Apollo is not being a good boy and he looks pink.

[Bogertophis]

Ok cool. I just wanted to make sure there’s nothing wrong with him because it was the first time I’ve seen the pink on him.


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Or maybe he's blushing...jkg!

[Jcd5v]

Or maybe he's blushing...jkg!

Lol. That’s got to be it!


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[Bogertophis]

You have to be careful to only tell age-appropriate jokes around him, y'know...

[Jcd5v]

He is a youngster. I didn’t embarrass or piss him off too bad bc he’s doing his nightly round of the tank.


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[Bogertophis]

As far as avoiding (preventing) snake bites:

You are most likely to get bit when you approach a snake. They do NOT recognize us visually, they don't see that well so to them, we're big & scary, and
instinctively they assume we're a predator heading their way. Same for when we pick them up...the only thing that normally picks them up in the wild is a
predator that is about to have them for dinner.

They DO learn to recognize our scent (their best sense) & our touch. Predators move quickly...so don't. Predators grab for their neck (or tail, as they're fleeing)
so don't. Snakes don't bite the ground they crawl on...so try to be the ground under them while they get used to your scent & touch. Never try to restrain their
head to prevent a bite...they don't like that any more than you or I would appreciate our next door neighbor putting a choke-hold on us instead of just a friendly
wave hello.

Don't worry...snakes would rather not bite us. But if you rush them, you force them to defend themselves.

[Jcd5v]

As far as avoiding (preventing) snake bites:

You are most likely to get bit when you approach a snake. They do NOT recognize us visually, they don't see that well so to them, we're big & scary, and
instinctively they assume we're a predator heading their way. Same for when we pick them up...the only thing that normally picks them up in the wild is a
predator that is about to have them for dinner.

They DO learn to recognize our scent (their best sense) & our touch. Predators move quickly...so don't. Predators grab for their neck (or tail, as they're fleeing)
so don't. Snakes don't bite the ground they crawl on...so try to be the ground under them while they get used to your scent & touch. Never try to restrain their
head to prevent a bite...they don't like that any more than you or I would appreciate our next door neighbor putting a choke-hold on us instead of just a friendly
wave hello.

Don't worry...snakes would rather not bite us. But if you rush them, you force them to defend themselves.

Do you have a specific breeder or snake owner that YouTube’s that you prefer? I’ve been watching videos but everything is so conflicting. For example, I just watched a video that said you should grab them as quick as possible. Also do you feed inside or outside the enclosure bc that’s another one that I see a lot of conflicting information on.


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[jmcrook]

Also since I didn’t see it mentioned yet... best time to weigh is after they’ve had a bowel movement. Weighing two days after feeding will give an artificially high weight because there’s still an entire prey item in the animal.
On the biting and not wanting to get bit subject.. no one “wants” to get bit. But as a snake keeper it’s no longer a matter of IF, but WHEN you will get bit. Luckily a ball python bite, especially from a juvenile, is not unlike being attacked by a barrage of cotton balls lol


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[Bogertophis]

Do you have a specific breeder or snake owner that YouTube’s that you prefer? I’ve been watching videos but everything is so conflicting. For example, I just watched a video that said you should grab them as quick as possible. Also do you feed inside or outside the enclosure bc that’s another one that I see a lot of conflicting information on.


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I've kept a lot of snakes for a LOT of years...since well before YouTube, lol. Don't believe much of what you see on YouTube...many try to impress for ratings & their
own "15 minutes of fame". So no, sorry...I watch very few YouTubes, I learned by doing. I don't like bites either, not only because they're a (little) ouch, but be-
cause it means I failed & scared my pet. Better to slow down & communicate...they aren't stupid, they do learn, & scaring them isn't helpful in the long run. I rarely
get bites, I've taken many snakes to "meet & greet" the public for education, & I've never had one of my snakes try to bite anyone, ever. They're goodwill ambassadors.

And I ALWAYS feed inside a snake's enclosure...that one's been around forever & it's all wrong. There are plenty of ways to signal to a snake that you aren't going to
feed it..."hook training" is one way (& most here prefer that), though personally for my snakes, I blow air across my hand thru the vented top so they get my scent...
they back off immediately (as if to say "Yuck! you're not what I ordered, I wanted a rat!"). The problems with feeding in another cage are (1) a hungry snake is ready
to bite the first thing coming their way before they eat, but afterwards too! Some stay in "feed mode" for hours or even a day or two. (2) many snakes are shy feeders
and when you handle them, even just to put them in another place to feed, some will NOT eat BECAUSE you handled them; & (3) handling a snake that just ate may also
cause it to hurl what it just ate...it's stressful, even if you manage not to get bit. BPs stay a nice size & aren't that feisty, compared to some other snakes that are really
dangerous to try to handle to put in another cage, & then later to return them; BPs are more likely to just refuse to eat...they are ambush-predators, meaning they like
to lay in wait where they feel secure, until clueless prey happens to pass by them, close enough to grab. They're fussy eaters, better to stick with good habits for them.

[Jcd5v]

Also since I didn’t see it mentioned yet... best time to weigh is after they’ve had a bowel movement. Weighing two days after feeding will give an artificially high weight because there’s still an entire prey item in the animal.
On the biting and not wanting to get bit subject.. no one “wants” to get bit. But as a snake keeper it’s no longer a matter of IF, but WHEN you will get bit. Luckily a ball python bite, especially from a juvenile, is not unlike being attacked by a barrage of cotton balls lol


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I keep hearing that. I think it’s more of the anticipation I guess. If that makes sense. I’m sure it won’t hurt. I’d rather get bit by a snake than a cat. I’ll probably feel better about it after I do get bit to be honest.


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[Jcd5v]

I've kept a lot of snakes for a LOT of years...since well before YouTube, lol. Don't believe much of what you see on YouTube...many try to impress for ratings & their
own "15 minutes of fame". So no, sorry...I watch very few YouTubes, I learned by doing. I don't like bites either, not only because they're a (little) ouch, but be-
cause it means I failed & scared my pet. Better to slow down & communicate...they aren't stupid, they do learn, & scaring them isn't helpful in the long run. I rarely
get bites, I've taken many snakes to "meet & greet" the public for education, & I've never had one of my snakes try to bite anyone, ever. They're goodwill ambassadors.

And I ALWAYS feed inside a snake's enclosure...that one's been around forever & it's all wrong. There are plenty of ways to signal to a snake that you aren't going to
feed it..."hook training" is one way (& most here prefer that), though personally for my snakes, I blow air across my hand thru the vented top so they get my scent...
they back off immediately (as if to say "Yuck! you're not what I ordered, I wanted a rat!"). The problems with feeding in another cage are (1) a hungry snake is ready
to bite the first thing coming their way before they eat, but afterwards too! Some stay in "feed mode" for hours or even a day or two. (2) many snakes are shy feeders
and when you handle them, even just to put them in another place to feed, some will NOT eat BECAUSE you handled them; & (3) handling a snake that just ate may also
cause it to hurl what it just ate...it's stressful, even if you manage not to get bit. BPs stay a nice size & aren't that feisty, compared to some other snakes that are really
dangerous to try to handle to put in another cage, & then later to return them; BPs are more likely to just refuse to eat...they are ambush-predators, meaning they like
to lay in wait where they feel secure, until clueless prey happens to pass by them, close enough to grab. They're fussy eaters, better to stick with good habits for them.

In the cage it is then. That’s what I had decided and what I did the first time I fed, but a friend brought it up again today. It makes a lot more sense to feed inside when it all factors are considered.


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