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!!

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?

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.

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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?

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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?

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! ;)

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!

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

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:

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!

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:

I agree....its never just one that goes....I either have no tubs to clean or 7 tubs. I swear its a conspiracy...

I have noticed that too, usually 2 days before feeding day there are "gifts" in at least half of the cages.


The one that usually poops on people is Tuleo, and he will let you hold him and settle down. Then he lets go. When I think about it I am not sure if any of the others have ever done that.

Neil

Akua has not pooed on me yet.. just watch hel do it when i pick him up... no just kiding umm my snow corn Sleet used to love to poo on me i would always check his tail end befor i picked him up but no no sign but the splash haha right on the new shirt *yuck* but i think it was cause he was un shur of his soroundings because he has not done it in a good 8 months or longer :)

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Originally Posted by aaajohnson

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

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You know now that you said this... I have never been pooped or urinated on :pinkele: it's always my son who gets the pleasure. Maybe our BP has it in for him:groinkick . My son asked one time, "mommy, why does Linda only poop and pee on me?". I had to make up something quick and I told him that since he is her "daddy" he loves him the most and knows that he won't be mad if he goes poop on him:fim: (foot in mouth). I couldn't explain why I've never had the "chance" to have that "experience"!

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You know now that you said this... I have never been pooped or urinated on :pinkele: it's always my son who gets the pleasure. Maybe our BP has it in for him:groinkick . My son asked one time, "mommy, why does Linda only poop and pee on me?". I had to make up something quick and I told him that since he is her "daddy" he loves him the most and knows that he won't be mad if he goes poop on him:fim: (foot in mouth). I couldn't explain why I've never had the "chance" to have that "experience"!

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I have noticed that my youngest daugther has gotten it the most. We always tell her it's because they like her soooo much, and they are relaxed with her.

Neil

None of mine ever have! I guess I am just lucky, and probably tonight I will go home and pick up one of them and get blasted for saying this :)

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Originally Posted by kenzie

You know now that you said this... I have never been pooped or urinated on :pinkele: it's always my son who gets the pleasure. Maybe our BP has it in for him:groinkick . My son asked one time, "mommy, why does Linda only poop and pee on me?". I had to make up something quick and I told him that since he is her "daddy" he loves him the most and knows that he won't be mad if he goes poop on him:fim: (foot in mouth). I couldn't explain why I've never had the "chance" to have that "experience"!

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Tell him it's good luck too LOL. Actually your way of explaining it to him is very sweet so he doesn't think Linda is actually targeting him.

I've had snakes that are stressed musk on me and I've had a couple that were out, fully relaxed and just used me as a convenient toilet spot. Is Linda passing normal urates and poops or is it loose stools or musk?

Like Robin I check ours to see if they are a bit bulgy down by their vents. If they are, then they don't get to come out for handling till they defecate LOL.

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Originally Posted by elevatethis

I agree....its never just one that goes....I either have no tubs to clean or 7 tubs. I swear its a conspiracy...

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The worst is when they go right after cleaning day. I replace the paper and sanitize weekly regardless of whether they have gone or not. My Hog Island Boa and the big RTB do it pretty much every time.

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Originally Posted by jglass38

The worst is when they go right after cleaning day. I replace the paper and sanitize weekly regardless of whether they have gone or not. My Hog Island Boa and the big RTB do it pretty much every time.

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I swear creatures do this on purpose. I used to have two cats. They would darn well line up, sit there and watch me clean their kitty box....then hop right in and take a stinky dump! Geesh!

Mine do that every time...Animals..