Shayna - Our Albino Spider Ball

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Originally Posted by richardhind1972

That's great news dave, glad she's back on track with her feeding schedule

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Thanks Rich.

BP's are strange if you've kept Boas or most colubrids. They eat on their schedule, not ours!

I started with a BP and then got into corn snakes, Boas, and Carpet Pythons. So, I love them for their ease of feeding, but still adore Shayna. Aside from her eating habits and being a bit shy, she's a wonderful girl.

However, I tell most people who want a BP as a first snake, especially those who are "helicopter" parents, to get a colubrid first. Between the humidity requirements, and especially the fasting and skipping meals, I do not think they are great first snakes. Having said that, they usually have an awesome demeanor. Of course, new snake owners like to handle, and although calm participants, I find Shayna does well for about ten minutes and then wants back. Behira, Feliz, my corns, they can be handled longer, especially the Boas. The boas either want to explore all day or fall asleep on me. Shayna gets antsy.

Shayna has been eating like a pig. I've been offering small rats (averaging about 70G) every two weeks, instead of mediums (about 100-110G). She's eaten every meal since she broke her fast, except for when in shed. Below are pictures of meal time and of her post shed.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/GUOPJEf.jpg

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Really glad she's back on her feeding schedule again dave, she's looking great by the way

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Originally Posted by richardhind1972

Really glad she's back on her feeding schedule again dave, she's looking great by the way

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Every year. I am used to it now. She's already almost back to her weight from last year. With BP's, you just roll with the "they eat when they want" punches.

Yeah, the camera doesn't do her justice. She literally glows, like neon glows.

Feeding small rats over mediums has made a big difference in Shayna's appetite. She's eating like clockwork (except when in fast or shed). I fed her two nights ago and she nailed the rat. Scared me because she strikes about 1X a year. I never know when it's coming :).

She's almost back to pre-fast weight and is doing well.

Shayna has nailed 2 rats in a row (1 per feeding) for the first time since she was little. For years she struck maybe 1X a year, now it seems she is striking at her prey regularly.

Smaller prey items over the same duration (small rats/2 week intervals) has gotten her really interested in food again. As has the proper enclosure (her boaphile) with proper temps and humidity and a great temp gradient. I think all these things contribute.

Either way, I am happy she's eating regularly and with zest!

Shayna reached pre-fast weight this week. 1,780G. She had urinated and urated, but probably needs to poop soon. Either way, the most she ever weighed was 1,790G wet. So she's doing great. Again, eating well and great body definition, etc. Still a total sweetie. She turns 7 in September.

She's beautiful!

Glad she's eating so well for you. Love her color.

Shayna spent some quality time with Dad today. Katie got a good picture of us.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/ccXqETz.jpg

Did she not want to smile for the camera dave like dad, makes me laugh when you want to take a picture of the face and they hide being all shy
She really looks great dave

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Shayna shed two nights ago and left me some presents.

I took some pictures yesterday, with just the iPhone, but Shayna looks stunning. She also weighed in, dry, at 1,800G. That's a new top weight for her. She's loving small rats every 2 weeks versus medium rats when she felt like it. She strikes most meals now, and even if she doesn't, grabs the rat with gusto and drags into her house, etc. This time last year, she was 100G or so below where she is now.

I thank this forum, and Deborah, for encouraging me to feed smaller meals and not stick with my status quo. It's definitely doing wonders for her.

Even "seasoned" reptile owners can continue to learn and grow. It's important for all of us to want what's best for our animals and be open to the idea we don't always know what that is. I keep many species, and took for granted my BP knowledge, since I've had that species the longest. What I didn't take into account was that I hadn't revisited and caught up my knowledge recently, with BP's anyway. Frankly, snake wise, I knew more about Boas and Carpet Pythons, and Corn snakes until I dug into BP's again for Shayna's benefit.

My point is, be humble and check in from time to time to see if there are new theories, beliefs, or best practices, for a certain species you have. 90% of the time, it will all be good, but even this small change in prey size, counter intuitive as might have seemed, has done wonders for Shayna.


Shayna has had 9/10 rats since March, vs. 8/10 when I fed mediums last year. That may now seem consequential, but the weight gain is, and her newfound zest for eating is. I am interested to see how she does this winter when she usually fasts for 5 months and loses 7% or so of her body weight.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/Q4mWkzr.jpg
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She really is looking great dave, them lines almost look citrus yellow on her

I agree, your never too old to learn something new. what is fine for one snake say a boa, isn't necessarily fine for another as you may have noticed with your two, I know ones a locality bc and the a morph BI but can be very different, I've noticed more in my locality boas,
I always like to read thru other threads just incase you may take one thing from it and may work alot better for you
Let's hope her new feeding regime will improver her fasting this winter

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She’s gorgeous, love those dorsal markings!

Shayna has been pounding small rats every two weeks and is looking and doing great. I talk so much about the growing reptiles I have, I tend to neglect poor Shayna on this forum (not neglected at all here at home, but doesn't get enough love here).

Here are a few quick shots of her in my big chair in the reptile area.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/PnGpItI.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/1uc7TpP.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/gx2Sv0E.jpg

Don't worry, we know you wouldn't neglect such a big cuddly snake like Shayna. ;) I think she likes your chair, too...:snake:

Shayna left me a lot of presents today. She still weighs in about 1,800G and continues to eat like clockwork every 2 weeks on a small rat.

She seems to enjoy being handled the least of all my snakes, and I do not handle her as much as the others as a result. However, in the past few months, she seems more skittish than normal. She doesn't bite, but gets spooked easy, even bumping into herself, or me, etc. and jerking back. She's always done that, but it seems more. Of course, she's still a big sweetheart, and tends to calm down with a few minutes of handling. I handle the boas often and Yafe, the Carpet Python, and even Solana the scaleless corn a lot, and it used to be just Shayna and Figment (corn) snake wise. Maybe I am just used to how deliberate and confident the other snakes are now and in contrast, she seems worse. Anyway, just talking out loud. I will plan to handle her a little more frequently and see if that changes.

In the meantime, she's a beauty.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/y7ADMO3.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/2tNsrHh.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/asAM6mj.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/ZiEfSJg.jpg

She's still a great colour dave

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Originally Posted by richardhind1972

She's still a great colour dave

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She just had her 7th birthday at the beginning of the month. I don’t think she’s changing much!

She's only 7-? She's just a big baby then...7 is not even middle-aged for a BP. You should definitely try to handle her a bit more...she'll get more used to it & calm down
some, I bet?

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Originally Posted by dakski

She just had her 7th birthday at the beginning of the month. I don’t think she’s changing much!

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I meant that a lot of pythons fade there pattern as they get older

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Originally Posted by richardhind1972

I meant that a lot of pythons fade there pattern as they get older

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I know. I was kidding/being sarcastic.

Shayna shed last night and dry, weighs 1,810G.

She's looking good.

Everyone else fed last night and I will feed her tonight so she's still on schedule.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/h2SMATB.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/NrayXdW.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/PeFLR9C.jpg

Got some nice shots of Shayna today with the good camera.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/a96l8Pl.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/M9Ddryc.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/qmpVVyf.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/pbncwTM.jpg

Had Shayna out for a bit today for bonding time. She's looking awesome.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/db16Pmj.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/Npo9Jc6.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/pvH1Ln3.jpg

Shayna ate tonight, but didn't strike, and waited about 30 minutes before eventually gobbling down her small F/T rat. I am wondering if she's getting ready to do her yearly winter fast.

I'll keep everyone posted, but would not be surprised if she skips next meal.

Shayna is beautiful.


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Thanks Kam. "Shayna" means beautiful in Yiddish, in case you didn't know.

She's a great snake. She really got me back into reptile keeping hardcore after my kidney transplant. She was the first snake in the current collection.

Very gentle, although shy at times.

Got a few shots of her today after I cleaned her cage. Her almost neon yellows don't come out as well in photos as in person. She really is "bright."

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/ZAg8O7V.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/AVJLndY.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/5DgDLZM.jpg

And so it begins. Shayna began her winter fast. She ate for 7 months straight and off and on much of the later winter and early spring.

She's a solid 1,800G+ and seems to be doing fine.

I'll offer monthly for the next couple of months and then a little more frequently until she begins eating again.

Other BP owners who worry about their BP's not eating. If old enough and healthy and a good weight, they just do it. Don't sweat it. Give them some space (I tend to handle less in winter as well as Shayna is trying to conserve energy) and offer food occasionally. They will eat when they want.

At least your used to it now dave

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By spring, Shayna will be moved into her 4X2' tank, from the current 6X2'.

It's too much space for her now and Jeff, the new Boa, will be going in the 6X2', once off quarantine.

The question is do I move her now, while she is in her winter fast, or once she starts eating again? The sooner the better, and she's never missed more than a meal before when switching enclosures, however, I do not want to rock the boat.

She is healthy and about 1,800G now.

Any thoughts are welcome.

Think I'd move her now while she's fasting and at least she's then all sett and ready to smashing food again once her fast is over

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Shayna has been staying put and unless I check on her burrowed under her hide and the paper, I never see her. I've taken her out about 3-4 times since her first refused meal about a month ago.

Tonight, I offered everyone but Behira and figured I'd offer Shayna as well. She had no desire to strike, but I got her to peek her head out from the under her "layer." I left the rat near her and I am pretty sure she took it and ate it.

I'll check tomorrow, and if not, oh well, but I am pretty confident. I'll update only if she didn't eat.

She's done this in the past. Eaten 1-2X during winter and skipped all the rest. Either way, happy if she's eating. Not that I worry when she doesn't at this point, especially in winter, but it's always nice to see her take a meal.

That's just the way it goes...it's winter, like you said. A little off feed is normal. ;)

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

That's just the way it goes...it's winter, like you said. A little off feed is normal. ;)

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You got it. I really do not worry about her even if she fasts all winter, which has happened. I set the worry mark at 10% weight loss. She has never lost more than 6-7% over the winter. She's my only BP though, and I am happy to deal with her not eating and only her not eating! It's so much more fun to see happy AND eating snakes.

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Originally Posted by dakski

You got it. I really do not worry about her even if she fasts all winter, which has happened. I set the worry mark at 10% weight loss. She has never lost more than 6-7% over the winter. She's my only BP though, and I am happy to deal with her not eating and only her not eating! It's so much more fun to see happy AND eating snakes.

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You got that right! ;) I have a TX longnose & a rosy boa that skip most meals for a while in winter, but this is normal for them too...every year, this time. Que sera...

Shayna moved out of her 6X2X1' and into her 4X2X1.5' today. She never used all the space in the 6X2' and spent most of her life in a 4X2'. When I built the original Boaphile Stack for Behira (female BI) and the rest of the original crew, it made sense to do one stack and the biggest tank I needed was a 6X2'. So she had one for a bit. Now that Jeff (male BI) is here and off quarantine, he will use the space.

Of course, Shayna hardly needs the extra height in the 4X2, but it can't hurt either. Ultimately, it's possible I move Feliz (male dwarf BC) in there and move Shayna down to his 4X2X1', but we will see. Shayna isn't a crazy aggressive eater and the top tank is above my eye level and I stand on a stool to access it. I would rather deal with her than Feliz coming at me when he's at size, and I am on a stool, but we will see.

Anyway, long story short, Shayna, I hope you like your new digs.

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Originally Posted by dakski

... Shayna isn't a crazy aggressive eater and the top tank is above my eye level and I stand on a stool to access it. I would rather deal with her than Feliz coming at me when he's at size, and I am on a stool, but we will see...

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That could totally get dangerous standing on a stool with an aggressive eater flying out to meet you...we'll need video clips for sure. ;)

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

That could totally get dangerous standing on a stool with an aggressive eater flying out to meet you...we'll need video clips for sure. ;)

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:sarcasm:????????


I'd rather feed either of my corns from my mouth than have Feliz knock me off, or scare me off (:)) a stool!

Pound for pound, Boas POUND food harder than any snake I've ever kept.

:rolleye2:

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Originally Posted by dakski

:sarcasm:????????


I'd rather feed either of my corns from my mouth than have Feliz knock me off, or scare me off (:)) a stool!

Pound for pound, Boas POUND food harder than any snake I've ever kept.

:rolleye2:

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Not sarcasm, but just being silly for sure! :rofl: That, & I KNEW you wouldn't do it! :snake2: (remember, I've lived with a 7.5' female BCI...)

But gosh, now that you mention it, I could totally "settle" for you feeding a corn snake from your mouth...:D

Shayna seems settled into her new digs.

I've found her in 2/3 hides so far and both sides of the tank.

Because of the tanks height and her modest heat requirements compared with say, a monitor, I am having a difficult time getting about 1X2FT (1FT wide and 2FT deep) section to desired temps. I have heat tape on the hot and cool side, but near the cool side, away from the RHP, it's about 78F, then cool side is about 80F on the cooler heat tape. The "hot" side has a gradient of about 90 down to 82F middle of the tank and then there's the small drop-off for a few inches and then warmer again.

She seems to prefer the hot and cool side hides and not the middle hide which is between 78-82F. This is all ground temps with an IR gun of course.

Right now her water bowl is on the cool side heat tape. I am thinking of moving it to the middle and taking away or moving that middle hide. Then there will a smaller area that is 78ish.

Am I overthinking this? Frankly, I know quite a bit about BP's, but I am not expert on them either.

I plan to offer food this Sunday, but won't worry either way if she eats as she's in her winter, at least, semi-fast.

In the meantime, day 1 in her new digs she dropped a ton of urine and urate and a little poop. I am waiting for more, but no sausage butt either, so not too worried.

She weighed in at 1,940G! WOW. The small rats have made a big difference. That's her highest weight by 100G even if I discount 40G for more waste to come.

She seems happy and alert, but I don't bother her much in the winter as she's pretty inactive and not eating much.

Shayna dropped a huge bomb and weighed in, dry, at 1,840G.

She looks great and is due to be offered food Sunday.

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Shayna refused a F/T small rat tonight. She didn't even come out of her hide.

A) She's still in, at least, a partial winter fast.

B) She's only been in the new digs for about ten days or so.

I am not worried and do not plan to offer again for about 3 weeks.

I offered Shayna a F/T small rat tonight, and she didn't come out of her hide right away, so I left it for her.

I just checked and it's gone! I think we may have broken the winter fast.

I've had her take a rat a few times over the years and not actually eat it, but that's rare. If that's the case, I'll advise, otherwise, assume she's at least taken this one.

I should mention, for those who haven't followed the thread, that Shayna is an odd eater sometimes. Sometimes she strikes, but much of the time, she wants it left for her and she will take it when I leave her alone. She's shy.

Hey, it doesn't bother me. As long as she eats, I don't care her approach!

Having said that, I have documented that her winter fasts, at year 7 of having her, don't bother me too much. Still, it's nice when she does eat, especially in new digs. I am glad she is settling in.

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Originally Posted by dakski

I offered Shayna a F/T small rat tonight, and she didn't come out of her hide right away, so I left it for her.

I just checked and it's gone! I think we may have broken the winter fast.

I've had her take a rat a few times over the years and not actually eat it, but that's rare. If that's the case, I'll advise, otherwise, assume she's at least taken this one.

I should mention, for those who haven't followed the thread, that Shayna is an odd eater sometimes. Sometimes she strikes, but much of the time, she wants it left for her and she will take it when I leave her alone. She's shy.

Hey, it doesn't bother me. As long as she eats, I don't care her approach!

Having said that, I have documented that her winter fasts, at year 7 of having her, don't bother me too much. Still, it's nice when she does eat, especially in new digs. I am glad she is settling in.

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That's good then dave

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Shayna came out to play today. She did eat her rat this past Sunday and I decided to give her some exercise. I don't handle her much while she's fasting, but this could be a false start too, so I won't handle her like crazy, just 1X a week now until she's eating regularly.

https://i.imgur.com/wh4DSIf.jpg?1

Shayna is beautiful.


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Originally Posted by Kam

Shayna is beautiful.


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Thanks Kam. She's a great snake. It's good she's eating again, not that I worry too much about her when she fasts, especially with good weight on her. However, still nice to see her eating.

So last rat was a "false start." She refused last night. I am not concerned at all, but I think it's helpful to other keepers to know that they can start eating without it being consistent after a fast.

Her body condition is great and she does not appear to be going into shed. I think it's just Shayna being a BP.

Shayna shed last night and dropped some waste. That explains why she didn't eat the other night (maybe :)).

She's 1,800G dry now.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/s5EC3ZH.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/aHFbZdz.jpg

Shayna happily ate a F/T small rat tonight.

She's 2/3 last three feedings (2 weeks apart) and only refused when in shed.