bottom of the cage so hard you would have sworn it was a rattler.
(Sure convinced my mother ! )

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!