Moresby, IJ Boy

My husband and I went to the local show today (Scott Smith's All-Animal Expo, DuPage IL Co, fairgrounds). The only plan was to window-shop, particularly crested and gargoyle geckos, and pick up medium rats since Big Cheese was out.

Partway through I found a vendor with some really pretty carpets, mostly IJ. I resisted and we moved on. My husband found another vendor with a caramel tessera corn snake. He managed to resist. We found a new cage vendor.

Then we circled back to to the corn snake breeder. We failed to resist, and we picked up one of the cages. Then I went to look at the IJ carpets. They had a male and female, clutch-mates. They were both very mellow, and I decided to get the boy. Husband went back to get another cage.

So here's Moresby (I was trying to find Paupuan names I liked, which led to the Cary Grant movie "Father Goose", but I decided naming my boy "Eckland" would result in him being called "The Filthy Beast", and so I ended up with Port Moresby, and hence Moresby for my boy's name):

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I'll make new threads in the corn snake and caging forums for our other purchases.


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He is gorgeous, and I'm looking forward to seeing the corn snake!

I am jealous of your apparent free space. We are TOTALLY out of space. The most absolutely awesome animal could fall in my lap, and I'd have to pass on it, simply because there would be NO where to put it.

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Originally Posted by Prognathodon

My husband and I went to the local show today (Scott Smith's All-Animal Expo, DuPage IL Co, fairgrounds). The only plan was to window-shop, particularly crested and gargoyle geckos, and pick up medium rats since Big Cheese was out.

Partway through I found a vendor with some really pretty carpets, mostly IJ. I resisted and we moved on. My husband found another vendor with a caramel tessera corn snake. He managed to resist. We found a new cage vendor.

Then we circled back to to the corn snake breeder. We failed to resist, and we picked up one of the cages. Then I went to look at the IJ carpets. They had a male and female, clutch-mates. They were both very mellow, and I decided to get the boy. Husband went back to get another cage.

So here's Moresby (I was trying to find Paupuan names I liked, which led to the Cary Grant movie "Father Goose", but I decided naming my boy "Eckland" would result in him being called "The Filthy Beast", and so I ended up with Port Moresby, and hence Moresby for my boy's name):

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...4e0b279fc7.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...4d1414f528.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...c09733847a.jpg

I'll make new threads in the corn snake and caging forums for our other purchases.


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What a cutie! I love carpets.

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Originally Posted by Prognathodon

The only plan was to window-shop

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I've found that plan rarely works at reptile shows.;):snake:

distaff: well, we did have to evict my husband's photographic equipment and my sewing/needlepoint bins from the shelves to make space for the new cages in our bedroom (currently piled on the floor), and we really do need a bigger house for what we've got. [emoji4]

DennisM: Yeah, even though we've managed it before, it wasn't our most rational idea!

The little guy is still stubbornly hiding, but he's in shed, expecting him to let go of it any day now as his eyes were nice and clear and his sister shed on Friday. I can't wait to see him all shiny-pretty! (yes, he's gorgeous and mellow despite being in shed - I think he's a winner).


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Gorgeous IJ Prog!

Lovely snake!

Definite cutie, there. I tried to find an IJ here but snakes are not easy to find (other than balls and boas) in my part of Canada. I stumbled onto my Jungle Carpet on Kijiji and she is great. I would love to add a male but, again, not so easy to find around here. My girl is out (of her hide) all of the time and is a lot of fun to watch. She keeps an eye on me!

I'm really hoping he sheds by mid-day tomorrow - I have to go out of town for a couple days for work. Which probably means he'll shed while I'm on my way to the train station. [emoji849]

BWB: My JCP is the same way, very rarely uses his hides. He's not as much of a busybody as the king snakes, though. [emoji846]


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Stunning!!! I just got my first IJ a couple weeks ago. Amazing animals. Can I ask who the vendor was? Just in case I can't resist the temptation to buy another one.

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He came from Jennifer Holland of the Boa-Cabana, boa-cabana.com

No hits for them on the BOI, I'm guessing they're a more local (NE Illinois) breeder. All their animals at the show were gorgeous, I'm definitely keeping their business card.


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Moresby didn't eat last Tuesday, but it was only 3 days after I got him so I wasn't too worried (figured I'd offer, given how calm he is). Last night when I opened the enclosure he pulled back down into his hide, considered the rat briefly, then struck and wrapped. [emoji4]

He got distracted for a couple minutes watching my husband feed my sand boa, then got back to business.

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I may have to replace his hides or enlarge the openings sooner rather than later!

Either the breeder got confused on which of the siblings had shed just before the show, or I ended up with the female and not the male - Moresby still hasn't shed, 10 days after the show. I'll probably drop the breeder an e-mail and/or see if my husband can pop Moresby.


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Congrats on the first feeding Prog. If the opening to the hide is getting tight I'd replace it quickly. I had a carpet get stuck in a flower pot hide after a meal. I ended up having to break the hide to free him. He was fine after that but he did upchuck the previous night's meal.

Agreed, Ziggy! We had snakes get stuck, mostly in plastic aquarium decor, a couple times early on; the most exciting was a BP in a metal key ring. I don't want any repeats, and it'll probably take longer to find the drill and hole saws than it will to make the opening bigger/make bigger hides.


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Moresby was being shy last night. Not quite a BP ball, though.
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Finally got him to show off his pretty face:
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And his angry star head stamp:
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A week or two ago Moresby decided that his water bowl is the bestest place in the whole world.
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Until he pooped in it Monday night, and retreated to his perch. By Tuesday morning he was back in his bowl.

After the first couple days of soaking I moved the bowl from the cool to the warm side of his enclosure, and once he moves into one with more headroom (soon) he's getting a RHP to ensure his ambient temps stay good.


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Two months after getting him, Moresby *finally* shed. I suspect that he may be the sister that had shed just before the show, but it really doesn't matter to me since I'm not breeding. I'll keep referring to Moresby as "him" until I find out otherwise. :)

Apparently he's like Bruce, my JCP, who isn't so much shiny after shedding as deep and velvety in the dark brown. He also wanted to get away from me, so the pictures aren't the best. Maybe I can get some good outside pictures now that the weather has warmed up.

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This weekend he *will* be moving to half of a T8, as husband leaves for a month or so of orientation and training for his new job, and we've got to finish shuffling snakes around before he goes, so that I can get to everyone for feeding and maintenance.


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Congrats on the successful first shed Prog! Sounds like he's settling in well.

Thanks Ziggy!

He's a really good-natured boy, he didn't seem too phased when I flipped him partway over to see if his belly was pink last week, when I was restraining his head to check for retained eye caps he was squirming to get away, but didn't even hiss.

On the other hand, at one point last night he was so tightly wrapped around my wrist, and damp from soaking, that he one of his excited little huffy noises turned into a louder snort. Adorkable! [emoji4] And that boy's got grip - I had him across my shoulders, and he decided throttling me was a great way to stay anchored while exploring down my back. At least I knew where he was...


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Headdesk, headdesk, Moresby didn't get his larger enclosure after all. Husband's orientation/training got moved up a week, so we had shopping and packing to do and a trip to drop off husband in Gary, IN yesterday. Got the boa into his T10, but ran out of time to shuffle the smaller enclosures. Fortunately, I can deal with those, and still have my son in the house, and can probably get his help if necessary (son prefers reptiles with legs).


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Me and Moresby browsing the board...

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I took Moresby outside this morning, and he wanted to go *down*. After a little while we went in, and he wrapped his back half around my neck and explored with the front.
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Looking fantastic!

Awesome IJ!

Omg I love the star on his head that’s so awesome!!!


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Thank you! And he’s sooo good-natured!


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We *finally* got Moresby into a half-T8 on Saturday, hopefully husband’s new job goes well and I can get back on track saving/sending money to AP for new/larger enclosures!

Moresby was in hiding yesterday, but was out investigating his new jungle gym this morning.
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I stole this jungle gym from my king snake, who wasn’t using it, and gave her Moresby’s old smaller one. Husband’s female sand boa got Moresby’s old shorter enclosure, since she likes to burrow, not climb. [emoji846]


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Moresby looks like such a character! Spoiled too :D

He’s a sweetheart, as docile as a BP!

And he’s clearly decided the perch is a wonderful thing:
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Moresby decided to take a break from his water bowl to look like he was trying to hang himself. My husband sent me the picture yesterday with the caption “Ack, can’t breathe”. Silly Snek.

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Looking at where I’ve got room in the house, and his behavior, I’m thinking of building Moresby a 2’ x 2’ x 3’ tall enclosure with at least one good-sized diagonal log, a shelf, perches, and rope-vines - his three favorite spots are in the water bowl, on his jungle gym perch, or trying to use his light’s cord as a vine.


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Silly Snek strikes again! Last night was feeding night for the “small” snakes (fed every week), and it’s bunny week. One of the corn snakes rather adamantly refused her f/t rabbit kit, so I offered it to Moresby (who’s feeding day is later this week).

He sniffed for a second, grabbed, started to wrap, then apparently realized it wasn’t a mouse or rat and dropped it. I picked it up and offered it again, and he retreated like it was a scary monster.

Ying, Bruce, and Moresby are all good feeders that switched from mice to rats with no problems, and Ying and Bruce took their first bunnies and all subsequent ones happily. I guess Moresby didn’t get the memo...

Bruce accepted the twice-refused bunny and gave it a biiig hug. [emoji4]


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The beauty of having multiple snakes is feeders never go to waste. I want to find a good rabbit feeder source so I can offer them to my critters. Moresby is a very handsome fellow. I really like the jungle gym too. I'd build something like that if I had any mechanical aptitude. :)