New boy stressed

Got this little guy home and into his enclosure 3 hours ago. He has figured out how to wedge himself up by the lid. He's been there since. My other BP never did this. I've included a pic but it's through the plastic so it's not really clear. I hope he comes down and goes into his hide soon. [emoji120][emoji17]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...ec7f731faa.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...1edd822668.jpg

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He is also missing some scales on the lower neck area. Not sure if this is normal either. If you zoom in on the clear pic, you can see where they are missing.

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Looks like you've got yourself a "rugged individualist" there, & a pretty one too. :D

And no, those aren't "missing scales"...they're just folded scales from when snakes curl up (just like the creases we have inside our elbows, etc).
It shows up more on light color snakes...;) Totally normal, nothing to worry about.

You are always so awesome! Now, just to get him settled and try to switch from mice to rats next week. I love him so much already!!! [emoji171][emoji216]

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You might want to wait for a few meals before trying to switch him. Obviously, I have no crystal ball & he may surprise everyone & just take rats, but chances are he'll
do better if you stick with what he knows just for now, while he settles in. Same thing goes for housing in general...snakes get scared & confused being in a whole new
place, so the more things seem familiar, the more relaxed they'll be, & sooner.

I have a hide that will be delivered later today that is like the one he is used to. It was supposed to be here a few days ago. [emoji849] Do you think I should switch them when it gets here is a little bit or just leave him alone and switch it after he settles in a bit more?

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I'd switch the hides a.s.a.p. if it's what he had before.

@Bogertophis I got his hide fixed. Humidity is still a little high but he settled in and even ate for me! He has been eating mice but he ate a rat pup! I am so stinkin happy right now!

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That's totally AWESOME! Congrats! :pinkele:

His climbing might just have been curiosity in a new home, but I've had snakes before (these weren't BPs) that persisted in trying to climb
& hang on under the lid...so rather than having them keep falling, it's better to give them thick branches to hang onto. What I usually do is
wedge them diagonally so they cross in the middle...then you don't have to worry about attaching them. But maybe he'll just settle down
now anyway?

I have plenty of trees that I can get him a branch from. I live on 56 acres. There is also a bamboo patch where I can cut a piece of bamboo. Should I scrub whatever I use with vinegar and water and dry it out before I use it or should I just buy a climbing branch? I hope I don't pester you but you have been at this so long and you make so much sense that you are my go to. I love the way you truly love them.

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Originally Posted by Kerimac

I have plenty of trees that I can get him a branch from. I live on 56 acres. There is also a bamboo patch where I can cut a piece of bamboo. Should I scrub whatever I use with vinegar and water and dry it out before I use it or should I just buy a climbing branch? I hope I don't pester you but you have been at this so long and you make so much sense that you are my go to. I love the way you truly love them.

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I use natural tree branches from my property all the time but don't wash with vinegar(!) as wood might retain that acrid odor for a long time. I spray mine w/ the same solution (diluted chlorhexidine) that I use to wipe out my tanks...let it dry completely, no rinse needed. It's just to kill some germs that might be on them from birds etc. I've had a few bark beetles tunneling into branches too, once in a while; they are harmless to snakes, they only eat chomp on wood & you'll know you have them if or when you see tiny piles of sawdust on something in the enclosure...:D Bamboo poles can work fine too. I usually try to dry my branches outside in hot sun before using also...my snakes are too big for their branches to fit in my oven, lol.

Gosh I swear this snake is like my Noodle's twin! He did the exact same thing attaching to the side of the tub under the lid during the first few days when I got him. I later found out it was because he hated paper towel.

Glad to hear your boy ate! Sounds like he is doing well :) I'm sure he will be a great climber!

Another suggestion that works with either bamboo or scrap wood (1" x 1" or 1" x 2") or your branches is to make a wide ladder. You can attach pieces together with
glue/nails/screws or even with zip-ties or winding ropes. Make it so it leans inside the enclosure...this kind of snake-toy is very good for snakes that aren't such good
climbers...ie. my rosy boa has & likes one of these "ladders"- it's very easy for her to climb & lay on every which way. She also has a real branch going at an angle &
cross-ways thru the ladder...just one more thing she can hang onto. This minimizes falls...just make sure that all gaps are wider than the maximum size of your :snake:.

I will surely get my baby a branch! He has even climbed back up there after he ate! I have him on reptichip which is what he was used to. He has the same exact hide and the temp seems spot on and not too hot. The humidity is still high (in the 80s). I don't know what his deal is, but if he wants to climb then he will have something to climb on tomorrow! I'm also going to order some of that cleaner that @Bogertophis mentioned (which I've already forgotten the name of but I'll go look). Lol..... You said that I don't need to rinse it. Do you rinse it when you clean tanks with it? I'm sure it will say on the label. He's so fun already. I'll definitely keep y'all updated!

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Originally Posted by Kerimac

I will surely get my baby a branch! He has even climbed back up there after he ate! I have him on reptichip which is what he was used to. He has the same exact hide and the temp seems spot on and not too hot. The humidity is still high (in the 80s). I don't know what his deal is, but if he wants to climb then he will have something to climb on tomorrow! I'm also going to order some of that cleaner that @Bogertophis mentioned (which I've already forgotten the name of but I'll go look). Lol..... You said that I don't need to rinse it. Do you rinse it when you clean tanks with it? I'm sure it will say on the label. He's so fun already. I'll definitely keep y'all updated!

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Chlorhexidine is generic*...check with feed stores, pet supply places, drugstores-Walmart. I most recently purchased some from Chewy, but they only sold it by the gallon, so I need to get about 100 more snakes or live to 100 to use it all, lol. I'll probably donate some to our local Humane Society shelter to use. (*I used to use Nolvasan- but it's WAY more expensive now...it's differs only slightly from the generic & for us it's over-kill- it's used in labs & vet clinics, as is F10). Anyway, you dilute it greatly, spray on & wipe dry, no rinsing on cages needed. I use for both snake & rodent cages. (They also use chlorhexidine as an ingredient in mouthwash- I remember someone on another forum saying they cleaned their snake enclosures with mouthwash, lol...but personally I don't want minty-fresh snakes, & there's other ingredients in mouthwash that may or may not belong in a snake cage.) Chlorhexidine is used for germ-killing in wound care too...that's why feed stores carry it.

Yes! I'll fashion him a ladder! I'll do this and let him get comfy on there and hang out while I fold his scales back into place! [emoji6]

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Originally Posted by Kerimac

Yes! I'll fashion him a ladder! I'll do this and let him get comfy on there and hang out while I fold his scales back into place! [emoji6]

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The ladder works really well for snakes with wider bodies. My rat & corn snakes can "tip-toe" over single & slender branches without falling but not rosy boas or BPs. When they can wind thru the rungs on a wide ladder that's leaning about 45* in their cage, they really cannot fall, & they can exercise with confidence.

This is a great idea. I have a huge wood pile from a white oak that fell. We cut it up and I kept some big piles of all sizes of branches for bon fires. I'm sure I can make him a fine ladder! [emoji171][emoji171][emoji171]

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I bet he'll use it...looking forward to his "mountain climbing" pics.

Absolutely! I will post pics soon!

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So........ I went and got Chlorhexidine today from Tractor Supply and mixed it up. Got some branches and cut them to the length I want and cut the rungs of the ladder. I just got done hand shaving all the bark off and hand sanding all of them so they are smooth and have nothing that could remotely harm him. I have sprayed them down with the spray and will let them sit overnight and dry completely. I will fashion the ladder tomorrow and put it in! Thx for the idea! The idea which in turn led me to research snake enrichment things until 3am! [emoji216][emoji23]

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Originally Posted by Kerimac

So........ I went and got Chlorhexidine today from Tractor Supply and mixed it up. Got some branches and cut them to the length I want and cut the rungs of the ladder. I just got done hand shaving all the bark off and hand sanding all of them so they are smooth and have nothing that could remotely harm him. I have sprayed them down with the spray and will let them sit overnight and dry completely. I will fashion the ladder tomorrow and put it in! Thx for the idea! The idea which in turn led me to research snake enrichment things until 3am! [emoji216][emoji23]

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Your snake is lucky to have such a caring & thoughtful snarent. :gj: Snakes are all different when it comes to acceptance time of new things, but your boy has been literally climbing the walls, so I bet it won't be long...:D Besides that, I think it's good for their brain & muscle development to have things to explore...I
think of it like "snakey kindergarten".

Exactly! I'm starting a peg wall for him tomorrow! [emoji16] Knowing me, he will have a playground! https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...cea38f8054.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...3400322b00.jpg

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I LOVE IT!!! :D :gj:

I love this thread! Lots of awesome ideas for enrichment here. Your BP is so lucky to have such a caring, dedicated owner :)

Thank you! Here is my work in progress. Lol. Not great but made with love. I'm going to sand indentions for the rungs to sit in and use wood glue I think. I thought about zip ties and melting them smooth but I'm not crazy about that idea. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...114b14ccf3.jpg

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When I decide to bring a pet into my home, regardless of what it is, I am going to give them 100%. We have a dog, a fish, 2 hermit crabs in a lavish set up and 2 ball pythons. They become part of the family and I dedicate myself to do as much research as possible. I feel like I will never stop learning about snakes though. There is so so so much to learn! Thank you so much for all of your help!

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I like your climbing wall idea, btw...I have something sorta similar, only it's a vertically-standing wooden "thing", about 2.5' tall, with 2" holes thru-out...it's shaped like a
house with a pointed roof on top (albeit a tall & narrow house that's a foot wide). I didn't make it...I found it for sale cheap in a thrift store...no one knew what it was
supposed to be, so I told them...it's a SNAKE TOY! :rofl: Oh the funny looks I get... It's well-made, varnished long ago, no issues, & my snakes can slither in & out the
holes, lol. My spotted python likes it the most & perches on top with her body & tail winding thru holes for a secure grip. She's at least 3.5' long & a very strong climber.

BTW, the "ladders" I've made are WIDE, about 2' wide, & about 16" high so they can lean front to back in the tank & form lot's of climbing area, but yours is cool too...they all work.

Sweet! I want a snake house! Yes, I remembered that you said wide. The pic doesn't do it justice. The middle part that is the most narrow part is about 2". The rest is about 3" and it is probably about 14 - 16" long.

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Oh! Crap! You said 2 FEET wide! Um...... Yeah, his enclosure isn't big enough for that. Lol. Maybe one day! That's why I want to make him his own enrichment room. We have an extra bedroom that I am using as an office but there is plenty of room for snake toys! Maybe I'll make him a big ladder to go along with his peg wall! See! More ideas! [emoji16][emoji16][emoji16][emoji16][emoji16] My family is going to surely think I've lost the rest of my mind! ROFL

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It's all relative to the size of snake's home and the size of the snake. But wide-body snakes (like BPs & my rosy boa) like to stretch out horizontally, so this "ladder" is to
allow that, while they can climb up thru it, it's for laying on sideways. Sorry, didn't mean to confuse you...& your snake will probably use it anyway, at least while he's small.

The "ladders" I made & am using are for adult snakes...my rosy boa is over 3', & the space between the rungs is roughly 3" or a bit more. When this "ladder" leans in her
30-40 gal. tank, it replaces other branches or climbing things (though she also has a branch that goes diagonally thru the ladder the other direction). It's all about giving
snakes traction...stuff to grip onto for security & exercising their "abs". ;) Anyway, not to worry, I bet he'll love what you designed- after all, he's been winging it anyway.
Snakes naturally like to weave in & out to hang onto things...you'll probably come up with things I haven't thought of either.

So, question....... I don't know what this is called so I'm just going to describe it. Sometimes when I have my normal out, he explores by smoothly gliding and sometimes, it's like he grabs on and constricts more as he 'inches along'. Smaller, tighter movements. I have no clue what to call the behavior but he does it more when my oldest daughter holds him than anyone else, though he has done it when I've had him as well.

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Originally Posted by Kerimac

Sweet! I want a snake house! Yes, I remembered that you said wide. The pic doesn't do it justice. The middle part that is the most narrow part is about 2". The rest is about 3" and it is probably about 14 - 16" long.

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I genuinely LIKE your ladder so far...I love the natural look and as long as his body fits thru it, it's just fine, even if there isn't room to lay sideways...it's all good! :gj:

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Originally Posted by Kerimac

So, question....... I don't know what this is called so I'm just going to describe it. Sometimes when I have my normal out, he explores by smoothly gliding and sometimes, it's like he grabs on and constricts more as he 'inches along'. Smaller, tighter movements. I have no clue what to call the behavior but he does it more when my oldest daughter holds him than anyone else, though he has done it when I've had him as well.

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Just sounds to me like he's feeling a little insecure...it's a very normal thing for some snakes to do, not to worry. And if he's on a smooth surface, that would do it also, as
snakes cannot move (hardly at all) like if you put them on a smooth glass table, for example. They have different ways of moving, but all are facilitated by traction...they
need some rough surfaces to push off of (like you do with your blades when ice skating). ;)

Annnnnnd...... Finished. I decided to break out my wood burner and burn some designs into it as well. Hopefully I will be sending you some pics soon of him on it! My pics keep failing to upload. [emoji849]

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Wooooooohooooooooo! Pics finally uploaded! I'll be sure to check after dark and see if he is cruising around! https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...cc4069e8c5.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...6b5fd31bf4.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...135ba38914.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...92ffb4454b.jpg

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Hey that looks REALLY AWESOME! What a cool & creative idea to add some African designs to the wood. How did you end up attaching the rungs?

With a dab of Titebond in the little recessed areas. I let it cure for about 10 hours or so. I couldn't pull the rungs off. I live in South Carolina and it's pretty warm and I had it outside to cure.

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And yes, I figure since his Ancestors are from Africa, I would add a little tribal flare to the wood. And I like doing wood burning so.... [emoji6] Win/win. I couldn't wait for you to see it!

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My new boy has been doing the same thing. He’s been Up in his little plant almost nonstop. Glad to see that other snakes do this too. He’s my first snake and I was concerned I was doing something horribly wrong. Can’t express how relieving seeing another little dood hanging out off the ground a lot is. Thank you and good luck!

He finally spent the day in his hide today but he was right back out and in the air at sundown! Definitely a climber! I was so afraid that it was too hot on the ground but I have my thermostat set to 91 and it is 87-88 on top of the he substrate inside his hide. I've checked it so many times with the heat gun, he's probably snake laughing me. [emoji23][emoji216]

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Originally Posted by Kerimac

He finally spent the day in his hide today but he was right back out and in the air at sundown! Definitely a climber! I was so afraid that it was too hot on the ground but I have my thermostat set to 91 and it is 87-88 on top of the he substrate inside his hide. I've checked it so many times with the heat gun, he's probably snake laughing me. [emoji23][emoji216]

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That would be the cutest thing ever, if only our snakes could laugh now & then. :D I'm all for it. How do you suppose they'd sound?

They would ssssssssssssnicker

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Originally Posted by Kerimac

They would ssssssssssssnicker

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Of COURSE they would...:rofl: