Do BPs need exercise?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Elise.m

I won't set Snickets down on the carpet, because my vacuum is like 18 years old and I don't trust it's picking up everything. I will set her on my bed and fold over my comforter, and she'll go exploring in the fold. I wouldn't think a BP would need "exercise" unless it's over weight.

---

If it's over weight then you shouldn't be feeding it so much, and if your not over feeding it and it's a female I'll take her ;)

I have actually started to do the same thing. Let them crawl around on the bed. They're very fast though and have one thing in mind which is get off and down on the floor. It's not a question of over-weight. I feed once a week and they look very healthy. Actually, I'm amazed at how beautiful the pieds are as adults. The larger they get, the prettier they are!

I just don't know how much a wild BP travels in its search for food and mates. The main thought I had that prompted me to ask the question was if keeping them confined in a tub so much increases the risk of RI or egg-laying problems. Maybe a good thesis for some biology student.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Toronto Python Gurus

If it's over weight then you shouldn't be feeding it so much, and if your not over feeding it and it's a female I'll take her ;)

---

I wouldn't give my Snickets up for the world! No, I'm not over feeding her. I was just trying to say that's the only reason I could think of why a snake would need exercise.

Yes, start off slow with pushups and situps and then you can move them up to Taebo.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nvar

I just don't know how much a wild BP travels in its search for food and mates. The main thought I had that prompted me to ask the question was if keeping them confined in a tub so much increases the risk of RI or egg-laying problems. Maybe a good thesis for some biology student.

---

Not if you keep them in proper conditions, I'm sure if it was unsafe for them to be rubbermaids alot of breeders wouldn't be doing it ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Elise.m

I wouldn't give my Snickets up for the world! No, I'm not over feeding her. I was just trying to say that's the only reason I could think of why a snake would need exercise.

---

I knew you wern't over feeding I was just saying in general, and even if they are over weight what kind of exercise would they be doing to lose weight? lol over weight ball pythons are usually due to over feeding

Now all I can vizualize is a bunch of BPs doing sit-ups. HA!!

Actually, I'd be interested in hearing a comment from one of the vets, biologists or a herpatologist. For example, we all know that dogs & humans need exercise to stay healthy. What's different in a BP's physiology (cold blooded?) that allows it to stay healthy with little or no exercise.

BPs' love taking a swim once in a while and it's good exercise for them since they move faster...

I like to hear additional comment on this since I always read that you should never put a BP in water deeper than 1/2 its body diameter since they can inhale it (and development a RI) if it goes over their head.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nvar

Actually, I'd be interested in hearing a comment from one of the vets, biologists or a herpatologist. For example, we all know that dogs & humans need exercise to stay healthy. What's different in a BP's physiology (cold blooded?) that allows it to stay healthy with little or no exercise.

---

Comparing a BP to a dog exercise wise is not comparable, I mean do people exercise their pet fish? Ball pythons spend alot of time underground in animal burrows or termite hills, they come out at night to eat and only really travel during this time, or when they are looking for a new burrow.

I haven't heard of a Ball Python gettin an RI from keeping its head under water, it could happen. If you do put your snake in water you should be there to watch him/her anyways while they are swimming/soaking so unless your not watchin them I wouldn't worry to much