Do BPs need exercise?

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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.

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I'm not a vet, biolobist, or a herpatologist. We eat 3 times a day (more if there is chocolate around), bps only eat once a week (or less). We don't feed them more because they have a very slow metabolism. That's why they sleep a lot.

I think in the wild it's hard for a bp to find a good, regular meal (since thier diet is limited to mostly furry things). So, they have evolved to use less energy, to eat less.

That's my way of thinking :)

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Originally Posted by stratus_020202

I'm not a vet, biolobist, or a herpatologist. We eat 3 times a day (more if there is chocolate around), bps only eat once a week (or less). We don't feed them more because they have a very slow metabolism. That's why they sleep a lot.

I think in the wild it's hard for a bp to find a good, regular meal (since thier diet is limited to mostly furry things). So, they have evolved to use less energy, to eat less.

That's my way of thinking :)

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Makes sense to me!

I don't know about "needing" exercise. But when you look at it the other way around it's pretty interesting.

I have both tanks and tubs. Most of my snakes are quite happy in tubs, but I have a few who clearly prefer larger tanks. All of my BP's that are kept in the larger tanks (more room to "exercise" on a nightly basis) are very active when held. Whereas most of my BP's kept in tubs (less space) are not nearly as active when handled.

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl: Oh yea, all the time. Everyday I put them on the treadmill. They just love it!:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Daniel

I would think all living things need some movement or excercise as well as instinctual brain stimulation(yeah, i work in a laboratory). Or do we get snake veal ?
I throw mine in a 40 gal breeder that's set up like a forest so they can cruise around and explore for about an hr.I only do this at night during their natural waking hrs. Every now and then i'll throw a rodent on the other end. I do this once evry couple of weeks.

Of course i only have 8 bps. If i had like 50 it would be tough.

I don't think they need exercise, but it certainly won't hurt them! :) I like to let mine cruise around (while supervised) sometimes. Like someone else said, it's fun to watch them...and how the other critters react! (The beardies bob at them; the geckos just watch with interest.)

Yeah, what Trott said. I have 9 BPs, and I usually take one or two out per day and let them tool around the bookshelf or whatever; they're also sharing tanks, 3 each to a 60 gallon tank.

But I'll have to break down and start using racks pretty soon. This setup is pretty sweet, but it's just not practical for a large number of animals. And I'm very curious to see if there will be behavioral differences between the well-socialized animals and the tub dwellers.

i let my bp(boris) excercise 4 days a week(if it wasnt for feeding i would let him everyday.i do it because hes explorer and jsut loves being able to climb on chairs and stuff istead of moving around a terrarium.i think he prefers to excercise.i even set up obstacle courses for him with pillows and other soft stuff. so ya i think they need excercise just to be able to get out of thier enclosure for a bit

Since we're going there...

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r...0075/Betty.jpg

:) Betty trying to figure out how to work the elliptical with no arms or legs...Heehee, I needed a place to put her while I cleaned out her enclosure (I had NO idea a 350g snake could produce a dukie bigger than my cat's...

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Originally Posted by trott

I would think all living things need some movement or excercise as well as instinctual brain stimulation(yeah, i work in a laboratory). Or do we get snake veal ?
I throw mine in a 40 gal breeder that's set up like a forest so they can cruise around and explore for about an hr.I only do this at night during their natural waking hrs. Every now and then i'll throw a rodent on the other end. I do this once evry couple of weeks.

Of course i only have 8 bps. If i had like 50 it would be tough.

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that is a really cool idea....