Temperature, in the long run...

I was offered a FREE normal ball for doing some computer work for a guy, good old barter system...

My question is, though I trust that the guy is knowledgeable about snakes, that his methods may be a little strange...

He uses NO heat...Just room temperature...
So I'm wondering if this 2 year old ball that I'm getting will have any adverse health issues, stunted growth, attitude change because he's been raised at 22 C his whole life...

Now, the ball is appartently breeding, has a very strong feeding response, is an OK size, well I think...

The only thing I see different is that instead of yellow green saddles, he has much more yellow...

My point is, I want to know if keeping him at these temps for his life would have any long term negative side effects... Even if he eats and breeds and grows fine...

As well, being "rubbermaided." Would this create a different character than, say, one who grew up in a viv, with more stimulation?

Is anything beyong the point of "rehabilitation?"

Thanks,

Dustin (MSN: dusterdust@hotmail.com)

It will be fine. If it doesn't have a RI, I would take it in. Although not recommended, ball pythons can and do survive just fine with less than optimal conditions. The biggest problem with poor, or lack of heat imo is RI's. If it's clean, all is good. All the big breeder snakes are "rubbermaided" in thier racks, albeit heated properly, so lack of stimulation is not a problem. It's a snake, it's needs consist of food and water and preferably heat, lol, the rest is for the owners stimulation :D

THANK YOU!
Anyone else?

have you read our caresheet?

http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules....warticle&id=59

no one here can say whether or not your snake will have any long term adverse effects from the care it was given... as we haven't seen your snake nor have we seen it's living conditions.

i would highly recommend you get it to a vet to check for internal parasites, check for any RI it may have and also checking for mites.

i disagree with ridley... ball pythons do not "survive just fine with less than optimal conditions" like the ones you've mentioned. ball pythons end up with RI when their temps are low and inconsistant. they need 90 degrees on their warm side and no lower than 80 on their cool side.

welcome to the forum!

Color varies alot even between normals, i doubt that has anything to do with conditions or any potential problems.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

have you read our caresheet?

http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules....warticle&id=59

no one here can say whether or not your snake will have any long term adverse effects from the care it was given... as we haven't seen your snake nor have we seen it's living conditions.

i would highly recommend you get it to a vet to check for internal parasites, check for any RI it may have and also checking for mites.

i disagree with ridley... ball pythons do not "survive just fine with less than optimal conditions" like the ones you've mentioned. ball pythons end up with RI when their temps are low and inconsistant. they need 90 degrees on their warm side and no lower than 80 on their cool side.

welcome to the forum!

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Yeah, my late night posting has caught up with me, lol. My wording made it seem like I condone room temperature keeping, which is not the case. I should have said something more along the lines of "I have seen quite a few balls survive in less than appropriate caging and heating, and showed little to no adverse effects once returned to an appropriate environment" One of my good friends owned a great a pet shop, and he'd take in balls quite a bit, and usually, it would take some substanstially poor husbandry to hurt the balls long term. RI's seemed most prevalent but were still pretty rare and returning them to a properly heated cage cleared up all but one case that I remember that needed some antibiotics to clear up. Balls seem to ineveitably quit eating if thier cage is too cold for too long, and thats why 90% of the customers wanted to drop off thier balls, or would stop in for us to trouble shoot thier issues. (usually bought from a large pet mart and had no advise on how to care for them).

Well, here is the thing. The last snake I had, a corn, that I traded in for this new ball kept sneezing. Now I have this new ball, well, the 2 year old described in this thread and he's sneezing...I don't know how active BP's are exactly, so I can't comment on his behaviour, seems alright though...He won't eat the mice I put in for him...

I'm wondering if it could be farting? NO idea...Sounds like a dog fart, where it is just a short air burst of a noise...

I'm thinking to myself that because of the non-heated env. he is coming from might have caused some sort of RI, but then again...wouldn't he have gotten it a LONG time ago, and most likely died from it? The previous owner never mentioned it either...

I cleaned the cage out well between snakes...

I'll attach a pic of the viv, maybe someone will see something that shouldn't be in there...

The only herp vet is hours and hours away, plus it would seem almost pointless for a snake I just got...

Any ideas from anyone?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dusterdust2

Well, here is the thing. The last snake I had, a corn, that I traded in for this new ball kept sneezing. Now I have this new ball, well, the 2 year old described in this thread and he's sneezing...I don't know how active BP's are exactly, so I can't comment on his behaviour, seems alright though...He won't eat the mice I put in for him...

I'm wondering if it could be farting? NO idea...Sounds like a dog fart, where it is just a short air burst of a noise...

I'm thinking to myself that because of the non-heated env. he is coming from might have caused some sort of RI, but then again...wouldn't he have gotten it a LONG time ago, and most likely died from it? The previous owner never mentioned it either...

I cleaned the cage out well between snakes...

I'll attach a pic of the viv, maybe someone will see something that shouldn't be in there...

The only herp vet is hours and hours away, plus it would seem almost pointless for a snake I just got...

Any ideas from anyone?

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i can't begin to express how sad this makes me. your post sounds like you value this animal very little because it's a new pet. how exactly does "time with you" make it more valuable? make it more worthy of proper vet care.

i can't even begin to respond any further on this... i really hope i am misunderstanding you. :(

I am sorry, I am much too busy to drive 6 hours and cough out a few hundred (after travel) for a pet. Not I care about my snakes, but I'm also a student that isn't exactly rich. If someone can help me, please do...

As well, how do I post pics on here?!

Basically it comes down to this. You took in a snake that had a less than great husbandry history. The snake may or may not be ill. Any living creature deserves vet care if you choose to own it and especially when you knowingly take on a pet that any reasonable person would realize will need vet care whether that's immediately or at some point down the road.

I would suggest you find a snake rescue and turn over the snake to them immediately so it can receive proper vet care. Rescue and rehab is best done by those with experience and the heart to do it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dusterdust2

As well, how do I post pics on here?!

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Check out the stickies in the Site Info forum:
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/f...splay.php?f=89

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dusterdust2

I am sorry, I am much too busy to drive 6 hours and cough out a few hundred (after travel) for a pet.

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The animal depends on you for its needs; may it be food,shelter or veterinary care. If you cannot provide every one of these necessities, then you should adopt it out or sell it to someone who has the financial means and the time to properly care for the snake. :twocents:

Have you checked recently for herp vets in your area? All most RIs take to clear up is some antibiotics and good husbandry.. This is a link to a worldwide directory of reptile vets.

http://www.arav.org/Directory.htm

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dusterdust2

I am sorry, I am much too busy to drive 6 hours and cough out a few hundred (after travel) for a pet. Not I care about my snakes, but I'm also a student that isn't exactly rich. If someone can help me, please do...

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May I ask you a question then? If it were your beloved cat or dog... would you feel the same?

How about your child? If they needed costly treatments from a specialist in another state would you have the same attitude? :hug:

I am not angry, so please don't read this post with anger... I am sad. Just because your snake does not have the ability to look you in the eyes and beg for it's life doesn't mean that it's life is any less valuable.

Here is a question, why does it seem he only sneezes at night?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dusterdust2

Here is a question, why does it seem he only sneezes at night?

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Here's a question - I'd really like to see your answers to the previous questions posed to you.

If you can't provide for him properly, PLEASE - re-home him with someone who IS willing to drive any distance needed and spend the money required to get him healthy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Here's a question - I'd really like to see your answers to the previous questions posed to you.

If you can't provide for him properly, PLEASE - re-home him with someone who IS willing to drive any distance needed and spend the money required to get him healthy.

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:bow: i agree!

There has to be a vet closer than 6 hrs away. The first thing you should do is get that Bp the right husbandry,don't make the same mistakes it's previous owner made. If I were you I would memorize our caresheet, get the stuff you need it, doesn't take a fortune to do that. Ball pythons are great pets, this little snake might become a huge part of your life. Also welcome to bp.net look around everyone here loves their herps and helping others properly care for theirs.

I agree with what everyone has said!
Please give this snake to someone who actually is willing to give the animal the right kind of care, etc.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dusterdust2

Here is a question, why does it seem he only sneezes at night?

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Dust.... snakes don't sneeze! He probably has a RI in which he needs to see a vet asap. If not, the snake is going to just die. End of story.

I agree that placing the snake with someone willing and able to pay for vet care is the BEST scenario.

IF you aren't willing to go to the vet or give up the snake, please look up info on respiratory infection and make changes to your husbandry accordingly. Some mild RIs can be treated with increased temperature and proper humidity. If that's as good as your snake is going to get, it's better than nothing!

It's possible that the "sneezing" is not an RI but a vet checkup is the only way to know for sure.

Well, I'm not sure about this, but he was coming from being kept in a humide tub, to my 30% humide viv...I upped the humidity by closing off some of the screen top and I haven't heard very much of anything coming from him...

Dustin