Sushi - Progression Thread

I have been meaning to get around to this for a little while now. I have actually had Sushi for 6 weeks, but I will start from the beginning. I apologize for being long winded here, but this has been a significant event in my life.

A little backstory here, I have been absolutely terrified of snakes for most of my life. When I was a kid, I was out on a Cub Scout hike and I almost stepped on one, and it left a mark on me. Years later, while I was in basic training, I had another, almost identical, encounter. I also had some ingrained idea in my head that I hated sushi, or that it could kill me, or something like that, until a few months ago, when I tried it and realized I love it.

A few months ago, I started taking an interest in snakes, in spite of my fears, and of course turned to looking at the types commonly kept as pets. After a few weeks , I decided that a ball python would likely be the best choice for me, and went about researching their care requirements, husbandry, etc. I decided to swing by Petsmart to see if they had one that I could get a closer look at. At this point, I had no intention of actually buying one, and certainly not from a pet shop, I just wanted a better feel for what I was considering.

Anyhow, they had 3 BPs when I went by, 2 normal and a pastel. One of the two normal was darker than the other and caught my eye. I asked the lady if I could hold it, to which she obliged, to my surprise (this makes me wonder how these poor animals get by, being picked up by random people all day). It was an exhilarating experience, and when I went to put the snake back, it constricted around my wrist as if to say "I don't want to go back" (yeah, yeah, don't personify the reptile, I know, I'm just describing a fleeting experience).

My wife wanted to handle the pastel, which refused to be taken from it's enclosure. We were told that they had all just arrived that day. We were also told (incorrectly) that they were all a month old. And a few other inaccuracies. Anyhow, I realized that one I had handled showed no warning signs of health issues, mites, or even fear. Long tongue flicks, uncoiled slowly, etc., and seemed to be okay with me handling it. So naturally, I did what beginners do, and went back and bought it. But, I'm really glad that I did. In spite of the horror stories coming from these big box pet shops, Sushi has been a true success story. Eats like a champ, is alert and curious, isn't fearful or reactive/aggressive.

Sushi has not yet been sexed, I refrained from doing anything unnecessary during the first few weeks, focusing on feeding and settling in instead. A vet visit, to the closest reptile vet, for a fecal and probing, is in the near future, so gender will be announced in the coming weeks.

Here is a picture from the first night, March 1.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...07_resized.jpg

More to follow shortly...

Looks like Sushi has found a good home. :) I also couldn't resist a good old normal from a big box shop, albeit for different reasons (horrible stuck shed, very thin). He's a sweetheart, too, but now I don't look at the snakes when I go there so they don't tug at the heartstrings.

Are you using an ExoTerra? I also have a few of those. Word of warning about the foam rock background - snakes love to wedge themselves behind there, even if you don't think they can fit. I scared the crap out of myself one day thinking my sub-adult super stripe escaped, as he was nowhere to be found in his cage. Turns out he had managed to get behind the background. No idea how. I've since removed them. :)

The original enclosure setup was an Exo Terra 36x18x12, with foil covering most of the top, a Zoo Med heat mat on a Zilla on/thermostat, a heat lamp on top, two Zoo Med thermometers monitoring ambient on either end, and a simple hydrometer in the middle. A few store bought hides that were too big, a single water dish and a climbing log.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...08_resized.jpg

The first weight was 190g, and the first feeding went smoothly, with the mouse being struck while hanging by it's tail from the tongs. Subsequent feedings (aside from the one during shed and the first rat attempt) have been just as smooth.

Still more to follow, trying to get this up to current...

Here is the current incarnation of the tank.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...25_resized.jpg

I upgraded to a Herpstat 2, made some identical, appropriate sized, hides out of some salsa bowls, added in foam sides for insulation, swapped the red light for the purple bulb, added a second water dish for better humidity, and replaced the foil covering with some acrylic panels on the top. Sadly, I finished this up yesterday, a few hours after I ordered a RB PVC enclosure with and RHP, but hey, there will be a tank open...

Here is a picture from the first "blue" during Sushi's time with me, this was a few weeks back. My avatar is just after the shed, with fresh shining scales.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...16_resized.jpg

I'm loving your back-story on Sushi, & I've always liked the 'normal' BPs best...not that there aren't others that are pretty, but I think "nature" did a really good job.

Here is shoot from after the shed:
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...46_resized.jpg

And here are some of the ventrals:
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...13_resized.jpg

This one is from the other night, after weighing in at a solid 260g up 70g in 6 weeks!
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...32_resized.jpg

And this is just one from last night that I thought was cool:
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...52_resized.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WhompingWillow

Looks like Sushi has found a good home. :) I also couldn't resist a good old normal from a big box shop, albeit for different reasons (horrible stuck shed, very thin). He's a sweetheart, too, but now I don't look at the snakes when I go there so they don't tug at the heartstrings.

Are you using an ExoTerra? I also have a few of those. Word of warning about the foam rock background - snakes love to wedge themselves behind there, even if you don't think they can fit. I scared the crap out of myself one day thinking my sub-adult super stripe escaped, as he was nowhere to be found in his cage. Turns out he had managed to get behind the background. No idea how. I've since removed them. :)

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Thanks for the heads up. They won't be there long, my RB enclosure should be here in a few weeks, I have had a ton of temp issues with this Exo Terra, so I'm just going to upgrade and resolve all of the issues. I will keep a close watch though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I'm loving your back-story on Sushi, & I've always liked the 'normal' BPs best...not that there aren't others that are pretty, but I think "nature" did a really good job.

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Thank you. I agree, "normal" is still unique, and has its own beautiful variations.

While I do have a love of morphs, particularly anything yellow or cream, my first bp was a normal....and I still have him going on 27 years later (got him in 92). I loved the back story...and the name.

As for the empty tank, I’m sure you could find something for it. :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dianne

As for the empty tank, I’m sure you could find something for it. :D

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I might have my eye on a few things...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fadingdaylight

I might have my eye on a few things...

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Most of us do...even if we don’t have an extra setup. :D

Here is a shot from this past Tuesday of Sushi refusing the first rat I offered. I had mistakenly ordered weaned rats (was feeding adult mice, avg. 23g) and the smallest one in the package was 35g. So, on top of it being a rat, it may have been a bit big. So, I ordered some rat pups that will be in this Tuesday, and we will try again with a more appropriately sized meal.

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

On a side note, I apologize for all the typos above. I typed out most of this thread on my phone during an uninteresting meeting at work, and I didn't catch the errors until it was too late to edit them...

And here we are a little while ago. Rat attempt number 2. Nothing wa some differently, with the exception of the size of the rat, this one was 23g, same size as Sushi's standard mouse meals. Of course, at this point, it had been 12 days since the last meal.

Anyhow, long story short, Sushi struck the rat before I even had it all the way into the tank. Within a few minutes, it was consumed. So, one refusal, followed by a few hungry days, was all it took to make the switch.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...55_resized.jpg

Yes, loving the backstory, Jason! Sounds like Sushi was rescued just in time. I hate going to the "big box" store cuz they will definitely pull on the ole heartstrings.

Glad to see Sushi is eating again! I just got my Monty (10 month old Super Pastel) eating rats last week. We'll be home in about an hour and I'm gonna try to get Kitana (Blade CLown) to take. Just got her a little over a week ago. We shall see.

Yea, those "glass boxes" can be a bit tricky to get them dialed in. I just ordered my 2nd Reptile Basics, 4x2, so I can move Monty over.

Looking forward to seeing Sushi's progression. He/she has definitely found a loving home.

Quick update - Sushi has now taken 4 weaned rats. It is to the point now where I can barely get the tongs inside the tank before he strikes. I have taken to putting some random glossy mailer down first do prevent substrate in the mouth. Solid feeding response, very pleased with how things are going. We are up to 286g, a 96g increase in the first two months here with me.

Sushi has also started mellowing out already. He was never fearful or nippy, but a little hesitant, quick head movements, etc. Now when I bring him out of the tank, its calm, slow movements, long tongue flicks, etc. More inclined to just hang out, tolerates me touching his head without flinching, just becoming way more laid back all around.

Went to bring Sushi out for a few this evening and found some sad milky eyes gazing back at me. Put him back in and gave the place a good misting. Guess play time will have to wait a few days...

Woke up yesterday morning to find Sushi had finished shedding. Found a nice complete shed stashed in his humid cave, spectacles, tail tip, and all. Of course, that meant it was time for some natural light shots:

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...03_resized.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...45_resized.jpg

Starting to fill out, that's for sure.

Got a fresh weight today, just a few days after the shed and good sized poop last night, 327g. Sushi has gained a total of 137g in 3 months.

I am enjoying following your story with sushi.

I got my first BP, Cleo, yesterday so am hoping I can learn from your thread as I am a few months behind you.

Sushi looks great out in the light. I prefer a normal look to a lot of the more sought after morphs.

Jason, you really picked a winner with Sushi...he is gorgeous, has a good personality, and even an appetite! Way to go! :gj:

A quick update, we had a feeding mishap last night. Sushi was ready for the weekly meal, but struck hard and actually flung the rat back out of his mouth. He made a quick second strike and wound up striking himself. He released quickly, and stared the rat down for a while, but apparently felt like it was to blame for the bite, and decided to leave it alone. I checked him out, one small mark where a scale looks slightly out of place, I rinsed it off. Sadly, I had to leave town this morning and won't be back until tomorrow evening, but I'm pretty confident that he is fine, just a little shaken.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fadingdaylight

A quick update, we had a feeding mishap last night. Sushi was ready for the weekly meal, but struck hard and actually flung the rat back out of his mouth. He made a quick second strike and wound up striking himself. He released quickly, and stared the rat down for a while, but apparently felt like it was to blame for the bite, and decided to leave it alone. I checked him out, one small mark where a scale looks slightly out of place, I rinsed it off. Sadly, I had to leave town this morning and won't be back until tomorrow evening, but I'm pretty confident that he is fine, just a little shaken.

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Aw, poor snake...we all have days like that now & then, lol. Hopefully his confidence will return in a few days and he'll probably get it right next time.
I have to laugh though, picturing him "staring down the rat for a while"...:rofl: Like :snake: "you never did that before!?" LOL

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Aw, poor snake...we all have days like that now & then, lol. Hopefully his confidence will return in a few days and he'll probably get it right next time.
I have to laugh though, picturing him "staring down the rat for a while"...:rofl: Like :snake: "you never did that before!?" LOL

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It was kinda funny. I should have gotten a picture, he perched up on his fake tree, coiled his neck, and just stared at the rat for a good 15 minutes.

Well, Sushi is growing steadily. His last weight, after his last poop, was 392g, double his original weight when I got him on March 1st. I will try to get some pics up soon, been busy here lately.

Landed my first bite last night, he was perched in the tree waiting for his dinner, struck so hard it swung the dangling rat aside and his teeth planted firmly in my finger. That was using 12in tongs. He didn't bite down, just tagged me real good and recoiled. Didn't really hurt, just startled me, but hey it's over now. Poor guy, it was obvious he realized instantly that I wasn't food...

Here is the bite:
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...44_resized.jpg

And here are a few shots from tonight where you can really see how much he's grown:
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...56_resized.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...00_resized.jpg

Strangely both of my snakes decided that this morning was potty time. Sushi's new update weight is 431g. I do believe it may be about time to start spacing the meals a little further. He's been on a 7 day rotation for a while now, but I think I'm going to start increasing it up to 10.

Long overdue update, Sushi is now up over 715g, steadily growing and looking healthy. Meals have slowed down, about 10-12 days apart right now, and we are closing in on going to a full 2 week interval. Here are some updated pics from today:

[IMG]https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...56_resized.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...05_resized.jpg[/IMG]