Does your BP "go" outside it's enclosure too?
Just curious question to pose here. We handle our BP almost every day :D except during shed and after feeding. Anyway, he ate like 3 days ago so I told my son he could hold him. My son found a box and wanted to put him in it and just like always he pooped and peed within 10 minutes of getting out of his viv in the box my son had put him in. Luckily this time it wasn't on the carpet, rug, or the normal spot... on my son:zerb: ! Do I have a really clean BP who doesn't like to mess in his viv or have you guys experienced the same thing? 75% of the time our BP makes a point of "going" outside his viv. You can almost tell he has to go too because he starts getting extra restless and is trying to get away. I just wonder if when we want to handle him we should handle him for the first 20 minutes outside to avoid all the messes! BP pee is very very stinky/musky!!
Re: Does your BP "go" outside it's enclosure too?
The only time I've noticed bp's defacate outside of their enclosure is when they are either in a warm soak, or extremely stressed out during handling for whever reason (removing retained caps, force-feeding, etc). You said you handle him every day...is he very "flighty" when you handle him or does he relax and move slowly?
Re: Does your BP "go" outside it's enclosure too?
Yeah, I have only had one of my BPs poop on me when he was a fairly new guy, (on the couch too..yuk!!!), but other than that I have only had them poop in the tub when I allow them for a short bi-yearly swim.
Re: Does your BP "go" outside it's enclosure too?
Quote:
Originally Posted by elevatethis
The only time I've noticed bp's defacate outside of their enclosure is when they are either in a warm soak, or extremely stressed out during handling for whever reason (removing retained caps, force-feeding, etc). You said you handle him every day...is he very "flighty" when you handle him or does he relax and move slowly?
No, he's very well manored. In this instance we had just taken him out and put him in a large cardboard box and hadn't touched him for about 5 minutes. When we looked back in the box he had "pooped". He is normally very calm and just likes to hang on. Of coarse he's always exploring and will go into the couch if allowed but no, he will just sit with us and has never moved very fast. So you think this could be stress related?
Re: Does your BP "go" outside it's enclosure too?
I make a point not to handle any of mine when they are "loaded". Check out the tail region, and if it's loaded up, back into the enclosure they go! That's ONE initiation I'd rather pass on! ;)
Re: Does your BP "go" outside it's enclosure too?
I was just saying that in my experience over the past few years, the only time I've personally observed a bp defacate outside of their enclosure is under "stressful" circumstances like shipping/transporting, force-feeding, soaking, etc.
If you want to rule it out as a handling related issue, try leaving him alone for a week and after that period, only handle him 2-3x per week and see if it still happens.
If he continues to do it after that and is still feeding well, I'd just say thats what he likes to do and not to worry about it!
Re: Does your BP "go" outside it's enclosure too?
The kids are always getting pooped (and urated..if that is a word) on. Sometimes I think the snakes just hold it until someone takes them out, then they wait for the best moment, like on the new couch or the piano, and let go!!!!!
Neil
Re: Does your BP "go" outside it's enclosure too?
LOL....a BP that likes to poop on people!!!!...imagine that.....I wish I had a BP that did that...then I would let people I didn't like very much hold it...:twisted:
Re: Does your BP "go" outside it's enclosure too?
The more experience I get with ball pythons the more I see a variance in their individual temperment, behavior, etc. They are all truely individuals. Its possible that the snake in question here just feels thats when its time to go, and all is good. I'm glad none of mine are like that though!
Re: Does your BP "go" outside it's enclosure too?
I guess I'm just lucky, but I haven't had one of my snakes use me as their personal toilet yet. Of course now that I've said that, they're all going to break me in the next time I get them out. :(
I did notice that many of them will go during the night after I handle them that evening. And many of them seem to coordinate with each other and leave me lots of gifts the next morning, usually when I'm running late for work. :irkd:
