Our BP is really an awesome pet

[willieg]

Before we got our new BP about a month ago I read a ton of horror stories about not eating, not shedding correctly and always wanting to stay hidden. I researched a lot and went to many different places before we chose ours. I don't know if this sounds strange but I really think she matches up to the personality of our family. She hides a lot of course but she also likes to roam her 40g breeder at night for an hour or two almost like clockwork at 9:30 or so.

She eats exactly 15% of her body weight every Sunday morning. Tong fed F/T is simple. Once I put her in her feed box she knows it's coming and just starts sniffing the air for her meal. No teasing or funny business required, just dangle for about ten seconds about six inches away and she strikes, coils for a few minutes and eats in ten.

Except for the rest period after a meal we get her out every night and she is always very content to just hang out and explore us as much as we are fascinated with how she looks and feels. My wife told me no for months because she was deathly afraid. Took her with me to shop and she read, watched videos of BPs on YouTube and by the time we brought ours home she wasn't afraid. Once she held her for the first time she was hooked! It was the most amazing turn around I have ever seen and now she let's her curl up in her hoodie underneath her long hair.

When we bought her she was actually just starting her shed period but her eyes weren't milky yet so we didn't realize. Once I saw the milky eyes I was worried about humidity and bought a Reptifogger that works great. Her first shed in her new home was perfect and we even got to witness almost the whole thing. My wife was walking by and noticed something white and thought it was poo until we looked a little closer and saw it was the skin pulling back about an inch behind her head as she was heading into one of her hides that is made of wood. She circled around and around inside the hide and we got to watch the shed inch by inch even though it was a little dark peeking through the cage into the hide. Next to watching my children arrive in this world, this process was the coolest thing I've ever seen.

I share my experience because a big part of our research before bringing our snake home came from hours of reading posts on this forum. With all the great real world experience we were able to read through we were able to be really prepared and also know when it is time to ask questions. Thanks for helping us bring a truly awesome pet into the family!

[The Serpent Merchant]

Sounds like you lucked out. some are really calm and collected while others are pretty edgy.

As long as your temperatures/humidity is correct owning a BP can be a joy.

[dragonboy4578]

That is great. I really enjoy my ball pythons, and they really are an amazing creature. The longer I have them the more I like them. It is funny how people that are so against snake have a change of heart after they come over and play with my collection. I have even had a few people end up buying one afterwards....lol

[DooLittle]

You are welcome, and Congrats! Hard not to fall in love with a bp once you have held one.

[emeraldwinter]

Hey ya! I was talking about how much I enjoy my snake just this morning! I did my reasearch and was prepared to own a snake for quite some time before I actually bought him, as you were, but I feel like I really lucked out as well. My bp has never refused a meal, switched with no problems from mice to rats (even though the rats were bigger), has a perfect shed every time and has always had a lovely personality. One of the best, bigger decisions I have ever made was to get a snake
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