Tyrion's Progression Thread

Hi all! I figured I'd start out Tyrion's progression thread before I got behind! He's a Het Stripe Pied, born in October 2017. I fell in love with him instantly!

Here he is in his deli cup after I purchased him at the Reptile Super Show in Pomona!

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...1/img_5134.jpg

Here is his initial weight (at around 3 months old)
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...1/img_5179.jpg

With all the threads I read about finicky eaters, and enclosures being too big...I decided to follow Deborah's "My ball python won't eat - My BP is stressed - hatchling 101" thread, and I moved him from his 36x18x18" to a 6Q tub, like she mentioned. Still have the room humidifier keeping my office humid until I get him his T8 enclosure! His 1 week acclimation period will be up on Saturday, at which time I'm going to try and feed him. I'm going to hold off another week after that (2 days after his second successful (we hope!) feeding) to start slowly getting him used to being handled. He still balls up when I get close (it's only been 2 days - and no, other than moving him to his tub, I haven't handled him!)

Here's his new home until he's about 200/250 g.
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...1/img_5180.jpg

And here are the two pics I took of him when I pulled him out of his deli cup :)
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...1/img_5139.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...1/img_5141.jpg

I'll be checking his temps twice daily with my temp gun to make sure he's being taken care of! Fingers crossed for that first feeding on Saturday!

Love ur new noodle just a heads up that box u have for a hide as soon as he poops or pees on it, it’s then trash try getting something that’s non porous that can be washed rinsed and sanitized.


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A couple years ago, I used cardboard boxes, and then just threw them out and got a new one when they got soiled. Eventually I found little washable hides that fit.


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Originally Posted by Aerries

Love ur new noodle just a heads up that box u have for a hide as soon as he poops or pees on it, it’s then trash try getting something that’s non porous that can be washed rinsed and sanitized.


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Great point. I was actually going to try to hit Home Depot today to get the little plastic flower pot bottom for him! Thanks for the tips!

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Originally Posted by Godzilla78

A couple years ago, I used cardboard boxes, and then just threw them out and got a new one when they got soiled. Eventually I found little washable hides that fit.


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Thanks for the info! I'm going to do that too, now, instead of the cardboard!

Someone likes to climb his “leaves!”

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...c59772b10d.jpg


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First attempt at feeding after his week-long acclimation period was a success!!! He was chilling in his hide, with his cute little head poking out. He retreated inside when I opened the Enclosure, but I dangled the live rat fuzzy (16g) by the tail with my forceps, and he struck through the opening! Took him a few strikes, but he got him in less than 5 seconds!!

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Poor little guy ate butt first, but he got it down! He tried sideways at first, but that didn’t work so he repositioned, but grabbed the butt. We’ll keep trying my little buddy!

Here he is with a full belly backing back into his favorite hide!

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So, one week down, one successful feeding (so far!) I’m going to leave the room now that he has dispatched and swallowed his prey so he feels more secure.

He was 109g when I began his acclimation period 9 days ago. I’m going to give him another week before I begin handling him. I’m going to feed him another live rat fuzzy next Saturday (his feeding day!) and then give him until Monday or Tuesday before I take him out to weigh him again! After a few more successful live feedings, I’m going to try to change him over to F/T. We’ll see how that goes! I’m prepared to be very patient with him!

I’m so happy he ate! I was definitely very anxious about it all week! Checking his temps, keeping his room (my office) nice and humid for him (right at 50%), (none of that will change, I’m a bit obsessive about his husbandry). I’ve been pouring over all these forums, and all the fantastic advice and the awesome community have made me feel better, because I feel better equipped to care for my little buddy!

Thanks for stopping by to look!



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Wow cool hide. Looks great!

One little thing: For the baby rodent's sake, please grip firmly by the base of the tail or more ideally, by the back/scruff if able. Elsewise, their tail can get degloved and cause them a lot of pain.

Plus, it makes it easier for them to strike and hit the head to dispatch and eat it quick.

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Originally Posted by hollowlaughter

One little thing: For the baby rodent's sake, please grip firmly by the base of the tail or more ideally, by the back/scruff if able. Elsewise, their tail can get degloved and cause them a lot of pain.

Plus, it makes it easier for them to strike and hit the head to dispatch and eat it quick.

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Thank you for that helpful tip, I will definitely do that. I have compassion for the baby rodents, I used to have a pet rat, so I genuinely appreciate that tip!

I don’t know what he’s gonna do when he gets bigger Lolhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...63c22d3e05.jpg

Happy I got his tongue that time!!

2nd feeding on Saturday! Keep your fingers crossed!!!!


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Switching him to a Friday feeding schedule (from Saturday) so that I can give him two days after feeding before I move him out to clean his enclosure on Sundays (monthly deeper cleaning). So far so good! Got him on the first strike today, and struck within seconds!! Good boy!!!! Gonna give him the weekend undisturbed then weigh him early next week (his first periodic weigh in since his initial with me two weeks ago.) I’m so happy he’s eating during these first two weeks-means he’s happy in his home, and I (or I should say “we”) have all of you to thank for that!!

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...c9b600369d.jpg


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by hollowlaughter

One little thing: For the baby rodent's sake, please grip firmly by the base of the tail or more ideally, by the back/scruff if able. Elsewise, their tail can get degloved and cause them a lot of pain.

Plus, it makes it easier for them to strike and hit the head to dispatch and eat it quick.

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And thanks again for this advice! I did what you mentioned, and he nailed the fuzzy right away, and easily got him head first this time!!


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His first weigh in, and he’s 149g! Up from 103 two weeks ago! This is the first time I’ve taken him out of his enclosure, and he was a bit strikey! So I weighed him and put him back. I’ll give it a few days and go again. He was NOT having it! Lol https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...449a273206.jpg

He was balled up in the scale, then struck at the air as I was getting this shot lol. Grabbed him lightly without getting bit and put him back. He’s spunky!!


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This is by far his favorite position.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ba82b031ca.jpg


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His third successful feeding in a row! As soon as I walked in the room with that fuzzy, his little tongue went into overtime and he started inching out of his hide!

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b8a5d122c8.jpg

Next week I’m going to slowly continue with trust exercises (5 minute handlings) every 2 or 3 days. Love my little guy!!


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Great looking pied


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Thanks!


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My little buddy is progressing well! He’s up to 154g (from 109g when on got him on 1/6.) He’s eaten right away 3 times in a row on his normal “Food Friday” and I just found a big old poop and white clump of urates, so that “system” seems to be working properly (hence only going up 6g since last week - he had a little sausage butt, so I’m sure that made up for it lol). I did NOT weigh the excrement, nor take any pictures, so I’ll spare you that! Lol.

I did take a picture of him during our brief trust building exercise (at the start).

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...c72e1089da.jpg


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He is so cute. I love his hide, and he clearly loves it too. I like how you are documenting his progress.

Thank you! Yeah, he loves that hide! Now that he’s feeling more confident in his home, about 90% of the time I come in his room he can be found with his cute little head poking out of it! Since he loves it so much, each new addition will get one! Now I have to find one big enough for when he gets bigger lol


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He loves his branches! I always love when I come home from work and he’s chillin out in the open!

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...08346f65c0.jpg


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Still eating like a champ! And still a nervous little guy! I actually heard him strike out as I walked by the front of his home this afternoon! (He doesn’t normally do that, lol.) Feisty little bugger! Still eating live rat fuzzies every Friday! He’s up to 177g! Still stats balled up when I handle him. I limit it to 5 minutes about twice a week. (Feed on Friday, weigh on Monday, handle again on Wednesday..). That way he gets 2 says on either side of his feeding where I’m leaving him be, and 2 days in between handlings. We’ve got work to do, but I’ve been successful filling his water bowl right in front of him when he is poking his nose out of his tree hide and he doesn’t strike! (Even though he’s in his S shape!) Our trust exercises are working!

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f87dc181cf.jpg

Going to start trying F/T either next week or the week after. Will keep you posted!


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Awesome thread! He’s a beauty love that little patch down his back!

care to tell me more about his current enclosure. Is it an exo terra?

im getting my first snake in a few weeks and yours looks similar to mine.

Awesome pics by the way. You are getting great action shots !

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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

Awesome thread! He’s a beauty love that little patch down his back!

care to tell me more about his current enclosure. Is it an exo terra?

im getting my first snake in a few weeks and yours looks similar to mine.

Awesome pics by the way. You are getting great action shots !

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Hi, thanks! I love his coloring!

Yeah, it’s an exo-terra 36x18x18. A little big for a baby, but I bought it before I found this site lol. So, I cluttered it up really good so he felt secure. It’s glass, so as many have said on this forum, humidity is a pain! So I bought a humidifier and I keep my office (his current room) at around 50% (as read on his humidity probe). I have an UTH (on a thermostat) for his hot side, and a CHE (on a separate thermostat) to maintain his ambient temps around 80F.

Because it’s such a pain, I just ordered an Animal Plastics T8 for him (with the divider so I can put another baby in there (after QT of course)). I’m in the process of setting up a tub setup in my master closet for my QT zone (Tyrion is my only snake at this point, so I’m setting up for the future!)

I really like the exo terra, but not for anything that requires anything more than normal ambient humidity. I’m going to save it for something else once the T8 comes in.


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So, our handling session was abbreviated today because I noticed he was starting to go into shed!!! His colors were a bit subdued so I turned him a little bit and saw the cloudy eyes!! His first shed under my care!!! Time to pump up the humidity!! Keep your fingers crossed gals and guys!! Im going to be obsessing over temps and humidity (even more than normal) until he’s done!

Stupid question: how long does a shed cycle last?!?

I’ll be sure to get some pics of it! Time to leave him be until he’s done!!


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Woke up this morning to find this!!!! Good boy!!! His first shed with me!!

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Gave him a quick once over, and he looks good. I can see a few tiny remnants at his neck, and the tip of his snoot. His eyes look good, so tonight when I get home I’m gonna help slough off those tiny pieces! I’m so proud of my little guy!


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Not a great photo, but my boy took to F/T on the first try!!!!! Thawed it in warm water, then hit it with a hair dryer for about 30 sec, dangled it in front of his tree hide, and he struck from inside the hide and gulped it down!! Such a good boy!!!!


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Originally Posted by sparky767

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f425b29589.jpg

Not a great photo, but my boy took to F/T on the first try!!!!! Thawed it in warm water, then hit it with a hair dryer for about 30 sec, dangled it in front of his tree hide, and he struck from inside the hide and gulped it down!! Such a good boy!!!!


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Excellent news !!!

That hairdryer trick works amazingly well with Royals , doesn't it .. ?

I actually tried it with a couple of my King snakes ...but I won't be doing that again , I nearly lost an arm and I was a nervous wreck for ten minutes :)

I wish I'd patented the 'hairdryer blast' now ... I'd be wealthy :)


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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Excellent news !!!

That hairdryer trick works amazingly well with Royals , doesn't it .. ?

I actually tried it with a couple of my King snakes ...but I won't be doing that again , I nearly lost an arm and I was a nervous wreck for ten minutes :)

I wish I'd patented the 'hairdryer blast' now ... I'd be wealthy :)


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It only took him an extra couple seconds, but I firmly believe that the hair dryer trick is what "tricked" him!!! One of the reasons I love this site! I sat here for WEEKS reading all the sticky threads and searching other threads with a notepad filled with ideas and information! The hair dryer trick was one of them! I actually bought one just for this (I'm a single dude, and have no use for a hairdryer otherwise, lol). Good to know about the Kingsnakes! I'm going to be adding a MBK relatively soon :)

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Originally Posted by sparky767

It only took him an extra couple seconds, but I firmly believe that the hair dryer trick is what "tricked" him!!! One of the reasons I love this site! I sat here for WEEKS reading all the sticky threads and searching other threads with a notepad filled with ideas and information! The hair dryer trick was one of them! I actually bought one just for this (I'm a single dude, and have no use for a hairdryer otherwise, lol). Good to know about the Kingsnakes! I'm going to be adding a MBK relatively soon :)

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Got a MBK [emoji4]

Make sure it's on light coloured substrate to enhance its dark colour [emoji6]

Those bark pieces were found in the local park :)


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Got a MBK [emoji4]

Make sure it's on light coloured substrate to enhance its dark colour [emoji6]

Those bark pieces were found in the local park :)


https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...9230435abb.jpg





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Definitely will!! Got aspen for him/her whenever they show up!!!


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Someone is having a ball exploring his habitat!!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...03aab02803.jpg

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Weighed him the other day, going strong at 195g!! Still taking those F/T’s!! He’s such a good boy!! He’s finally exploring a little bit when I hold him. Not staying balled up! We’re still working at it slowly - a couple times a week for 5 minutes or less. That way he’s always got at least 2 days on either side of his feedings! Speaking of - it’s Feeding Friday - time to get the hair dryer out!


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And this is what I see when I walk back into the office after having started thawing his dinner in the kitchen! He was all chill in his tree hide when I left. Now he knows it’s dinner time!


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After moving him into his T8 and having a MUCH easier time keeping his humidity high during his sheds, I remove his hide and pick him up to find this:

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A perfect shed!! No little tiny bits hanging on (that I then had to get off) when he lived in his first glass home!!!

So proud of my little guy!!!


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