Wiggles, the Children's Python

[Homebody]

This year, I'll continue with his target training. I'd like to teach him to target over greater distances. I'd also like to introduce non-food reinforcers, because I'd like target him more often than I can feed him. I'd also like to add foraging exercises to his enrichment activities. It'll be fun to hide a mouse and a Reptilink and see which he goes for first. I'll likely also start desensitization training. I don't handle him much. It's just not my favorite thing, but other people like handling him, so I don't want him to be stressed.

Wiggles's 2nd gotcha date (3/5/22) came and went without note. Looking back at my plans from last year is a bit embarrassing. I've continued with his target training but he hasn't made any great strides. I tried foraging only once. It didn't go great. When someone pointed out to me that pythons are ambush predators, and so, not natural foragers, I decided against it. I value natural behaviors, not unnatural ones. I haven't worked on desensitization at all. I realized that I'm the only person that handles him and I'm the only person that wants to. And, as I've said before, handling is not my favorite thing. I prefer to watch him explore on his own. That's just more entertaining to me. If he's going to be desensitized, it'll be gradually owing to the little handling I do.

So, what did I accomplish? I crafted a bunch of enclosure furnishings. Some of which he seems to appreciate. I kept him healthy and I had a lot of fun. This next year will probably be more of the same.