Behira - 2016 Female Ivory Ghost - First BCI

Feeding day was yesterday.

I fed Behira first, but she was nailing the acrylic doors as soon as I took the drape down. I got the rat in quickly and she nailed it and she gobbled it up.

I guess that's just the way it's going to be. At least she doesn't strike anymore when I walk by!

Just keep persaviering and hopefully she will settle back down again soon

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Originally Posted by richardhind1972

Just keep persaviering and hopefully she will settle back down again soon

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Thanks Richardhind1972! She's fine with the lights on and does great with the drape being up and with the hook training. She's a total sweetheart after she sees/feels the hook and I take her out.

I am worried about her hurting herself as she gets bigger and stronger, but not sure what I can do, except, as you say, keep persevering. Honestly, the idea of a big female BCI nailing the acrylic when hungry doesn't seem like fun to me either, but I am more worried about her than scared for myself. She shows zero aggression, but man, does she have a strong feeding response! Never had a snake like this!

Thank you again for all the support and I'll keep everyone in the loop.

Had my niece, Meghan, over, and she loves the reptiles and is getting to know Behira better. She says she cannot wait until she is "HUGE!"

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...ira_-_4-18.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...a_-_4-18_2.jpg

Glad she was chilled for her


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Originally Posted by richardhind1972

Glad she was chilled for her


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LOL, which one?

Behira is 100% Chill City once out of her tank. No worries at all. I was also 1 1/2 feet away and supervising.

Meghan is excellent with the reptiles and very respectful with zero fear. She has been allowed to see, then touch, and ultimately hold Shayna, my BP (who is essentially a therapy animal) since she was 2. So calm, it's not even funny! Aside from occasional in tank antics, Behira is very similar when out of the tank.

Yeah, I am glad they are bonding and excited that Meghan is looking forward to Behira being a big girl. She can't wait, as opposed to being afraid.

I've been working with Meghan on redirecting the snakes and being gentle moving them where she wants them to go. She used to hold and I would do the redirecting. She's becoming a real snake handler.

She likes to put the animals back in their tanks, but asks for help for Shayna and Behira as they are heavy for her.

Two delightful young ladies in the pictures!

I think it’s great to get the younger generation involved in reptiles , my 4yr old granddaughter loves my snakes she at the stage she wants them on her knee too now, but it’s quite surprising how heavy a 2yr old boa can be with being sold muscle as you say, good luck with training her up to help you out when she’s round and perhaps one day you will be able to help choose her own


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by richardhind1972

I think it’s great to get the younger generation involved in reptiles , my 4yr old granddaughter loves my snakes she at the stage she wants them on her knee too now, but it’s quite surprising how heavy a 2yr old boa can be with being sold muscle as you say, good luck with training her up to help you out when she’s round and perhaps one day you will be able to help choose her own


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Thanks Richardhind1972. Both her and her younger brother Christopher (he's 4 1/2, Meghan is 7) are interested and definitely not afraid. However, Meghan in particular, and since she was very young, has always been curious and interested in animals. She loves the dogs, but is especially fascinated with the reptiles (snakes in particular). We were actually at her house tonight for a few minutes. She told me, Shayna is still her favorite, because yellow is her favorite color (my Albino Spider BP), but Behira is now her second favorite.

She asked, "Will you tell me when she's really big so I can come see her?"

I explained that she's still a baby snake and that it will take a while (years) for her to be huge, but once she is, she will be like that her entire adult life, which is a long time.

Meghan was relieved, as if she might have missed the opportunity to see her huge otherwise :).

Frankly, since Meghan's parents have a parrot and a moody cat, I think they are quite happy letting her play with my reptiles instead! She's welcome anytime and they live about 30 minutes away.

I think she will probably ask some day, but the important thing is that she's curious and involved with them at 7. She's growing into a precocious young woman who isn't afraid of reptiles and really enjoys them. That can't be bad.

She can be very direct though. When Katie and I took her to the reptile show near us, she walked right up to a guy selling Beta Fish and asked, "Why are you selling fish here? They aren't reptiles you know."

Caught Behira in her dark phase tonight and got a cool selfie with her as well (with both of us looking bad to the bone, if I can say so myself).

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil..._-_4-29-18.jpg


https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil..._-_4-29-18.jpg

Those are good pics. :)