How common is BP neglect? Do they still thrive?

I was doing cage maintainence the other day and my boyfriend commented on how spoiled my BP is, and how overkill and OCD I am with the husbandries. I just replied I was doing what I had to in order to keep her healthy.
He then informed me he used to live with a guy who had a BP, all the guy had was a heat lamp on one side. Didn’t monitor temps/humidity, didn’t mist. Just left him with a heat lamp, water bowl, and a hide. He told me the BP was an adult and looked healthy (besides escaping the cage often and scaring him on multiple occasions lol)
I’m just wondering how often people don’t closely monitor their snakes habitat and how well they thrive. I was under the impression most BP owners knew the husbandry is incredibly important in the snakes overall health.

I'm obsessive with husbandry after losing our first two hatchlings back in December. They're investments, and pets are family to me so I'm going to take care of my girl the absolute best I can. Even if that means I check the temps and humidity 3-4 times/day and peek into the hide to make sure she's still breathing.

Due to the sheer numbers of ball pythons sold, especially to first-time snake owners that have been told they're the most docile & "best" beginner snakes, I'd
have to guess that the neglect is staggering. The lucky ones end up given up to rescues (both private & shelters) or rehomed on CL & other venues for another
"chance" that may or may NOT be an improvement, but I would guess that many don't survive as long as they should. We'll never know the real numbers.
Once in poor or "iffy" condition, snakes are very hard to sell, and "free to a good home" ads may or may not attract a responsible owner.

Without extensive snake-keeping experience, few people can look at & recognize an unhealthy snake in the earlier stages...they are quite stoic, so many
keepers who are doing the wrong things often continue to do so "because they've always done it this way". Snakes suffer in silence. In a perfect world, all
snakes would have owners like most on here...educated & doing their level best for their pets. It's not a perfect world though...:(

There's a difference between not really monitoring your humidity and temperature frequently because you know it's right, and not monitoring your temp/humidity because you're lazy.

Sadly the later is the more frequent occurrence. Usually you can tell by how much someone cares about their care requirements by taking one look at their setup.

If you're rehoming a snake and someone says "I've got a vision/AP/Boaphile cage with a RHP that the snake is going to go in" you can be pretty sure they're serious about care.

If they say, "I've got an old tank with a heat rock".............. you may want to reconsider

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Originally Posted by mandymg86

I'm obsessive with husbandry after losing our first two hatchlings back in December. They're investments, and pets are family to me so I'm going to take care of my girl the absolute best I can. Even if that means I check the temps and humidity 3-4 times/day and peek into the hide to make sure she's still breathing.

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I actually read your post earlier. I’m so sorry that happened to you, they really are like family. I don’t believe it was anything you did. They were most likely already ill from the shop you got them from. Ball pythons are hardy animals, especially reading and hearing about the cases of neglect and them still living.

I've seen a lot of ball pythons with horrible setups both on here, reddit, craiglist, etc. Unfortunately, it seems like ball pythons are very commonly bought as impulse purchases. What baffles me is how many people don't bother doing thorough research on the LIVING thing that they are buying. Before I got my ball python I researched for almost 6 months. Yes, it's a bit much but I wanted to be completely prepared since I had never owned a reptile- let alone a snake. So it drives me crazy when I see terrible setups. Honestly, there is no excuse for it. There is FREE information at our fingertips. How hard is it to google "ball python care"? I understand when people make simple mistakes but a lot of these things are completely avoidable. We are lucky enough that we don't have to even go to a library to find information. It could not be easier to look up what you need to know.

I would be rolling in dough if I got a dollar for everytime someone didn't know the difference between"thermometer" and "thermostat"...

Anyway, to end on a positive note, I'm glad that this forum exists. Thankfully it seems like a lot of new keepers here are willing to follow advice and tweak their setups when needed. I hope that in time we will see less and less neglect. Snakes are great creatures and certainly deserve to have their needs met!

From what I've seen most people don't take care of BPs very well. Usually there's only one heat source (uth or heat lamp) that's not on a thermostat. No way to check temp or the humidity. Nothing covering the screen lid so ambient temp is too low and it's dry. Plus they usually feed too small or not often enough.

Just go on craigslist and check out some of the snakes for sale and you will see. I've now bought two off craigslist and both were tiny for their age and cages were dirty and not set up properly.

I've done my share of "rescuing" snakes, as well as other animals, off of CL. It truly amazes and terrifies me at some of the animals I've seen. There have been some that were so bad that I couldn't bring myself to take them in, but every time I see one that's that bad I leave the number for a local wildlife and reptile rescue. I feel bad leaving the animal in those kind of conditions, but I can't bring myself to think about even the possibility of getting the rest of my animals sick, or worse, because I took them in.

That being said there are a ton of animals on CL, at least near me, that are well cared for, or even spoiled, but the owners have had to make the decision to rehome them. Those are the ones I try to help, I've even gone so far as to send updates to previous owners, and offered to sell them the animal back once they are back on their feet again. I've never had anyone take me up on getting a prior pet back, but I think the day will come eventually.

The two biggest problems, in my mind, is that A) you can walk into almost any pet store in the US and buy a ball python, or almost any other animal, and the staff there usually either don't know how to care for the animal, or they don't care if you take care of the animal. So the new owner gets very minimal information or wrong information on what is proper care, and they blindly trust the pet store, because "they're the experts".

And B) too many people see animals as objects or property, and not living creatures.

Story time:

I once saw a guy at a reptile show get ripped a new one by a vendor of dry goods (cages, supplies, foods, etc.) because he didn't want to buy all the necessary stuff for his son's new pet turtle. The vendor explained that turtles, while inexpensive themselves, require one of the most expensive and complicated setups of all reptile pets because you need everything you'd need for an aquarium, plus all the other reptile supplies as well. The new owner of the turtle told him, and I quote, " Just sell me the stuff I asked for, it's a $10 turtle, if the damn thing dies, I'll just buy him (the son) another one and he probably won't even be able to tell the difference." The vendor then proceeded to royally rip "turtle guy" a new one about how the turtle is a living creature and deserves to actually live and thrive in a proper setup, the vendor then took the $10 turtle, threw a $20 at "turtle guys" face and told him to leave the show and never come back. Security escorted "turtle guy" out, but he probably went to a Petsmart that same day and bought his kid the turtle and poor enclosure setup the he couldn't get at the reptile show.

That is the biggest issue in my mind, that people like this exist. "Turtle guy" seemed to have plenty of money, expensive clothes, expensive watch, insanely expensive car, he just didn't care that much about a living creature that he deemed not worth the time, effort or money. He treated a living turtle the same way you'd treat a junky $10 blender, if it dies I'll just get another one and life will go on.

Thank you everyone for the replies, I just happen to search craigslist and found a couple in not so great shape. One looks like he just had a really bad shed (if I had the money I’d get him now), the other has nothing but a half log in his home :( breaks my heart. I’m graduating school this May, once I start my new job I will definitely be rescuing one. Obviously quarenteened far away from my other for a while.

I was actually just kind of thinking about this type of situation this weekend. I was at a reptile show, and while I love seeing all the families enjoying themselves and getting to see and hold such beautiful animals, I couldn’t help wonder how many of these kids were gonna go home with an inexpensive pet snake or lizard only to find out that just throwing them in an old aquarium with some wood chips isnt the end (or even the beginning) of their commitment to an animal that will live over 20-25 years sometimes. I mean I love reptile shows and the availability of these animals and I sure don’t need the government or anybody restricting my right to own a reptile, but any teenager with $200 could have gone home with a retic. I’ve wanted to get a retic for awhile now, I think they are amazing, but i have to have some common sense about it, I don’t have the resources or capability of dealing with a 12’-18’ snake. I’m not sure 18 year old me would have thought that far ahead!

Not excusing the neglect of any snakes, but they survive in the wild despite all sorts of adverse conditions (weather, food & water shortage, predators, wildfires,
environmental pollution, roads/loss of habitat, roaming pets, etc). But there's a big difference between "survive" and "thrive"...I don't think you can truly say that
a neglected pet snake is "thriving" if it has had sub-standard care, even if the long-term effects aren't immediately obvious. It's a bit like humans who smoke...the
serious effects might not show up for a while, depending on their own genetic resistance. Or "stress" of any kind...a no-brainer, but a challenge to prove.

For anyone with the resources to take in (rescue) a neglected snake (or other animal), few things make you feel better than turning it's life around for the best.

Animal neglect is an epidemc, no matter what species

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I think it happens more than you think. I think they are acquired on impulse because they are so popular
Often by younger people who's interests change from month to month and they end up being neglected. My kids are perfect examples. They both go through periods where they really want a snake and I go through the motions of giving them good info and helping them make good decisions and within a week the idea is forgotten and I breathe a sigh of relief that I wont be getting a new snake. Lol

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It sadly happens, I was lucky enough to rescue my BP from a home, one hide, dog bowl water dish, same aspen substrate for maybe years, 1 hide, no thermometers or hygrometers, no foliage and the single hide on the hot side. Fed ~5 times a year, or when he remembered, luckily he wanted to part with her and I had the money to outfit her with a much more stable, healthy, and safe home. I think people get dispassionate, BP's are not always roaming or exciting, they hide so much, people often probably are often disappointed and bored.

I was lucky enough after a horrible partial shed to get her acclimated and 7 months later she is thriving, eats like a champion, sheds almost perfectly, she does not have her skin wrinkled from losing weight, heck I even catch her drinking water and she is significantly more sociable now that she has a more habitable environment.

You can see her 1 hide, old substrate, empty tank here, feces in the aspen, urates everywhere, shed skin stuck on hide, stuck everywhere. Glass was filthy, water dish slimey and grimey.

Dude loved his cat, but he lost passion for the BP and she suffered, it is probably far far too common, and as others have said for many pets, not just snakes.

Pets are a responsibility and it is up to the owner to provide a safe and healthy home, we remove them from their natural habitat and owe them the very best, be it vet visits, their home, environment, feeding, etc...

This is where her and I bonded (or she was curious what warm thing pointing at her was).

Second picture is her set up now, second hide in the foliage, blanket in back is to cover and give her less stimulation since it is a glass tank, she is of course tucked away in her hide just giving me a cute smile. Coy little gal.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...04d9bc1248.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...6d186f0436.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...3a752ccae9.jpg

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So glad u saved her life [emoji173]

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Originally Posted by Jellybeans

So glad u saved her life [emoji173]

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Well thank you! I was just looking at a large (wide) bookshelf I have and contemplating a new vivarium for my BP and setting up a second one on top of my large bookshelf. To be fair, y'all are enablers..... I went from 1 snake ought to do to I could get a hognose too and set it up right.

I live in a rather small town, but my herp love has started to name me the "snake guy" in town haha. Though my instagram is only my snake haha, so that does not help!

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Hognose would be SWEET

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I own 3 boas, 2 hondos and one corn snake. Each has a custom AP cage with RHP and thermostat. I love my pets and take their care very seriously.

I check their cages for cleanliness every morning and every evening. Any messes get cleaned up immediately. Water bowls get fresh water every day. spaghum moss gets remoistened when needed and replaced when needed.

My babies are truly spoiled but that is exactly the way I want them to be and what the deserve :)

Look up afroherper on YouTube he picked up a extremely neglected bp one of worst things I have ever seen, stuck shed sores bites mouth rot underweight ri.

Can they thrive when neglected I would say no, but they can survive.


https://youtu.be/h1xpb24N4G4

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Originally Posted by Jamiekerk

Look up afroherper on YouTube he picked up a extremely neglected bp one of worst things I have ever seen, stuck shed sores bites mouth rot underweight ri.

Can they thrive when neglected I would say no, but they can survive.


https://youtu.be/h1xpb24N4G4

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That video seriously made me tear up. :( so happy she’s with someone who will take care of her.

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Originally Posted by Shadowy

I was doing cage maintainence the other day and my boyfriend commented on how spoiled my BP is, and how overkill and OCD I am with the husbandries. I just replied I was doing what I had to in order to keep her healthy.
He then informed me he used to live with a guy who had a BP, all the guy had was a heat lamp on one side. Didn’t monitor temps/humidity, didn’t mist. Just left him with a heat lamp, water bowl, and a hide. He told me the BP was an adult and looked healthy (besides escaping the cage often and scaring him on multiple occasions lol)
I’m just wondering how often people don’t closely monitor their snakes habitat and how well they thrive. I was under the impression most BP owners knew the husbandry is incredibly important in the snakes overall health.

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I'm not sure of the frequency but when I got my 5 yr old normal and she was being kept in the same conditions. They had one of those red heat lamps running 24/7 and was just sitting on top of the open screen. No misting, thermometer, hydrometer, thermostat, UTH, or anything. The water dish was completely dry and there were shed pieces and #2 logs everywhere. There was so much feces I was thinking that maybe what I read was wrong and it was a daily thing. She did seem well fed but the shed situation was a mess. Eye caps were stuck along with all down her backside. I thought it was just a run of the mill bad shed but after having her for a week or two she went in to shed again which didn't go too smoothly. I had to soak her and work what I could loose with a towel. Thankfully the eye caps came off that time also. Overall she is doing pretty dang good these days though. She's actually in shed right now. She's almost got it all off except one cap and a bit behind her head. Not as good as the last few sheds, but the husbandry is spot on so I'm confident it will work itself out. She's been a great pet though. Seems to be more on the active side and is as friendly as they come. She's also never missed a meal, even when she's in blue so that's been nice. Just a fat kid in a snakes body I guess.

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Originally Posted by SquirmyPug

From what I've seen most people don't take care of BPs very well. Usually there's only one heat source (uth or heat lamp) that's not on a thermostat. No way to check temp or the humidity. Nothing covering the screen lid so ambient temp is too low and it's dry. Plus they usually feed too small or not often enough.

Just go on craigslist and check out some of the snakes for sale and you will see. I've now bought two off craigslist and both were tiny for their age and cages were dirty and not set up properly.

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My boyfriend is looking to buy a snake from a woman who has been underfeeding her 1 year old BP. She doesn't know his weight (and she's had him for a YEAR!) and has been feeding him rat pups pretty much the whole time. He's getting fed, which I guess is better than the alternative, but after seeing pictures and guesstimating on his weight...he's not getting fed the right size prey.