my new bp shakti

i only have web cam so the pics are terrible ill try to get better ones soon.

he's a cutie.


http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...ashlea/3-1.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...reashlea/4.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...reashlea/2.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...reashlea/1.jpg

quick question, i have the temp around 70-80ish and humid at 60-65-70ish is that good? Its hard to keep it stable :S

First off :welcome:

The temp should be 80 on the cool side and 90 on the hot side. 70 is way to low.

your snake needs a warm and cool side. the warmer side being heated by a under tank heater regulated by a thermostat to about 90-92 degrees. the cool side in the low 80's. your humidity is a lil high but i wouldnt worry about it. mines the same and havnt had any problems.

ahhhhhhh ok ill adjust it right now, just took those pics. we just woke up from a nap together :)

um I hope you didn't actually sleep with your snake together

No, he was in my hand, my hand was laid against my chest, and I was napping, not asleep.

you are new here...I am gonna let it go and keep my mouth shut. Good luck, you have lots to learn, enjoy :)

Just some friendly advise.... You didn't mention how long you have had your new pet but I will assume not very long. If that is the case it is often recommended that you give your new BP at least a week of alone time prior to handling and feeding. Ball Pythons can sometimes be very picky about eating, if they do not feel secure and if they are not set up at the proper temps and humidity.

Check out the care sheets on this forum for some great tips and don't be afraid to ask questions.

I've had him about 3 days now. I havn't really held him, except for today. I have not fed him yet either, waiting until this friday to try and feed him with my other snakes.

Thanks for the heads up.

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Originally Posted by PrioBull

you are new here...I am gonna let it go and keep my mouth shut. Good luck, you have lots to learn, enjoy :)

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I've had other snakes, and know professional breeders who take naps with their snakes snuggled against them. Just because you don't does not make it improper. Thank you for letting me know who to stay away from on this forum.:colbert:

I am not trying to cause problems or anything but if I offended you, I am sorry.

Thank you for the apology. I snuggle with my other snakes, I find they are very receptive to the attention, I firmly believe it has comforted one of my sickly snakes into eating as well.

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your new addition! This is a great place to learn about your snake. There are a lot of very knowledgeable people here, so don't be afraid to ask questions.

Thanks for the warm welcome. I am ecstatic to have him. He is absolutely adorable. I might look into breeding as well. Not sure yet. I will be soaking up as much knowledge as I can here.

*UPDATE*

I got her sex'd today and come to find out its a SHE :D My beautiful little girl, AND, i've only had her three days, and she ate! I'm so happy :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by spitfireashlea

*UPDATE*

I got her sex'd today and come to find out its a SHE :D My beautiful little girl, AND, i've only had her three days, and she ate! I'm so happy :)

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Grats! Try to get some better pics of her.

Like said, you should give her a week with no handling or feeding to let her settle in. It seems like you have been Doing a lot with her. Just give her some time to settle in and then you can take naps and stuff with her.

Thanks for the concern, but obviously she is doing just fine. :) And thanks! I will try and get my camera working again, its on the fritz atm :\.

How do you know she is just fine? How do you know she is not stressed?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by spitfireashlea

I've had other snakes, and know professional breeders who take naps with their snakes snuggled against them. Just because you don't does not make it improper. Thank you for letting me know who to stay away from on this forum.:colbert:

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You've got my attention! What professional breeders take naps with their snakes snuggled against them?

my uncles friend did ONCE but that was last year he is still napping..
no for real though he was drunk and went to feed his i wanna say retic but it couldve been a burm cant remember , he has haveing a party and he asked ppl if they wanted to watch him eat they said no, well they went in to check on him and he was in the cage napping with his snake around his neck..
i wouldnt nap with a snake!

ih yea and just becuase he ate dosnt mean he is settled in when you wake tommorow and it it regurgated..just going off exp.
i would listen to thes guys iv learned a ton of stuff

^ Lol, I have a ball python, Not a berm. AND my snake is still a baby. And...It's tomarrow, shes keeping it down.

I understand you all are concerned, its cute. But my snakes are perfectly fine. I feel my snakes are part of my family. They are not just "exotic pets" to look at to me. They are incredibly affectionate, and I appreciate the affection from them. My best friend has 3 red tails and 4 normals, all which sleep in her bed. Here are some pics


http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...79b40636e3.jpg
Enkil,5FT Red Tail
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...af2a0d0841.jpg
Likin, 4ft Norm
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...6a441e80d6.jpg
Enkil and Likin just as they woke up.
http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...e0de4039d4.jpg
Thor, 7ft Red Tail (Mommas boy, sleeps with her in bed pretty much every night.)

I believe these were taken after a full night sleep, yes, she went to sleep at night, woke up with her snakes snuggled against her peacefully, yawning when they woke up with her.

More :

They go in the car wherever she goes
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...931031040e.jpg
^Akasha, Red Tail

They hang outside and go for walks in the long grass along side her, they even let them climb on things

http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...31d74faeeb.jpg
Akasha and Thor



All of her snakes are in perfect health as per vet here in Syracuse NY. Just because you're experience with snakes is different, does not mean the way we take care of our snakes is wrong or harmful to them. They are healthy, properly taken care of, and are part of our family. Hope you enjoyed the pictures. Names of snakes are : Enkil, Likin,Thor, Akasha.

http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...31d0ba52e4.jpg
Thor drinking, just to give you an idea of his size. AND.........he is such a snuggle butt. Harmless in all sense of the word.

We have never been bitten by our snakes, they do not exhibit any signs of stress at any point and time. As said before, they are all in perfect health, shedding properly, eating properly, and being held/out of their cage every day for hours on end.

Just because they have the ability to do harm, does not mean they will. We understand our snakes, they understand us. I hope this opens your eyes to different ways of caring for your pets.

I still would like to know what breeders take naps with their snakes.

First off, I will not name breeders, it's not my responsibility to "calm" your nerves about this. I wasn't expecting such rudeness from an admin. Does it really matter if a person breeds or is just a normal pet owner? The fact of the matter is these are my snakes, i'll do with them what I want, as long as they are healthy, what does it matter.


Anyways......I think I may have my camera working better. But i'll have to wait a few days as she just ate. I'll try and upload some when I take them.

Your reference that breeder's sleep with their snake was used as justification for your and other people's behaviour regarding your own snakes.

Robin's query was neither rude nor unsolicited (and in no way reflects her nerves I believe).

You made a comment that you are here to learn as much as you can. Learning starts with communication on your end as well, as well as being receptive and reflexive... which involves dialogue and critique.

I am also interested in what *professional* breeders sleep with their snakes.

Bruce

PS: My inquiry has nothing to do with calming my nerves either.

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Originally Posted by spitfireashlea

First off, I will not name breeders, it's not my responsibility to "calm" your nerves about this. I wasn't expecting such rudeness from an admin. Does it really matter if a person breeds or is just a normal pet owner? The fact of the matter is these are my snakes, i'll do with them what I want, as long as they are healthy, what does it matter.


Anyways......I think I may have my camera working better. But i'll have to wait a few days as she just ate. I'll try and upload some when I take them.

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You're the one who brought up professional breeders that nap with their snakes as an argument that it's ok to do, and I genuinely want to know who they are. It has ZERO to do with calming my nerves. I simply brought it up again, since you didn't answer the first time I asked.

I didn't feel I was being rude - however, you have been very defensive from the get-go about how you choose to interact with your animals.

I really don't care what you do with YOUR snakes. Since you brought up that you know breeders that nap/sleep with their snakes, and I don't know any who do, I wanted to know which ones were doing so.

Why the defensiveness?

I don't think it is important to know who does. But this is neither here nor there. I am very defensive about how I take care of my snakes.

I thank you for your replies thus far. I don't think i will be posting here anymore. Enjoy your snakes. GD.

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Originally Posted by spitfireashlea

The fact of the matter is these are my snakes, i'll do with them what I want, as long as they are healthy, what does it matter...

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It matters what you do with your snakes, as you are the one they are dependent upon to keep them healthy and to keep them safe.

They are not called *exotic* as a means of giving them cachet, but because they have very specific needs and husbandry, abandonment of which can result in illness and death, much more easily than say a kitten or puppy.

Your behaviour needs to reflect an awareness and respect for the species you are interacting with. Which means understanding their needs and husbandry and acting accordingly.

I understand you are new to BPs and are very excited... but respect your animal and take some time to learn from experienced keepers.

You are not the first person to get a new snake, and you are not the first person to treat your snake like family (or feel and refer to them as such). Just keep in mind that your newest family member has the MOST limited range of communicating with you, and it is up to you to be objective and to be educated to interpreting their needs.

Which includes, as stated before, not putting that snake in danger. And it does sound like you are on the way to engaging in some very reckless behaviours, if nothing else than by example of your friend (loose snakes in the car, in her bed, etc.).

Your needs or the snakes' needs, it is your call.

Bruce

Quote:

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Originally Posted by spitfireashlea

I am very defensive about how I take care of my snakes.

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You might want to work on that.

Bruce

Quote:

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I understand you are new to BPs and are very excited... But respect your animal and take some time to learn from experienced keepers.

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I am not new to BP's, I am new to having one myself. I have grown up with BP's my whole life and have seen many of my family snakes grow to live long heathly lives. The temperature gaging was a new question since my family's BP's were raised in tubs, I wanted to try a glass tank.

I am only defensive when people give me a reason. Telling me that my way of raising my snakes is wrong makes me defensive, so if you are upset at my defensiveness, then stop commenting on how I care for them. I asked specific questions, none on how I take care of them.


As far as the snakes needs, they are met, as stated before they are perfectly healthy. I don't see why it is any of your business how I take care of my snakes. But thats neither here nor there. This thread was created to show my new addition, not to question my care methods.

You can close this thread now. It's useless.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by spitfireashlea

We understand our snakes, they understand us. I hope this opens your eyes to different ways of caring for your pets.

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If by different ways of caring for your snakes you mean cruising around with them loose in the car then no thank you. I also wouldn't take them out for hours at a time and sleep with them either, but that's just me. It just seems to me that they are being treated like a pet dog rather than a pet snake.
As far as the "Big Breeders" who are always "napping" with their snakes, you opened the door for that line of questioning as you used that example to justify doing it. Nobody has been rude to you that I can see. If you are going to post all of these radical ideas then you should expect the line of skeptical questions to go along with it.

I don't believe I once came out and said that your way of caring for your snakes was wrong. Did I? I simply asked a question, since you offered information that I personally was unaware of.

You can't seriously be surprised at the responses you've received so far, knowing that your choice of how you care for your animals is so outside the norm, can you?

I hope that you will stick around to learn more, but you don't seem to be very open to constructive advice at this point.

Good luck!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by spitfireashlea

I am not new to BP's, I am new to having one myself. I have grown up with BP's my whole life and have seen many of my family snakes grow to live long heathly lives. The temperature gaging was a new question since my family's BP's were raised in tubs, I wanted to try a glass tank.

I am only defensive when people give me a reason. Telling me that my way of raising my snakes is wrong makes me defensive, so if you are upset at my defensiveness, then stop commenting on how I care for them. I asked specific questions, none on how I take care of them.


As far as the snakes needs, they are met, as stated before they are perfectly healthy. I don't see why it is any of your business how I take care of my snakes. But thats neither here nor there. This thread was created to show my new addition, not to question my care methods.

You can close this thread now. It's useless.

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When you post these things on a public forum it becomes our business. That where the whole "public" part comes into play. We don't close threads here because one person is tired of responding in it. Feel free to ignore the thread and it will eventually drop down the line.

Everyone is just trying to look out for the best interest of your snake. There are poeple on here that have been in this hobby for many years so they do know what they are talking about. In my own personal experience of asking questions no one has ever been rude in the way they responded to my questions. I have nothing but respect for those that have been in this hobby for way many years then myself. Please don't be so defensive with your resposes. Taking a nap with your snake is very risky, it could wander away from you while you are asleep, that is all everyone is trying to say here.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rabernet

I still would like to know what breeders take naps with their snakes.

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yes, I would like to know too....if they are professional BP breeders, chances are some, if not all are members of this forum. And when you go professional baby, everyone else in the "BP circle" gets to know you.....I do not know ANY breeders that nap with their snakes, professional or otherwise.

Nobody here is being rude, they're simply giving advice based on their own knowledge and experience. It is just advice, no more than that. You either take it, or leave it. And also, you may have mentioned you've grown up with snakes. Growing up with them, and actually owning one yourself are two different expeiences all together. I grew up with dogs and cats all my life(mom worked at a vets)....but when i moved out and got one on my own, I was in for a shocker!!May I pint out that part of the learning process is a willingness to to be open, and take a look at and accept another's viewpoint. You'll get a lot of that here, but please understand that we are just trying to help YOU, and guide and assist you in the care of your new lil snakie.

i say we take a poll on this. ill get it started in general bp.lol thets see the out come

All good stuff in here. At this point it doesn't make sense to direct comments towards any individual, but people must learn that when it comes to animal husbandry, humility and a willingness to learn has to replace defensiveness. Defensiveness is the enemy here, it means blinding yourself to literally decades upon decades worth of combined knowledge and experience--what a waste of a thing to do! No one should be so callused to think that they are ever 100% right in any situation, because chances are none of us are ever irrevocably perfect in our care methods. Anywho, just my two cents. It'd be a shame if we lost a member of the board, old or new, over a husbandry debate. That's what makes this board worth being a member of!

Cheers,
-Matt