Wiggles, the Children's Python

After a big meal, Wiggles just likes to Netflix and chill. I open up Wiggles's enclosure for about an hour daily. Usually, he'll leave the enclosure to explore my living room. He stopped going into the forbidden gap (post #59) and now he climbs out the top of his enclosure. He climbs along the window sill taking in the sights and smells through the window, climbs down my son's telescope, up the end table and onto the couch. At that point, i have to collect him, because he's no longer allowed on the couch. My wife thinks she found a turd there. I'll handle him for a few minutes before he climbs off me and onto my rocking chair. When the hour's up, I gather him up and return him to his enclosure. The day or two after a meal, though, he's often content to just rest his head on the threshold of his enclosure and take in the fresh air.
https://i.imgur.com/VraTnFQ.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/zngvLcL.jpg
I hate it when Wiggles is in shed. While he's normally very active and engaging, sometime too much so, when he's shedding he disappears and doesn't reappear 'til he'd done. This time he checked out for a whole week. I still opened his enclosure nightly, but he wouldn't come out. Every couple days, I'd give him a poke just to make sure he was still alive.

My daughter's boyfriend came over for dinner for the first time yesterday. He really wanted to meet Wiggles, but Wiggles would have none of it. Of course, today he shed. I'm just glad to have my friend back.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Homebody

...I hate it when Wiggles is in shed.....when he's shedding he disappears and doesn't reappear 'til he'd done....

---

The "solution" is getting more snakes- :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

The "solution" is getting more snakes- :D

---

If I got another snake, he'd have to be a real potato. When Wiggles isn't in shed, he wears me out.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Homebody

If I got another snake, he'd have to be a real potato. When Wiggles isn't in shed, he wears me out.

---

THAT little snake??? :rofl:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

THAT little snake??? :rofl:

---

Oh, yeah. He always begging to come out. He spends an hour out every day. On weekends, sometimes a couple times a day. He spent an hour out earlier. What's he doing now? Begging to come out.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Homebody

I hate it when Wiggles is in shed. While he's normally very active and engaging, sometime too much so, when he's shedding he disappears and doesn't reappear 'til he'd done. This time he checked out for a whole week. I still opened his enclosure nightly, but he wouldn't come out. Every couple days, I'd give him a poke just to make sure he was still alive.

My daughter's boyfriend came over for dinner for the first time yesterday. He really wanted to meet Wiggles, but Wiggles would have none of it. Of course, today he shed. I'm just glad to have my friend back.

---

I can relate. I also miss seeing/handling my snakes when they're in shed, which typically lasts 10-14 days from start to finish. Luckily, I have a few other critters to compensate for their absence. I didn't know Children's pythons were so active. Most of my snakes are pretty sedentary. They're usually only active at night and when they're hungry.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Homebody

Oh, yeah. He always begging to come out. He spends an hour out every day. On weekends, sometimes a couple times a day. He spent an hour out earlier. What's he doing now? Begging to come out.

---

He knows a pushover when he sees one. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

I didn't know Children's pythons were so active. Most of my snakes are pretty sedentary. They're usually only active at night and when they're hungry.

---

Same here. Just in Wiggles's case "at night" and "when...hungry" covers 20 out of every 24 hours. He's not always surfing the glass, but if I open the enclosure, he'll take the opportunity to come out and explore.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

He knows a pushover when he sees one. :D

---

Right you are! You know I let him out for another hour. How can you say no when they want to do something that's good for them?

My Antaresia are the same - they're active and curious, which I love. One thing you might try for your little guy is one of those pet 'playpens'. Not the metal kind, but the cloth + cloth screen type. Just search 'pet playpen' on Amazon. I have a large and a medium sized one that I use for my snakes when they want out to explore but I am needing to do other stuff and can't supervise them directly. The playpens have a screen top that can be zipped shut - I toss hides, branches, cardboard boxes, plushy stuff or towels (they love soft materials), fake plants, and other enrichment items in there. The playpen can easily be folded up and stashed away when not in use.

Those things have really been a help for me, as I have a few snakes that love to come out, and I always felt terrible if I was busy and couldn't let them out.

Photo below of Frida, one of my Tarahumara Mountain Boas. She LOVES to come out and when I open her enclosure, will actually take herself to the playpen, as in this photo.[IMG]https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...h_april_22.jpg[/IMG]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Caitlin

One thing you might try for your little guy is one of those pet 'playpens'. Not the metal kind, but the cloth + cloth screen type. Just search 'pet playpen' on Amazon. I have a large and a medium sized one that I use for my snakes when they want out to explore but I am needing to do other stuff and can't supervise them directly. The playpens have a screen top that can be zipped shut - I toss hides, branches, cardboard boxes, plushy stuff or towels (they love soft materials), fake plants, and other enrichment items in there. The playpen can easily be folded up and stashed away when not in use.[/IMG]

---

Wiggles has a hatchday coming up, so I'll definitely keep that in mind. I also have another idea, a freestanding coat rack:
https://i.imgur.com/KFau0RV_d.webp?m...fidelity=grand
I could hang platforms at different heights from the hooks. I could even hang the playpen you suggested.

Great idea! Though the pet playpens I use are too big to hang. For climbing, I do something similar for my Ants - I put together an 'Itty Bitty Python Jungle Gym' using a clothes drying rack. The little guys love it: [IMG]https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...jungle_gym.jpg[/IMG]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Caitlin

Great idea! Though the pet playpens I use are too big to hang. For climbing, I do something similar for my Ants - I put together an 'Itty Bitty Python Jungle Gym' using a clothes drying rack. The little guys love it

---

I use those collapsible laundry baskets, so that's what I was picturing. You probably use one of those puppy playpens. That would be too large to hang.

What I like about the coat rack is that I can use the height to keep him confined. As long as I can keep him about 2 feet off the ground with no way to climb down, he should stay on it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Homebody

You probably use one of those puppy playpens. That would be too large to hang.

What I like about the coat rack is that I can use the height to keep him confined. As long as I can keep him about 2 feet off the ground with no way to climb down, he should stay on it.

---

I have to admit I had a bit of a chuckle over this. He's an Antaresia. He WILL find a way to climb down.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Caitlin

I have to admit I had a bit of a chuckle over this. He's an Antaresia. He WILL find a way to climb down.

---

Matching wits with them is one of the great joys of keeping them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Homebody

...As long as I can keep him about 2 feet off the ground with no way to climb down, he should stay on it.

---

Don't bet on that! :rofl: He can circle that pole very easily & head down to the floor- so DON'T make the mistake of not watching him when he's using that- or you'll be playing "hide & seek" instead.

I've used something similar with some of my rat snakes- they don't stay put, that's for sure. They don't even stay up there for very long...:rofl:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Don't bet on that! :rofl: He can circle that pole very easily & head down to the floor- so DON'T make the mistake of not watching him when he's using that- or you'll be playing "hide & seek" instead.

---

I just thought of this this morning, so there will definitely be kinks to work out in the design. In my head, one of my hanging platforms will prevent him from climbing down the pole, but don't worry. Wiggles and I will put it through rigorous testing. If it doesn't work. Well, it costs $15. Maybe it'll make a good coat rack.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Homebody

I just thought of this this morning, so there will definitely be kinks to work out in the design. In my head, one of my hanging platforms will prevent him from climbing down the pole, but don't worry. Wiggles and I will put it through rigorous testing. If it doesn't work. Well, it costs $15. Maybe it'll make a good coat rack.

---

If you keep it "interesting enough" maybe he'll want to stay up there. Like hang some baskets or other things he can "hide" in, like fake foliage. I just know my snakes never stay put, lol, but "your results may vary".

What do you think about repti-links for Children's pythons? The pick below is from their mega-blend advertising. The mega-blend has: Guinea fowl, Chicken, Quail (includes whole bird and some feathers), Ohio raised New Zealand white or California white breed rabbit, and bullfrog, 100% natural collagen casing. I understand that a variety of prey is healthier, my local rodent supplier isn't the most reliable, and I don't think my wife would mind me keeping these in the freezer because they look like regular sausages rather than dead rodents.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/JaHSdhe.jpg

She'll only mind if she cooks them for breakfast accidentally. :rofl:

I see nothing wrong with feeding Repti-links- the only question is whether your snake will eat them. I've never tried them on any of my snakes.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I see nothing wrong with feeding Repti-links- the only question is whether your snake will eat them.

---

I'll try them for his first meal after a shed. He'll be extra hungry then.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Homebody

I'll try them for his first meal after a shed. He'll be extra hungry then.

---

Good idea- He probably won't mind at all, but you never know? I'm curious to see if he likes them.

Several of my snakes eagerly accept reptilinks. A couple of them look at me like I'm crazy when I offer them. The Ants will eat anything that doesn't eat them first.

Overall I like them a lot since they are a whole-prey item and they add some nice variety.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Caitlin

...The Ants will eat anything that doesn't eat them first....

---

For anyone it may confuse- I'm sure that by "The Ants" you're referring to members of Antaresia- ie. Children's & Spotted pythons+ and NOT the kind of "ants" with many legs that ALSO eat "anything". :D And I cannot picture my Spotted "Ant" refusing them either. :snake2: Only for the moment, since she's in shed.

I put together Wiggles's activity station. It basically consists of a banker's box, a couple lids and some twine attached to the coat rack above. I added newspaper for substrate, a water bowl, and some hides.

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

Wiggles tried it out for the first time today.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/r16Xmwv.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/71Zfet7.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/CvHVt13.jpg

After an hour and a half, he'd had enough,...

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/m5pj50D.jpg

so I put him back in his enclosure.

Apart from the edges/sides, cardboard boxes used as platforms offer very little traction to a snake. Could stand improvements, IMO, but he obviously enjoyed it for a while anyway.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Apart from the edges/sides, cardboard boxes used as platforms offer very little traction to a snake. Could stand improvements, IMO, but he obviously enjoyed it for a while anyway.

---

Fair point. I'll have to put that in the old pot and stew up a solution. Thanks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Homebody

Fair point. I'll have to put that in the old pot and stew up a solution. Thanks.

---

You might try zip-tying some branches into a network that's attached to the "tree", &/or use some baskets as I've previously described, or use other stuff, tbd. You're plenty creative, you'll figure it out- many things can work. But smooth cardboard (like that shelf) has no traction. Also, something he can literally hide in might go a long way for his "sense of security" (like from birds of prey).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

You might try zip-tying some branches into a network that's attached to the "tree", &/or use some baskets as I've previously described, or use other stuff, tbd. You're plenty creative, you'll figure it out- many things can work. But smooth cardboard (like that shelf) has no traction. Also, something he can literally hide in might go a long way for his "sense of security" (like from birds of prey).

---

I know. It looks spare. You're probably disappointed. "Where's all that wonderful Homebody creativity?", you're probably wondering. Well, unfortunately, Wiggles's activity center needs to be broken down and put away after every use. As a fellow reptile keeper you can appreciate the beauty of my creation. You say it should be even bigger and more elaborate. I agree. My wife does not. She sees a tall pile of garbage. Sigh.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Homebody

I know. It looks spare. You're probably disappointed. "Where's all that wonderful Homebody creativity?", you're probably wondering. Well, unfortunately, Wiggles's activity center needs to be broken down and put away after every use. As a fellow reptile keeper you can appreciate the beauty of my creation. You say it should be even bigger and more elaborate. I agree. My wife does not. She sees a tall pile of garbage. Sigh.

---

Oh no, so sorry! But it doesn't need to be difficult to break down- I use pieces of coated wire (stronger than grocery-store twist-ties) to temporarily secure branches, & your snake isn't going to pull them apart anyway. You can probably pre-connect a couple things that you can easily put on & off the coat rack (even a wreath, with the right-sized holes). I see a plant nearby- hey, maybe you just need to go all the way for "attractiveness" & get a tall fake tree? Anyway- we all have challenges- not to worry.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Oh no, so sorry! But it doesn't need to be difficult to break down- I use pieces of coated wire (stronger than grocery-store twist-ties) to temporarily secure branches, & your snake isn't going to pull them apart anyway. You can probably pre-connect a couple things that you can easily put on & off the coat rack (even a wreath, with the right-sized holes). I see a plant nearby- hey, maybe you just need to go all the way for "attractiveness" & get a tall fake tree? Anyway- we all have challenges- not to worry.

---

While each version needs to be simple, fortunately, there can be multiple versions. It's flexible like that. So this month it's cardboard platforms. Well, I don't have a lot of money invested in the cardboard platforms. So, next month, it can be branches. The month after, vines. Each version, taken in isolation, may be boring, but hopefully, by changing it up, I'll keep it interesting for Wiggles.

Feeding day! I don't like dead mice and I like dead baby mice even less, but Wiggles's excitement is infectious, so I'm looking forward to it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Homebody

Feeding day! I don't like dead mice and I like dead baby mice even less, but Wiggles's excitement is infectious, so I'm looking forward to it.

---

Well I'm sure the feeling's mutual- your sandwich doesn't excite him either. :rofl:

Wiggles had a monumental activity session on Monday. He climbed onto the activity station, shot up to the top platform, and sat there for two hours. Sunday’s session was more sedate. He only explored the first platform. This time he climbed to the top level like he’d done it a thousand times before. I was a little disappointed that he just sat there, but there was one unexpected benefit. I noticed my family interacted with him more. He wasn’t doing anything, but they all stopped to greet him and compliment his appearance, even my wife. It’s a lot easier to interact with a snake when it’s at eye level.

His activity sessions usually aren’t so long, but I was waiting for him to show me a sign that he was anything other than perfectly content. I also wasn’t anxious to get him back in his enclosure. His ambient temps have been a little too high lately due to the weather and, while the temperatures were the same on this activity session, at least the air flow was better.

After a couple hours or so, I shut off the lights, and Wiggles decided it was time to get down. I could have just put him away but he hadn’t had much exercise, so I decided to let him try and get down by himself. His efforts were impressive.

He anchored himself to the side of the top platform and extended. It must have been a full two thirds of this body length straight out, but there was nothing to grab. Prior to the session, I didn’t think he’d be able to climb down around the platform. He did so with ease by anchoring himself to a coat hook, extending himself over the edge of the platform and back to another coat hook on the underside. My confidence that the activity station is escape proof took a big hit there.

The bottom platform foiled his efforts though. He just couldn’t manage it. The sides are higher so the distance from his anchor point to the pole on the underside was further than he could reach. Though he didn’t manage it Monday, I’m concerned that with practice he will. I don’t need the activity station to be escape proof, but I do need it to be escape resistant. We’ll see how that goes.

At bedtime, I moved his activity station close to his enclosure so he could put himself away, but he still hadn’t had enough. He climbed off the station, but onto the window sill and started to follow his old track around the room. From the sill, he usually climbs down my son’s telescope, but I moved it. So, he anchored himself to the sill using this cool Centipede Tetris maneuver and climbed to the ground without it.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/DdYE7Mw.jpg

At his point, I’d had enough. Four hours after the activity session started, I tapped him with the paper towel roll, gently picked him up and I put him away. I was all set to do it again last night, but Wiggles wasn’t. When I opened his enclosure, he just sat there with his head on the threshold. I said to him, “After last night, you earned it.”

Sounds like a very production & enjoyable session for everyone. :gj: That's hilarious that last night he thought better of coming out.

More pics of Wiggles messing around:
https://i.imgur.com/lu53vuR.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Atkcu8j.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/UOIGXFX.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Yv2TxHH.jpg

That's like a confidence-building course for snakes! :D And I have to say, he's racking up the points.

https://i.imgur.com/seFoINI.jpg

...and many happy returns. Wiggles is two years old today.

:colbert2::carrot::fest2::bday::fest::pinkele::cake::clap: What a great looking cake (for a snake)-:D

Wiggles just began and ended his activity session all on his own. I noticed he was hanging out on his perches, so I thought he might be game for an activity session. He thought it over for about 20 minutes, but ultimately decided to come out.

Out and up to the top of his enclosure, he climbed on my potted plants, the candy bowl, some books, and the fan (turned off). Then, he went over to the window sill where he took in outside smells through the screen. He even got a little sun. When he’d had enough, he put himself away.

What made the session great was that I know Wiggles got just the amount of activity that he needed. I always give Wiggles the freedom to choose when to start an activity session, but letting him choose when to end it is more difficult. Most often, he wants to stay out longer than I am available to supervise him. Other times, he may want to return, but doesn’t know how. He has to rely on me to read his sometimes ambiguous signals. This time, he was able to end the session on his own.

That's awesome! :gj:

I love hearing this - you are doing really good work with him and he's obviously responding! It's SO satisfying when they start to manage their 'freedom time' in a way that works well for both snake and keeper. And Antaresia are so bright and responsive that they learn really quickly.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Caitlin

I love hearing this - you are doing really good work with him and he's obviously responding! It's SO satisfying when they start to manage their 'freedom time' in a way that works well for both snake and keeper. And Antaresia are so bright and responsive that they learn really quickly.

---

Putting himself away from on top of his enclosure is a great start. I don't think he's fluent at it yet, but I agree that he'll learn quickly. Next, I'll try to teach him to put himself away from his activity station. Then, likely using his target training, I'll teach him to put himself away from the floor. At that point, I'll be confident that he can end any activity session when he's no longer benefitting from it. That's the goal anyway. We'll see how it goes.

I lost Wiggles. Last night, during an activity session, he slithered under my couch. At least, I thought he did. When I went to check on him, he wasn't there. I thoroughly searched that and the adjoining rooms. Then, I searched the more distant bedrooms. Finally, I decided I'd have better luck if I let him come to me.

Wiggles is an active little guy. I didn't see him holding up in one spot for long. So, I crumpled some newspaper and put in across the thresholds in every room. I figured when he slithered across them, it would make enough noise for me to hear. I turned off the lights, grabbed my flashlight, and I waited. At midnight, I let myself doze off on the sofa flashlight at the ready. I woke up periodically during the night and checked the newspapers, but they were undisturbed.

After work, I plan to stop off at the reptile shop and pick up some pinkies to bait him out of hiding. At this point, I'm still optimistic that he'll turn up. I had a hamster once that went missing for weeks. Still it ain't fun.

Nope, NOT fun! :( Have you turned your couch "inside out"? remove cushions, & turn couch over & check for any holes in the lining fabric that would allow him to go inside the couch? That's a favorite place that snakes gravitate to.

You've been "playing with fire" by letting him out so much (if you're anything like me, that is- I'm always multi-tasking & distractions get us in trouble!) & I wouldn't count on him "coming to you" but I hope I'm wrong. Good luck! :please:

If he's in your couch, the scent of food might bring him out- but I would get fuzzies at least- with fur, they'll have more scent. You can always freeze them & serve them when he's bigger. (Just for the scent, getting one adult mouse might be even better- especially if it works- but just make sure it can't escape, & that he cannot actually get to it.)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Nope, NOT fun! :( Have you turned your couch "inside out"? remove cushions, & turn couch over & check for any holes in the lining fabric that would allow him to go inside the couch? That's a favorite place that snakes gravitate to.

---

Yes. I did all that.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

You've been "playing with fire" by letting him out so much (if you're anything like me, that is- I'm always multi-tasking & distractions get us in trouble!) & I wouldn't count on him "coming to you" but I hope I'm wrong. Good luck! :please:

---

Yes. Clearly I've been giving him too much freedom. When I find him, he's going to be so grounded.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

If he's in your couch, the scent of food might bring him out- but I would get fuzzies at least- with fur, they'll have more scent. You can always freeze them & serve them when he's bigger. (Just for the scent, getting one adult mouse might be even better- especially if it works- but just make sure it can't escape, & that he cannot actually get to it.)

---

Will do. Thanks for the tip.

P.S. Adult MALE mice have the most odor (scent). It would be worth the sacrifice (or you could rehome him, lol) if it works. A small fan set on low would help circulate his "fragrance" too. Just make sure the mouse can't escape...;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Homebody

...Clearly I've been giving him too much freedom. When I find him, he's going to be so grounded...

---

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Also, keep looking UP- these little pythons climb well & seem to like the safety of hunting from above. And heat rises, so higher up might be more to his liking. The little brat...:rolleyes: (This is the drawback of Antaresia, compared to BPs- they're much smaller & harder to find when they hide. Good luck!)

My wife just called me. She was very upset. She can't do the laundry because Wiggles is in the laundry cart and she's afraid to move it.