A somewhat "different" Ball Python

[EyeLashViper]

8) Hey Everybody,
I just felt like talking about my newest Ball Python, Apok.Apok is somewhat different than my other two BPs, Trinity and Cypher.In the first place my mom and dad got him for me as a New Years present and they purchased him from a different Reptile store than the one I usually frequent.Apok is a BEAUTIFUL specimen, male and about three and half feet long - and nice and thickly muscled.His coloration is rather differerent in a way that is hard to describe - it is not like my other BPs.Rather lighter and patterned differently.His eyes are a glittering gold color and his head is more wedge like and kind of meaner looking too.And he has a bit of a temper.

I am working on taming him and have made good progress but I can tell that there is a wild side to him that he will always have.He demands respect if you can believe it or not.He can get P.O.ed and he WILL let you know in no uncertain terms.Sometimes he wants to be handled and is cool with it and other times he will uncoil from a ball and give you a look that lets you know play time is over. :wink: :shock:

I must admit that he is fast winning me over...he is fascinating and odd...he likes to soak a lot too in his water bowl and he looks like a big evil sort of python when he is in there.Sort of has this mean kind of aura to him

He fed for the first time today in my care - he took a small rat and it was truly heinous the way he hit that rat like there was no tomorrow.He even made ME jump when he struck. :shock:

Hopefully I may be able to get a digital camera for my Birthday in March and then I will be able to start posting pics of my Ball Python family.Until then I will have to settle for babbling about them like I am now... :lol: :lol:
EyeLashViper

[Marla]

I think you need to make friends with someone with a digital camera so we can see some pics! LOL. Do you know whether he was WC, CH, or what?

Thats awesome, man! Just a word of advice.....snakes often will soak in their water bowls if they are kept too warm or if they have mites. I would be sure to double check your temps (with a digital thermometer) and check him really well for mites.

[Wizill]

i'd say we have a matrix freak on our hands ...

love the names eyelash... what a perfect set of names for bp's.. now all you need is morpheus and neo!...

[EyeLashViper]

You know I am not certain if he is wild caught or captive bred as it appears that it is a big secret where my mom and dad bought him.My parents are really cool and I think they dropped some change on this fella because he is in such awesome condition.I have checked him very well and he shows no sign of mites or any other debilitating condition.He is big and strong as the ****ens.He is feeding well and taming down as much as he will permit for the moment.he definitely likes to set the rules and limits of handling him.He will coil around my hand and arm for an hour while I watch TV and then he suddenly decides that happy hour is over and starts to slither away...and he has power in his body - if he dont want to cuddle anymore that is that.And if you push the issue with him he definitely looks like he would just love to chomp you.Cool snake...already one of my favorites..

EyeLashViper

[Tray]

One quick thing about them soaking in a waterdish. I got paranoid one day when I witnessed mine soaking in a bowl for two straight days. At first I was paranoid about mites (I swear I inspected every minute scale on his entire body before I was satisfied, twice). Then I thought maybe I was cooking him even though my temps seemed right, so I bought a lower wattage bulb.

In the end (and I didn't even realize it) he was just shedding for the first time.

So if he soaks for a few days, just look and see if he's shedding. If he spends all the time in his bowl, then theres a problem.

BTW congratz on your new bp!

[Marla]

ELV, I guess it doesn't really matter about WC/CH, but it is really cool that your parents got him for you.

One quick thing about them soaking in a waterdish. I got paranoid one day when I witnessed mine soaking in a bowl for two straight days. At first I was paranoid about mites (I swear I inspected every minute scale on his entire body before I was satisfied, twice). Then I thought maybe I was cooking him even though my temps seemed right, so I bought a lower wattage bulb.

In the end (and I didn't even realize it) he was just shedding for the first time.

So if he soaks for a few days, just look and see if he's shedding. If he spends all the time in his bowl, then theres a problem.

BTW congratz on your new bp!

This is definitely another possibilty as well.....thanks for bringing it up!

[Thump]

Congrats on your new arrival.

Thump