You guys ever heard of CRACKING you snakes back?

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Originally Posted by giaach

They wrap their tail around one branch and reach out for the other and basically stretch themselves out, re-aligning their back.

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This MAY be true for other species, but I'm certain it's not for a Ball Python.

They can't wrap thier tails around anything really, being so short and stubby, and they sure don't inhabate trees in thier lives in the wild.

The only place you will find a ball python in the wild is in a burrow, or if it's hunting at night, on the ground.

Never once heard of a Ball Python living in trees. They may use trees and branches in captivity that are placed in the enclosure, but thats merely just a way to try to get out. Using the limb as a tool of hieght.

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Originally Posted by giaach

I understand where you are all coming from. Believe me, if I didn't trust this guy I would have never let him even hold him. While we were talking he told me how snakes do the same thing in the wild. This guy isn't in his early 20s being a cocky college student. He actually went back to school after working at the columbus zoo and all around the americas for 5 or so years. What the snakes do in the wild involves 2 trees or branches. They wrap their tail around one branch and reach out for the other and basically stretch themselves out, re-aligning their back. Sometimes they do it when your holding them. They might wrap tightly around your arm.
When I said cracking the snakes back, thats not a literal term. He held the snake with both hands, massages its sides and then slid his fingers down the length of the snake back and by doing this ever so gently it aligned the snakes spine.
He actually stopped doing it and the snake took matters into his own hands and proceeded to stretch himself out the way he had described.

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Ask your freind to join here and show us writting proof of these methods and if its a proving technique then we will apologize.If your freind refuses to show us this proof then in my opinion he is passing on lies and needs to never allowed to be around any animals.Until then i stand firm on this technique being a bunch of elephant poo ;)

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Originally Posted by pslsnakes

Never once heard of a Ball Python living in trees.

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That makes two of us :P

That makes three of us.

Quattro :)

Hey I never said that they live in trees. He was only using that as an example, it doesnt mean it applies to just ball pythons. When I go in this sunday Ill ask him about it again and see if he can provide some hard evidence.

I know they don't live in trees - and this has nothing to do with this thread - but every now and then, my bp will just lounge on his branch...and will sometimes hunt prey from there. It's usually a comical feed because there's just no leverage, but the branch gives him the "upper" hand in the hunt.

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Originally Posted by joepythons

Ask your freind to join here and show us writting proof of these methods and if its a proving technique then we will apologize.If your freind refuses to show us this proof then in my opinion he is passing on lies and needs to never allowed to be around any animals.Until then i stand firm on this technique being a bunch of elephant poo ;)

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by giaach

Hey I never said that they live in trees. He was only using that as an example, it doesnt mean it applies to just ball pythons. When I go in this sunday Ill ask him about it again and see if he can provide some hard evidence.

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No need for you to get upset here :D.If you please have HIM come here and show us his written proof of this ;)

Guys, there's no need to go on the offensive. If you don't agree with the technique, a simple explanation of why you wouldn't use it will suffice. We don't need for him to prove his techniques, as we don't practice this in the first place. Yes, I would like to see any studies that proved this to be beneficial but it's hardly necessary to make me from stopping something I don't already practice.

I DO have a Bachelors of Science degree in Biological Sciences with an Emphasis in Zoology, and I can tell you that that particular subject NEVER came up in any of my classes. In fact, the BS is pretty basic in teaching taxonomy, biological and chemical systems. I did have quite a few genetics classes which helped me out quite a bit here. Most zoology classes do not teach about live animals, at least not on such a basic level. I also wouldn't take ONE person's word about anything. I like to gather as much research as possible, and then apply it to my own personal situation. What works for some may not work for others.

To me it sounds a bit similar to palpating follicles, but on the entire snake. Personally I do not and will not be trying that out on my snakes.

Last night I was handling my BP, and his back carcked about 50 times. He did it himself apparently, as he just stretched out. But afterwards he did seem to be more relaxed, or maybe it was just me, heh.