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Potty Training a BP?

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  • 06-05-2007, 10:01 AM
    Jonny2184
    Potty Training a BP?
    Has anyone ever potty trained a snake?
    My snake poos all the time when I take her out.
    Mostly on my bed? Maybe because it's soft. But it sure makes me mad sometimes.

    Why do you think she does this, and how can I fix it??
  • 06-05-2007, 10:34 AM
    Kilo
    Re: Potty Training a BP?
    LOL, sorry but that is somewhat funny. Personally I have never heard of potty training a snake.
  • 06-05-2007, 10:51 AM
    casperca
    Re: Potty Training a BP?
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Jonny2184
    Has anyone ever potty trained a snake?
    My snake poos all the time when I take her out.
    Mostly on my bed? Maybe because it's soft. But it sure makes me mad sometimes.

    Why do you think she does this, and how can I fix it??

    This could be an insecurity issue. I read in the barker's book that some snakes deficate when they are feeling very threatened. however, they did mention that it is very rare for balls to do this as their primary mode of defense is to ball up. that is the only explanation that i can think of though. but if your snake does not get overly stressed when you handle it, ie: tense up or ball up when you handle it, you can probably rule this out.

    Perhaps someone else can shed more light on this. I dont' think potty training is going to happen. My best advise is to handle your snake after it deficates. Either that or get some rubber sheets for your bed. :sweeet:
  • 06-05-2007, 11:44 AM
    hardball
    Re: Potty Training a BP?
    Ya my guess is that it is stressed being out in the open and nervously lets some out.
  • 06-05-2007, 11:49 AM
    Freakie_frog
    Re: Potty Training a BP?
    I read an article in Reptiles Mag. where a man trained his Indigo snake to go in a flower pot.
  • 06-05-2007, 12:11 PM
    Jonny2184
    Re: Potty Training a BP?
    Yeah it is funny, but it sucks when it's your bed, and your getting ready for bed.


    He could be stressed a bit, but he doesn't show any signs of it...except pooping on me.
    He never balls up, never makes a puffing noise, never tried to bite me, and he seems to relax pretty good.

    The pooping on me has to stop! and I can't really predict when he does a poo. It's kinda whenever he feels like it.

    ah well.. maybe Ill laminate my sheets. lol
  • 06-05-2007, 12:47 PM
    PythonWallace
    Re: Potty Training a BP?
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Freakie_frog
    I read an article in Reptiles Mag. where a man trained his Indigo snake to go in a flower pot.

    Just one more reason I want an Indigo. They're so f*'n smart. Do you know how he trained it?
  • 06-05-2007, 01:46 PM
    BiG~PUN
    Re: Potty Training a BP?
    I used kitty litter as substrate for a long time then i cleaned it out put aspen in his enclosure and a litter box full of cat litter. Now he poops in the litter box. When he craps some place other than his litter box I rub his nose in it. :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

    (I was just kidding, I have not nor do I reccomend using cat litter for substrate. I do not nor should you rub your reptiles nose in his deficates.)
  • 06-05-2007, 03:33 PM
    wolfy-hound
    Re: Potty Training a BP?
    There's no use getting mad about the snake poo on your bed. Have you tried taking it somewhere with newspaper? Maybe it gets nervous when it's first out in the open, and poos, and if it could poo somewhere safe first, then it wouldn't poo again and you could put it on your bed?
    Snakes just poo. Usually poo more when nervous, but it's not a "I'll show you!" type of thing. Annoying yes. If you don't ever want poo on the bed, I'd say the only sure way to not have the snake poo on the bed is to not put the snake on the bed at all.
    Wolfy
  • 06-05-2007, 10:07 PM
    bearhart
    Re: Potty Training a BP?
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by PythonWallace
    Just one more reason I want an Indigo. They're so f*'n smart. Do you know how he trained it?

    I'd never heard of Indigos before and all I can say is WOW! Constricts? No. Venemous? No. Swallows its prey live!! Man that is hardcore.

    Sorry to get off topic...

    I do not know about the potty troubles. The only thing I've noticed is that people who have mentioned this seem to say it happens regularly.

    I do know that my BP tends to make an effort to do his business away from his hide. In fact, there is a urate ball jammed between the glass and a rock in this tiny little space right now. I can't even figure out how he got it in there.

    Anyway, my point is maybe your snake is being tidy? Perhaps he doesn't have an area in his cage that he feels comfortable making deposits? One thing that is rarely discussed is the overall quality of the cage as a simulated environment. There is alot of focus on the two hides, the temperatures, the water bowl, etc which are indeed the most important things. But, I kind of like to make my BP's cage "realistic" and so there are a number of nooks and crannys that make half-way good hides. Often times I find little presents tucked away in these areas. :eek:

    Its probably a long shot but that's all I can think of, really.
  • 06-05-2007, 10:21 PM
    Ginevive
    Re: Potty Training a BP?
    I don't know if I should say this, but I have never had one of my snakes urate or defecate on me while handling. Now, smear it around thr sides of their tubs? of course. But never on me.. and I handle them all regularly.
  • 06-06-2007, 12:28 AM
    python.princess
    Re: Potty Training a BP?
    yeah, the closest i've come to my snakes pooing on me is when we had floyd out one day and he started squiggling ALOT. to the point where it was hard to keep hold. so we put him back and as soon as he hit the substrate, he lifted his tail right up! lol.


    i think bearheart may be on to something with the tidyness idea. ours always seem to poo along the edges where they don't ever hang out
  • 06-06-2007, 02:51 PM
    Fearless
    Re: Potty Training a BP?
    All I know is its even worse when ur getting ready to probe one and his butthole puckers with a present on its way while you are in deep concentration way to up close and personal.
  • 06-06-2007, 03:00 PM
    Jonny2184
    Re: Potty Training a BP?
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Fearless
    All I know is its even worse when ur getting ready to probe one and his butthole puckers with a present on its way while you are in deep concentration way to up close and personal.

    I had to laugh. It was impossible not too!
    Way to funny! :teevee:
  • 06-06-2007, 03:31 PM
    atachamp
    Re: Potty Training a BP?
    yep, as soon as i get worried about my bp not pooping, I take her out and bang, there it is, she will poop on me!!!! I think she thinks that I am her potty. No warm baths, just put her on my lap. It is a sure bet!!!!
  • 06-06-2007, 03:53 PM
    Riktasi
    Re: Potty Training a BP?
    So far, my ball python has only went into his half-log hide to poo. I guess he feels more secure doing his business in there, and also, he doesn't use the half-log as his main hide.
  • 10-01-2007, 01:01 PM
    Jonny2184
    Re: Potty Training a BP?
    Well my poor Ball Python still has to turd whenever I take her out...

    I almost put her outside with the real animals last week *jj* But I was some angry!

    I had her out for only FIVE minutes. She had eaten like 4 days ago and I wanted to measure her and try and weight her.
    So I took her out and she seemed kinda chubby, so I figured she was gonna blow soon. "Eventually you will learn what the warning signs are" so I didnt plan on playing with her long at all... I threw her around my neck and walked into mom's closet to find a piece of sewing thread to meaure her with and once I bent over. SPLAT! :eek: :mad: ALL over me in my work (dress) clothing, all over the bloody carpet and on a few plactic bags. So I spent almost an hour scrubing the carpet...
    So in the end I didnt get to measure or weight her... What a waste of time...

    and she NEVER goes in the tank, unless she sheds then she will go then.

    WHY ME! WHY! WHY did I get the poopy snake! LOL!

    Outta 10 poos, maybe 3-4 are actaully in the tank... The rest just happen at the worst times...
    You think she is trying to do this on purpose. I do! LOL *jj*
  • 10-01-2007, 01:04 PM
    SatanicIntention
    Re: Potty Training a BP?
    Go hold her over the toilet :) Just grab her, run quickly to the bathroom, and hang her over the toilet. Maybe she'll get the point, hehe.

    I know one of my boys, if I go to pop him, he'll wee on me. So.. I just don't pop him.
  • 10-01-2007, 01:18 PM
    AzureN1ght
    Re: Potty Training a BP?
    I have only one BP...but he's never defecated or urinated on me while I've had him out for handling. He also is very clean. When he poops/pees/urates in his tub, he NEVER stays in that spot. He usually does it under a hide or in a corner, and then moves to the other side of the tub until I've cleaned up. :) I think that's just how he is. I've heard enough stories about other BPs that like to smear things around and get filthy after a poo... :D Each snake's an individual, for sure!
  • 10-01-2007, 01:27 PM
    Jonny2184
    Re: Potty Training a BP?
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SatanicIntention
    Go hold her over the toilet :) Just grab her, run quickly to the bathroom, and hang her over the toilet. Maybe she'll get the point, hehe.

    I know one of my boys, if I go to pop him, he'll wee on me. So.. I just don't pop him.

    Thanks for the tip. Next time she turds on me I'm gonna give her a swirly! lol

    I actaully put her in the bathtub after she went everywhere and then realized... AH! There was no plug in the drain! AHHH so I rushed back but she hadn't moved anyway, and I took her out of the tub! I wanted to give her a bath. She didnt smell very good afterwards. YUCK!
  • 10-01-2007, 10:29 PM
    Smitty1K
    Re: Potty Training a BP?
    mine does that exact same thing and it makes me so mad! :taz: ive been wondering why he does it. i really dont think its stress bc when he's out he acts completely comfortable. the last 3 times in a row hes been out (once a week) hes done it. i feel for u tho!
  • 10-08-2007, 01:53 AM
    Alt-tab
    Re: Potty Training a BP?
    I made a humid hide in the viv and for one reason or another this has become the designated toilet for Charlie - he consistantly does his business there and it makes tidy up so much easier .. maybe worth a shot for you ?
  • 10-09-2007, 06:00 PM
    jwarriner
    Re: Potty Training a BP?
    Question 1: How can you get mad at a ball python? They have no perception of right and wrong. It's like getting mad at an infant.

    Question 2: Wouldn't it be prudent not to put your snake in your bed at this point?

    Suggestion: Try a quick soak in some warm water right when you pull him out of his home. The only time our snake ever :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r: outside his home was during a soak.
  • 10-09-2007, 06:59 PM
    Sunny1
    Re: Potty Training a BP?
    I have never been pooped on by any of my snakes either. Sunny likes to hide her poop and urates in her tank, she has a bit of cage furniture in there, so when I am spot cleaning I have to search around and under everything, but at least her hides stay clean, she has not pooped in either of them unless it was a shed/poop combo.


    Jonny2184
    maybe your girl just really loves you and is trying to give you something to show it!! You can't say she never gave you anything..... JK!! I honestly have no idea why she would do it all the time if she doesn't seemed stressed.......
  • 10-09-2007, 07:08 PM
    poseyof5
    Re: Potty Training a BP?
    With one of mine he only goes in the water bowl.. and only after i change it..! i'll check and clean right before bed and in the morning amost always at least one nasty in the water.. I have not been poop on by one of my snakes yet but i do have 5 kids been puked or pooped on once a week about 7 years.. :D :)
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