What a Difference 2 Weeks Make

[Patricia]

We've had our li'l BP for 2 weeks now, and it's taken all this time for both it AND me to calm down. We held it today for the first time in 3 days, and it wasn't flinching back and S'ing its neck half as much. We could even touch its neck and head area, which would have been unthinkable a week ago.

I'm not worried about all sorts of things anymore. Humidity, temps and his weight have stablized. Eating has been good. Yesterday I cut holes into cheapie bowls to make hides, which Patriot is happily curled up in at the moment. They're more snug around him. (He's probably thinking "About time!")

Today's the first day I'm feeling that I'm being proactive instead of sitting in a roller coaster and just hanging on for the ride. (This forum has helped SO MUCH!) It's a good feeling! Whew! Hopefully one day I'll be as confident with snakes as I am with the rest of our zoo.

[Danounet]

We've had our li'l BP for 2 weeks now, and it's taken all this time for both it AND me to calm down. We held it today for the first time in 3 days, and it wasn't flinching back and S'ing its neck half as much. We could even touch its neck and head area, which would have been unthinkable a week ago.

I'm not worried about all sorts of things anymore. Humidity, temps and his weight have stablized. Eating has been good. Yesterday I cut holes into cheapie bowls to make hides, which Patriot is happily curled up in at the moment. They're more snug around him. (He's probably thinking "About time!")

Today's the first day I'm feeling that I'm being proactive instead of sitting in a roller coaster and just hanging on for the ride. (This forum has helped SO MUCH!) It's a good feeling! Whew! Hopefully one day I'll be as confident with snakes as I am with the rest of our zoo.

I hope everything keeps getting better for you! And I would have to say the same about this forum, It has help me so much too! I couldnt have said it better my self.

I think back about 2 months ago and, Oh man I was clueless when I got home with little Julieta! I've learn so much. Thanks everyone for the help!

[frankykeno]

And someday Patricia you'll be reaching out with that welcoming, informative post that helps another newcomer get through these first unsure weeks of snake ownership.

I'm so glad to hear that your family and Patriot are settling in so well. You may find when it comes to his head that he will react better to an under the lower jaw rub than a top of the head touch.

[ItsMichael805]

good to hear

[llovelace]

Great to hear Patricia

[Patricia]

You may find when it comes to his head that he will react better to an under the lower jaw rub than a top of the head touch.

Oh man, this li'l one is so head shy/spooked, he can scare himself just from seeing someone walking across the room! (Remember that Moro startle reflex of newborns? That's Patriot!) I can touch his jaw and throat just fine, and just about anywhere else, as long as all the movement is done behind/below where those snakey eyes can't see.

Don't touch me
Don't look at me
Don't weigh me
Don't measure me...

But hey, if I can survive that first week with our firstborn (took dh and I FIFTEEN minutes to get her dressed to come home from the hospital because those tight arms and legs wouldn't go through sleeves and leggings), I can survive this. It's pretty much the same: Keep the baby warm, monitor food going in and waste coming out, watch for failure-to-thrive, worry yourself into a frazzle, then realize the baby isn't as fragile as we think and has been absolutely fine the whole time.

[firedoug]

Patricia,

Great update! It is nice to hear another positive story. By the nature of forums a lot of post are problems that people our looking for solutions from other users with experience in the same area. So we tend to read a lot of post about problems, and not hear as much about the success stories. So kudos to you and Patriot!

Doug