Wiggles, the Children's Python

My Antaresia are the same - they're active and curious, which I love. One thing you might try for your little guy is one of those pet 'playpens'. Not the metal kind, but the cloth + cloth screen type. Just search 'pet playpen' on Amazon. I have a large and a medium sized one that I use for my snakes when they want out to explore but I am needing to do other stuff and can't supervise them directly. The playpens have a screen top that can be zipped shut - I toss hides, branches, cardboard boxes, plushy stuff or towels (they love soft materials), fake plants, and other enrichment items in there. The playpen can easily be folded up and stashed away when not in use.

Those things have really been a help for me, as I have a few snakes that love to come out, and I always felt terrible if I was busy and couldn't let them out.

Photo below of Frida, one of my Tarahumara Mountain Boas. She LOVES to come out and when I open her enclosure, will actually take herself to the playpen, as in this photo.[IMG]https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...h_april_22.jpg[/IMG]

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Originally Posted by Caitlin

One thing you might try for your little guy is one of those pet 'playpens'. Not the metal kind, but the cloth + cloth screen type. Just search 'pet playpen' on Amazon. I have a large and a medium sized one that I use for my snakes when they want out to explore but I am needing to do other stuff and can't supervise them directly. The playpens have a screen top that can be zipped shut - I toss hides, branches, cardboard boxes, plushy stuff or towels (they love soft materials), fake plants, and other enrichment items in there. The playpen can easily be folded up and stashed away when not in use.[/IMG]

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Wiggles has a hatchday coming up, so I'll definitely keep that in mind. I also have another idea, a freestanding coat rack:
https://i.imgur.com/KFau0RV_d.webp?m...fidelity=grand
I could hang platforms at different heights from the hooks. I could even hang the playpen you suggested.

Great idea! Though the pet playpens I use are too big to hang. For climbing, I do something similar for my Ants - I put together an 'Itty Bitty Python Jungle Gym' using a clothes drying rack. The little guys love it: [IMG]https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...jungle_gym.jpg[/IMG]

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Originally Posted by Caitlin

Great idea! Though the pet playpens I use are too big to hang. For climbing, I do something similar for my Ants - I put together an 'Itty Bitty Python Jungle Gym' using a clothes drying rack. The little guys love it

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I use those collapsible laundry baskets, so that's what I was picturing. You probably use one of those puppy playpens. That would be too large to hang.

What I like about the coat rack is that I can use the height to keep him confined. As long as I can keep him about 2 feet off the ground with no way to climb down, he should stay on it.

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Originally Posted by Homebody

You probably use one of those puppy playpens. That would be too large to hang.

What I like about the coat rack is that I can use the height to keep him confined. As long as I can keep him about 2 feet off the ground with no way to climb down, he should stay on it.

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I have to admit I had a bit of a chuckle over this. He's an Antaresia. He WILL find a way to climb down.

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Originally Posted by Caitlin

I have to admit I had a bit of a chuckle over this. He's an Antaresia. He WILL find a way to climb down.

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Matching wits with them is one of the great joys of keeping them.

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Originally Posted by Homebody

...As long as I can keep him about 2 feet off the ground with no way to climb down, he should stay on it.

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Don't bet on that! :rofl: He can circle that pole very easily & head down to the floor- so DON'T make the mistake of not watching him when he's using that- or you'll be playing "hide & seek" instead.

I've used something similar with some of my rat snakes- they don't stay put, that's for sure. They don't even stay up there for very long...:rofl:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Don't bet on that! :rofl: He can circle that pole very easily & head down to the floor- so DON'T make the mistake of not watching him when he's using that- or you'll be playing "hide & seek" instead.

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I just thought of this this morning, so there will definitely be kinks to work out in the design. In my head, one of my hanging platforms will prevent him from climbing down the pole, but don't worry. Wiggles and I will put it through rigorous testing. If it doesn't work. Well, it costs $15. Maybe it'll make a good coat rack.

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Originally Posted by Homebody

I just thought of this this morning, so there will definitely be kinks to work out in the design. In my head, one of my hanging platforms will prevent him from climbing down the pole, but don't worry. Wiggles and I will put it through rigorous testing. If it doesn't work. Well, it costs $15. Maybe it'll make a good coat rack.

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If you keep it "interesting enough" maybe he'll want to stay up there. Like hang some baskets or other things he can "hide" in, like fake foliage. I just know my snakes never stay put, lol, but "your results may vary".

What do you think about repti-links for Children's pythons? The pick below is from their mega-blend advertising. The mega-blend has: Guinea fowl, Chicken, Quail (includes whole bird and some feathers), Ohio raised New Zealand white or California white breed rabbit, and bullfrog, 100% natural collagen casing. I understand that a variety of prey is healthier, my local rodent supplier isn't the most reliable, and I don't think my wife would mind me keeping these in the freezer because they look like regular sausages rather than dead rodents.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/JaHSdhe.jpg