Tips for Picky Female. Darker Tub?

[JakeFromSnakeFarm]

Hey guys, a couple weeks ago I picked up some new snakes and one of them is an 1100g female mystic. The breeder told me she's kinda shy and she's a bit of a troubled eater. They said she only seems to eat in the 15qt tub she's in (which I think is a little small) when she actually decides to eat. The tub is clear and they suggested "blacking it out" for her security. Does anyone have some good tips for this? I'm looking for something simple and effective. I've never had a picky eater. I'd like to move her up to a 27qt tub eventually but not if she won't eat. Someone told me to paint the outsides but that seems like it may not be safe. Any help would be appreciated. I'd like to have her to breeding size and health for next year.


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[jkcerda]

You could cover the sides with foil or dark folders. That is what I used to cover my terranium . The foil helps with heat and thfolders keep the foil straight and nice

[ballpythonsrock2]

Hey guys, a couple weeks ago I picked up some new snakes and one of them is an 1100g female mystic. The breeder told me she's kinda shy and she's a bit of a troubled eater. They said she only seems to eat in the 15qt tub she's in (which I think is a little small) when she actually decides to eat. The tub is clear and they suggested "blacking it out" for her security. Does anyone have some good tips for this? I'm looking for something simple and effective. I've never had a picky eater. I'd like to move her up to a 27qt tub eventually but not if she won't eat. Someone told me to paint the outsides but that seems like it may not be safe. Any help would be appreciated. I'd like to have her to breeding size and health for next year.

I decided on using gray duct tape and brown packaging tape. I wasn't sure about using paint either so to be on the safe side I used the tape. I was careful not to cover the air holes of course and I left little peek spots so I could look inside and see what my snake was up too. But I think if you check it out there is non-toxic type paints you can use which might be easier too do it with then what the tape is, but the tape is not too bad either, just takes time and careful scissoring. I did the top and sides. For the sides I cut off pieces of tape then tore them in two by cutting up the middle and tearing them in half. The top I used the whole piece of tape.

[JakeFromSnakeFarm]

Ok, thanks guys. I like the idea of being able to paint it so that it looks good, and just leaving the front clear to see her, but I really don't want to harm her. I may find some decent painters tape or something and just tape the sides of her tub.


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[ballpythonsrock2]

Ok, thanks guys. I like the idea of being able to paint it so that it looks good, and just leaving the front clear to see her, but I really don't want to harm her. I may find some decent painters tape or something and just tape the sides of her tub.


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By sides I did mean all 4 sides. If you leave the front open she might still be feeling intimidated, I would cover the top and 4 sides but leave some places to look in. But it's all up to you I guess. My snake loves to hide curled up on top of her hide, sandwiched between the tub lid cover and the hide. I took the hide out for a while but she was unhappy so I put it back in and she went back on top and it is where she stays most the time. Before too long she will get too big to fit up there so she will eventually have to hide in the hide, but for now I let her be were she seems happy.

[Snake Judy]

By sides I did mean all 4 sides. If you leave the front open she might still be feeling intimidated, I would cover the top and 4 sides but leave some places to look in.

Keep in mind that all animals need a day/night cycle to regulate their behavior by, so completely blacking the tub out is gonna screw with their circadian rhythms. Seems like a better solution to provide a the snake with a secure and properly-sized hide within the tub.

[ballpythonsrock2]

Keep in mind that all animals need a day/night cycle to regulate their behavior by, so completely blacking the tub out is gonna screw with their circadian rhythms. Seems like a better solution to provide a the snake with a secure and properly-sized hide within the tub.

You might be right about your better solution. But in my situation I leave the room light on 12 and turn it off for 12 hours. Believe me a lot of light still gets into the tub. I can look into the tub and still see the snake. Light shines through the tape especially the brown packaging tape. And my tub has a hide inside BUT they might need to be a bit smaller to give that over the top snug feeling. What sized hide from Reptile Basics would be good for a 900 gram snake?

[JakeFromSnakeFarm]

My girl is 1100 grams and in a 15qt tub. They told me it's the only one she eats in. She doesn't have a hide in there either because there's honestly not enough room. I understand that some snakes go off food for a while, but I do want her to get her weight up some and build healthy habits so she can breed next season. I've thought about finding a tighter container just for feeding. Any thoughts?


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[Snake Judy]

My girl is 1100 grams and in a 15qt tub. They told me it's the only one she eats in. She doesn't have a hide in there either because there's honestly not enough room. I understand that some snakes go off food for a while, but I do want her to get her weight up some and build healthy habits so she can breed next season. I've thought about finding a tighter container just for feeding. Any thoughts?

15 qts is tiny. Have you considered trying something larger with a hide so that she can be as snug as she wants but still have some room to uncoil and move? 15 qts is not really small enough to be a cozy hide and not large enough to be considered an adequately sized enclosure.

Ball pythons go off food sometimes. It's not a big deal, you just have to put up with it. She'll be ready to breed when she's ready.

[JakeFromSnakeFarm]

Ya I'm actually looking into that exact situation today. Moving all 3 of my bigger ones to 27qt tubs. My other two are around 850g I believe. I'm willing to try just about anything.


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