my first post w/pics.. DUW

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the breeder let us know that the uvb light may help with shedding.

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To help with shedding you must provide proper humidity of 50%-60% at all time and raise it to 70% during shedding if you think it is necessary.

UVB are not needed, not sure you this "breeder" is, but he does not seems to know much about proper husbandry from what I have read so far.

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because ive been told it makes for a nicer snake

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Snakes fed in their enclosure are as "Nice" than the ones who are not, feeding in their enclosure allows to reduce the stress as they ambush their prey on a familiar ground from the security of their hides. (I have 16 and all are fed in their enclosure)

I know there's this old school thing about if you feed in the enclosure, your snake will start to think you are dinner and go after your hand. Think about this logically though....

if you feed outside the home enclosure, your hand is coming in there to move a hungry snake right? then later it's coming into the feeding tub to move a just finished hunting snake back into it's home enclosure...right?

So why wouldn't that become a trigger for your snake to strike at your hand everytime it sees it?

The fact is snakes know what prey is and what it isn't and your hand is in that enclosure all the time for a variety of reasons. Does that mean your snake is never going to strike at you, hiss, jab, slither away or just plain hide from you. Of course not, it's a snake and will do any of those things for whatever reason it's instinct says to do at that particular moment of it's existance.

You can have a perfectly laid back snake suddenly turn and take a swing at you. It happens and it's no big deal. It's just a snake being a snake. They aren't "nice", they are snakes. Most of the time if you get nipped, it's something you did to trigger that behaviour or something in their environment you haven't dealt with as a keeper to lower their stress level in captivity. Or it's just that you got nipped, and again...just something that comes with having a snake in your life. Feeding in or out of their home enclosure doesn't promote bites but it is often proven to allow the snake to feel the most secure it can feel...and secure snakes eat better.

Just curious? What's the name of this breeder? I've never heard a reputable ball python breeder recommend housing ball pythons together or uvb light to aid in shedding.

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Originally Posted by AshleyB

i feed them in seperate containers because ive been told it makes for a nicer snake and we can verify who eats and what size. Again i plan to read more on the links that were listed, thanks again!

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Glad to hear you're going to keep reading!

I've got sixteen ball pythons, all housed individually, and all fed in their own enclosures. I've never once been mistaken for food, or struck at as a result of them associating their home with food. All of my kiddos I'd describe as pretty laid back (or nice).

The place is called east coast reptiles, they have been in buisness since 95' the owner whos name i want to withold simply because i dont have his permission to release it is the person who suggested it. :sunny:

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Originally Posted by AshleyB

The place is called east coast reptiles, they have been in buisness since 95' the owner whos name i want to withold simply because i dont have his permission to release it is the person who suggested it. :sunny:

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Wouldn't the owner be a matter of public record? I can't imagine a breeder who's been in the business as long as he says he has would want to keep his name secret?

Edit - is it Jason Campbell (who also uses the alias Jason William or Williams) and Lisa Campbell of this East Coast Reptiles?

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...94&page=1&pp=5

If so, more fun stuff of his selling het spiders and het pastels (there is no such thing) a few years ago and he was outed as a scammer. It mentions his business as East Coast Reptiles on post #125

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...Coast+Reptiles

That would explain the poor advice of housing together and using UVB light to aid in shedding.

Unfortunately, just because a person owns a business and makes money at it doesn't necessarily mean they're reputable. It just means they're willing to say anything to make a buck---without considering the welfare of the animal or person involved. And they prey on the people that don't know any better---who think they're getting good information and are doing what is right.

There is a place in Columbus, Ohio like this. When I first started going in there, I soaked up every bit of information I could. But the more I read, and the more I started talking to people on various forums, the more I realized the store owner was simply spouting stuff to make a sale to people who really didn't know any better. I can't go in there anymore, even for frozen feeders---it makes my stomach queasy.

You know, it's interesting---they didn't try to sell you two set-ups (something that might have lost them the sale of a second snake), but they did manage to squeeze extra money out of you for the very unnecessary UVB light... which I'm sure wasn't cheap.

BTW, this is just me ranting... I'm actually a very nice person :D

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Wouldn't the owner be a matter of public record? I can't imagine a breeder who's been in the business as long as he says he has would want to keep his name secret?

Edit - is it Jason Campbell (who also uses the alias Jason William or Williams) and Lisa Campbell of this East Coast Reptiles?

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...94&page=1&pp=5

If so, more fun stuff of his selling het spiders and het pastels (there is no such thing) a few years ago and he was outed as a scammer. It mentions his business as East Coast Reptiles on post #125

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...Coast+Reptiles

That would explain the poor advice of housing together and using UVB light to aid in shedding.

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WOW. :eek: I really hope that is not the same guy you bought from.

no, its not. and if it is public record great you look it up, i do know for a fact they have been in buisness at that location since 95 and that is not the owners first or last name.. infact its not even close. im not giving out information without permission, i know better than that. just like i wont publically post pictures of someone else's children on my website without their permission even though it would help me "make a buck".

im very saddened that one of my first posts resulted in so much negative attention.. we kept columbian babys together for many months several years ago just fine, not knowing they couldn't be together. I hope this was a sore subject of posts and that perhaps i can get a start off on a better foot than this.

As for my ball babys, I spoke with my exotic vet down here and asked her opinion on the subject, in addition to reading lots of material, suggested here and otherwise and for that i thank you. I do plan to get them apart soon, someday i would like to breed (even though they are just "normals") not today or even two years from now but someday.. i want healthy snakes as well. Today I plan to go to the petco nearby and pick the male up an enclosure.

Another question, we live in south florida (hot) in a condo on the third floor. we have a screened in balcony, my question is.. im having a tough time keeping their temps regulated as our home (obviously) is kept very cool, especially at night, sometimes dropping into upper 60s thanks to my husband who insists on keeping it FREEZING. can I keep them each in a 20gal on one of those iron stands on the balcony? Its not like bugs could really get up there (not that it isnt impossible but ive never even seen an ant up there and i work for a pest control company so i would know what to look for) the temps would be more normal, low 90s during day (although the patio is covered so its cooler out there) and high 70s at night.. from what ive read thats more ideal.. can they be kept outside? a stand in our home with a tank that close to the floor isnt feisable as we have small children who will either torment the snakes or pull the damn stand right over on top of them. please dont flame me.. im really asking for the best intrest of everyone involved, especially savanna and caution

Sounds like the "breeder" is just some wham bam pet store guy. UV lighting? sound like he wants to sell light fixtures. Multiple snakes in enclosure? sell more snakes.