Mazikeen progression thread

Monday was Maze's second "Got'cha Day", and though I'm late, I've got lots of photos to make up for it!

She's surpassed the 1000 gram "wall" without any fanfare. I'm in the process of building her permanent home from plywood, the progress of which will be documented in the DIY forum. Hoping to finish sanding and start staining tomorrow.

Also: after two years she loves phones, but still hates grass.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b07848e57c.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2c7b76bd12.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...d5433bdb83.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...6d1698144e.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...c07ccb5142.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...5ef7a55267.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...3d091366c6.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...376a7a3dec.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...fd449a3b32.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f18d1c0395.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...1fb29a2701.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...c4df2cfc90.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...5938611706.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...53b4aec458.jpg

Nice to see an update, Mazikeen is looking fantastic as always. She seems to be a great climber and really enjoy all the enrichment in her enclosure. Funny how she loves phones and hates grass, my BP is like that too :rofl:

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Originally Posted by Luvyna

Nice to see an update, Mazikeen is looking fantastic as always. She seems to be a great climber and really enjoy all the enrichment in her enclosure. Funny how she loves phones and hates grass, my BP is like that too :rofl:

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Thanks! I can't wait to give her more room to engage in natural behaviors. And haha! Yeah, Maze has always liked going after and wrapping around phones. I think it's the warmth. As for grass, it may just be the feeling of cut grass. Not like I'm going to chuck her into some tall grass to find out though LOL.

Been a while since I last updated! Mazikeen is currently hovering around 1000 to 1100 grams, but she looks great. She's 46 inches long, so maybe she'll be 4 foot soon? lol

Photos taken over the course of several weeks. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...9e1a8b2967.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...cf87e1d959.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...8c490cf809.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2e25cc9711.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f467a5bae3.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b5f1fa1a5f.jpg

Seems I forgot to update this thread in a while. Here's some photos from Halloween (where Mazikeen was my witch's familar), a wander session around the couch from last week, and a peek out of her hide from the other day.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2ccd14e40b.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...cd0a172d55.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...384e6bec6d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...8dfcabe417.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...29b2ea0a46.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b8806abd67.jpg

I was trying for cute :3 faces but instead got these.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ddac3bcaa2.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...4f7efa3c6a.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...21a30868be.jpg

so... after having binged thru this thread and seeing how much your baby loved her "branch" in her baby bin, I am going to have to add one to my baby's. It's only 8" tall, so gonna have to figure it out but I think my Luna might like that as well. She is always going up when i handle her, climbing on my shoulders and on my glasses lol. Thank you for sharing your amazing and beautiful noodle!!

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Originally Posted by Southpaw91

so... after having binged thru this thread and seeing how much your baby loved her "branch" in her baby bin, I am going to have to add one to my baby's. It's only 8" tall, so gonna have to figure it out but I think my Luna might like that as well. She is always going up when i handle her, climbing on my shoulders and on my glasses lol. Thank you for sharing your amazing and beautiful noodle!!

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bps definitely enjoy climbing enrichment <3


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Mazikeen is looking great, Starscream.

Re branches, I think BPs like branches not so much because they're natural climbers, but because all snakes need things to hang onto...so whether it's a cord (that shouldn't be in their enclosure), a branch, or our
hair (-mine always seems to be fair game, lol), snakes like some "furniture" to grab for traction. They have trouble moving on smooth surfaces & hate the loss of traction, & unless they grow up used to swimming,
that's also the reason they tend to panic if bathed. I'd keep branches low for ball pythons...more along the lines of driftwood...their wider bodies don't lend much to climbing trees the way rat snakes can so easily.

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Originally Posted by Southpaw91

so... after having binged thru this thread and seeing how much your baby loved her "branch" in her baby bin, I am going to have to add one to my baby's. It's only 8" tall, so gonna have to figure it out but I think my Luna might like that as well. She is always going up when i handle her, climbing on my shoulders and on my glasses lol. Thank you for sharing your amazing and beautiful noodle!!

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I've noticed that too, that glasses of any kind seem to be a real draw for snakes, lol. Just a perfectly place "toe-hold" for an upwardly-mobile snake. :cool:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Mazikeen is looking great, Starscream.

Re branches, I think BPs like branches not so much because they're natural climbers, but because all snakes need things to hang onto...so whether it's a cord (that shouldn't be in their enclosure), a branch, or our
hair (-mine always seems to be fair game, lol), snakes like some "furniture" to grab for traction. They have trouble moving on smooth surfaces & hate the loss of traction, & unless they grow up used to swimming,
that's also the reason they tend to panic if bathed. I'd keep branches low for ball pythons...more along the lines of driftwood...their wider bodies don't lend much to climbing trees the way rat snakes can so easily.

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Yeah she has driftwood which she likes to lay on but I am thinking of just putting a dowel or PVC straight across her enclosure like starscream had in her bin enclosure, just to see if she likes it. Her enclosure is an 8" tall bin, so it would be very low to the ground and not much chance of her getting hurt. Good thing, because she is quite a klutz. She is always sliding off of her hides and her wood and her vines. She always looks at me like it's my fault too. [emoji23][emoji23]

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Originally Posted by Southpaw91

Yeah she has driftwood which she likes to lay on but I am thinking of just putting a dowel or PVC straight across her enclosure like starscream had in her bin enclosure, just to see if she likes it. Her enclosure is an 8" tall bin, so it would be very low to the ground and not much chance of her getting hurt. Good thing, because she is quite a klutz. She is always sliding off of her hides and her wood and her vines. She always looks at me like it's my fault too. [emoji23][emoji23]

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I know...BPs just don't have the right body shape for skilled climbing. And those plastic hides generally offer no traction at all. When I had a large BCI for many years, I got tired of watching her unable to use or enjoy the top of her very large plastic hide, so I built her one that was flat on top & nearly as wide as her enclosure so there was no place to slip off to, & I used a carpet mat (the kind with non-slip rubber backing) on top of her hide- that was a real success! She used it all the time, & with confidence...that looped carpet mat was great traction (& it was also washable), & she clearly loved basking on top of her hide.

If you do add a rod of some kind, keep in mind PVC is "practical" but very slippery too. Branches are preferred for texture, or you can add texture to wood dowels. (I've seen them wrapped with rope, for example)

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

If you do add a rod of some kind, keep in mind PVC is "practical" but very slippery too. Branches are preferred for texture, or you can add texture to wood dowels. (I've seen them wrapped with rope, for example)

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Yes i have some extra silk pothos vine i think i'll wrap around it. This will be a fun project this weekend!

also, sorry for highjacking the thread!!

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Originally Posted by Southpaw91

Yes i have some extra silk pothos vine i think i'll wrap around it. This will be a fun project this weekend!

also, sorry for highjacking the thread!!

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You're fine; it's nice to see people giving their snakes enrichment opportunities!

If you're going the PVC route, I'd like to suggest using something that ensures the PVC doesn't spin around when the snake tries to grab it -- one of the flaws I had with Mazikeen's early enclosure design was going cheap and only using two nails to hold the PVC pipe in; I shouldn've used some kind of corner brace and then cut out a section of the pipe, or siliconed it into place.

Nowadays, I tend to drill screws directly through the tub and into the branches to hold them into place.

While I'm here, my cousin's son came over and wanted to hold Mazikeen. She's grown a ton since he first meet her, so he was a little intimidated at first, but quickly got comfortable with holding her again.https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...98bcceb005.jpg

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Originally Posted by Starscream

Nowadays, I tend to drill screws directly through the tub and into the branches to hold them into place.

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Yes this is what I was thinking. While she is in a bin enclosure (for now) I do try to keep things as naturalistic as possible so I was thinking of seeing if I can find a suitable branch or maybe a wooden dowel and screwing directly into it from outside the tub.

Mazikeen is absolutely beautiful. What a great girl you have!

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Wow, Mazikeen got so huge! My favorite het red axanthic combo


Kaos Balls

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Originally Posted by Southpaw91

Yes this is what I was thinking. While she is in a bin enclosure (for now) I do try to keep things as naturalistic as possible so I was thinking of seeing if I can find a suitable branch or maybe a wooden dowel and screwing directly into it from outside the tub.

Mazikeen is absolutely beautiful. What a great girl you have!

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I'm hoping to find some cork pieces big enough at the upcoming reptile expo here; when I get to decorating her permanent enclosure I'm thinking about doing a foam background with cork bark pieces. As well as having some cork hides. It'd be nice, at least.

And @Godzilla78 thanks lol. She's a nice looking super red axanthic in proper lighting -- yellow indoor lights never do her justice. To be fair to her, she had just eaten the week before in that last photo and was still pretty chunky from it.

Both my kiddos are in shed at the moment, so maybe soon I'll have some nice update photos for both threads.

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Originally Posted by Starscream

I'm hoping to find some cork pieces big enough at the upcoming reptile expo here; when I get to decorating her permanent enclosure I'm thinking about doing a foam background with cork bark pieces. As well as having some cork hides. It'd be nice, at least.

And @Godzilla78 thanks lol. She's a nice looking super red axanthic in proper lighting -- yellow indoor lights never do her justice. To be fair to her, she had just eaten the week before in that last photo and was still pretty chunky from it.

Both my kiddos are in shed at the moment, so maybe soon I'll have some nice update photos for both threads.

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That sounds awesome! I ended up making the branch! Luna doesn't seem to care about it much but after she outgrows her baby bin, I was thinking of getting another bp and recycling it. I want a male this time and I've read that males tend to utilize climbing branches more so maybe her future brother will get more use out of it lol.

I have pictures of my handy work in Lunas progression thread in BP Pictures if you wanna see!

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Originally Posted by Southpaw91

That sounds awesome! I ended up making the branch! Luna doesn't seem to care about it much but after she outgrows her baby bin, I was thinking of getting another bp and recycling it. I want a male this time and I've read that males tend to utilize climbing branches more so maybe her future brother will get more use out of it lol.

I have pictures of my handy work in Lunas progression thread in BP Pictures if you wanna see!

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Sometimes it takes them a while to utilize things in their cages, especially if it's new. I've found that the more opportunities you give them to climb, the more likely they are to use them. It's also likely she's using it when you're not around to see her out and about.

Maze really liked the ladder I made her out of bamboo sticks and zipties. She's long since outgrown it, though. My japanese ratsnake has it now --like you said, recycling lmao. But, if you want something a little more visible, maybe consider colubrids?

And, on the Maze front, both she and Lan Fan shed today. I'm hoping to get some nice pics of Maze before the big game tomorrow haha.

I forgot -- I snapped a picture while Mazikeen was shedding. She apparently didn't think it was funny of me to catch her changing clothes, so to speak, and gave me the stink eye.

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

Mazikeen and Lan Fan shed literally hours apart, though Lan Fan only sheds after she eats? Which is kinda weird, but whatever it takes, I suppose. Whenever I get decent photos of her, I'll be sure to post them to her thread. Here's some of Mazikeen from this morning.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/Zj72P88.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/btgcrTw.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/BYt2rX4.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/VXVfrCz.jpg

She's so heckin pretty! I love her infinity symbol markings

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Hey so gotta question, are you happening to be in Ball Python enthusiast on Facebook? If so your drawing of Maz is mind blowing....!!!!!


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Originally Posted by Aerries

Hey so gotta question, are you happening to be in Ball Python enthusiast on Facebook? If so your drawing of Maz is mind blowing....!!!!!


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I am not... did someone draw her? That'd be cool.

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Originally Posted by Starscream

I am not... did someone draw her? That'd be cool.

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Just had a member to a realism drawing that the BPs name was the same and it was only the second time I’ve seen that name pop up before


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Originally Posted by Aerries

Just had a member to a realism drawing that the BPs name was the same and it was only the second time I’ve seen that name pop up before


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It's not a mainstream name, but I have seen at least 3 other snakes on social media named Mazikeen.

That's pretty cool! I've done a few drawings of Maze, but nothing close to realism lol. That stuff's difficult to pull off.

Just measured her using serpwidgets, and it says she's 47.5 inches long. She will be 4 feet yet, mark my words haha.

https://i.imgur.com/Je5U9aK.jpg

So the last two sheds I have found some very small pieces of skin clinging to her spurs. I'm able to remove it no problem, but it is kind of weird that this has happened twice now.

She has complete sheds, and I always check for the eyes and tailtip, but I guess I have to add a vent-check to my list.

New phone who dis https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...2b27b31181.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...4d70933aa9.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...bb4a9702a6.jpg

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Been a few months since my last post. Been busy with work so this is all I have right now. Second photo is her in her to-be permanent enclosure.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...3faefd620e.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...3be3afa613.jpg

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I had to go look up the name Mazikeen & found this for a meaning: (different, I think, from your interpretation, but either way a cool name)

According to a user from United Kingdom, the name Mazikeen is of Russian origin and means "Female warrior and gift from god".

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I had to go look up the name Mazikeen & found this for a meaning: (different, I think, from your interpretation, but either way a cool name)

According to a user from United Kingdom, the name Mazikeen is of Russian origin and means "Female warrior and gift from god".

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That's both interesting and very funny to me, considering I got the name from the Lucifer TV show.

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Originally Posted by Starscream

That's both interesting and very funny to me, considering I got the name from the Lucifer TV show.

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I know! I wouldn't lose too much sleep, it's just a name. Next time you see another "Mazikeen", ask them where they got the name? Probably the same place you did...;)

She is beautiful.


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Looks like I missed Mazikeen's birthday. She is now 3 years old, 4 foot long, and 1250g. I am working on buying a house -- closing is Friday -- so I'm hoping to get her into her large enclosure sooner than later. She's looking awfully cramped in her tree bin.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...7201782f56.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...b7580ab337.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...b33079b510.gifhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...3feb9b37c8.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...4be8608f23.jpg

I am now a homeowner, and I think Mazikeen can tell that something's different. Also, a comparison pic between her current enclosure and her next one. Pretty excited about getting her into it!

Sorry about the mess in the background, I have yet to unpack my things.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...3f81085a64.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...789238afc6.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...7bcfb9f1a1.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...9f04adb0c9.jpg

Mazikeen shed this morning! She didn't feel like coming out yet, but did pose for some snoot pics.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...c7a2823206.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...9a279165f8.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...88cb285970.jpg

Got some outside pics after some spot cleaning. Maze never has turned super brown like most pics I'e seen of red axanthics. Only thing I do different that could affect color is provide UVB, so make what you will out of that.

Would have gotten more pics, but it immediately started raining again. I'll take cooler weather over the heat any day, though.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...2288e0991b.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...9fdc3bcd63.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...0b687fcdba.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...5e4db72db0.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...7d4cb7420b.jpg

Some photos since my last update. A few of these were posted in my build thread for her enclosure. I love how curious she is.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...5a105284d5.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...8ff509ea06.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...a9e5902a93.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...f923c985cb.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...7ee19c0c89.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...f7e1546349.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...98e191b682.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...235ce67a1f.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...f561d5ee18.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...fb218e00b1.jpg

Mazikeen came and greeted me when I changed her water this morning. Her trust warms my heart.

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Food???? Oh. It's just you.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...ae3c9ac3f6.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...f6d3d5d631.jpg

Some more pictures of the girl since last time. She's due for a feed and she knows it lol. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...8fec4737c2.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...53029a0dfa.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...92eda5dc3d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...01b893bdc9.jpg

She looks like a very happy snake to me- love her "debut" photo! :D You've done very well with her- I give you the "Good Snarent" seal of approval!

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

She looks like a very happy snake to me- love her "debut" photo! :D You've done very well with her- I give you the "Good Snarent" seal of approval!

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Thank you! That means a lot coming from you. Haha, yes, I was very lucky to catch her "shed hoodie" look. And thanks to the glass doors I can take nice photos without disturbing her -- win-win!

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Originally Posted by Starscream

...I was very lucky to catch her "shed hoodie" look. And thanks to the glass doors I can take nice photos without disturbing her -- win-win!

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I kinda like her "skin beard"! :rofl: If you added a little red hat with a white tassel, she could play Santa...

Photo dump time! It seems Maze's sky hide is her new favorite place to shed. Makes sense -- she always gravitates towards the warmest hide when she's shedding.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...ad50a62e29.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...5893c16b5b.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...e94bfa4f53.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...09cc8049a0.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...2d767918d0.jpg

She is sooo gorgeous! That last photo with her cute puppy face resting on the branch is too precious.

I also love your enclosure! How did you get the sky hide attached and is it removable for cleaning? I'm setting up a new PVC enclosure right now and would love to include a sky hide as well.

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Originally Posted by Luvyna

She is sooo gorgeous! That last photo with her cute puppy face resting on the branch is too precious.

I also love your enclosure! How did you get the sky hide attached and is it removable for cleaning? I'm setting up a new PVC enclosure right now and would love to include a sky hide as well.

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Thank you! I got a little teary-eyed when she gave me that face, ngl. She always lifts my spirits.

As for the sky hide, it's one of those food tupperware totes with latches on the lid, so I attached the lid to the roof via screws and the hide itself is latched onto the lid, so it's very easily removeable. Got it at Dollar General for less than $5 and then painted the outside black.

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Originally Posted by Starscream

Thank you! I got a little teary-eyed when she gave me that face, ngl. She always lifts my spirits.

As for the sky hide, it's one of those food tupperware totes with latches on the lid, so I attached the lid to the roof via screws and the hide itself is latched onto the lid, so it's very easily removeable. Got it at Dollar General for less than $5 and then painted the outside black.

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My heart melted when I saw that face! She is so sweet!

Thank you for letting me know about the sky hide, looking forward to adding one for my BP :D

Beautiful...


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Another mini-photo dump. I bought some cameras after that February cold snap so I can keep an eye on her. Updated viv pics as well. The plants have grown in a lot, though I do sometimes wonder about useable vertical space...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...0d4f6ef27b.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...cb8b58622d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...f81939c272.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...523f370f88.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...f6793efadb.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...a06986d596.jpg