Good evening!

I'm new here, and new to BPs. I just got a young BP from craigslist of all places - his previous owner was a college student who snuck the snake into his dorm room and, predictably, got caught and was told he had to get rid of it.

I've had herps before but never a snake, but I've always wanted one. So I did my research, lots of reading, and so far things are going well. He's in the middle of a shed so he looks less than ideal right now. I'm leaving him alone for the most part, but I couldn't help but take a photo of him:

"Don't look at me, I look like a zombie snake!"



As for the other creatures in the house.... I have three dogs. Two Dobermans and a Welsh Corgi.

Ilsa is my oldest dobe - 7 years old. She's the love of my life - great dog. She couldn't care less that there's a snake in the house...


Ronin is my younger dobe - 5 years old. Retired show dog and general pain in the rear. Cute though, so I can't stay mad at him for long. Not to mention he's done his job protecting me more than once... gotta love a dobe that isn't afraid to try to take a mugger's face off! He's fascinated by the snake...


Lastly, the demon corgi, Ada. She's nearly 2 years old, and the most infuriation dog in the house - when a 25lb corgi thinks she's a dobe... life is interesting.


As for me... I'm just a poor college graduate, degree in graphic design. I work in a print shop and freelance for dog show magazines on the side. Doesn't bring in much, but it keeps kibble in the bowls, and now rodents in the snake.

I live in Iowa, and right now I'm pretty much watching my hometown get washed away by the Cedar River. I'm not in any direct danger, as the town I live in now is only marginally flooded. The dog park is under water, which is no fun but at least we're not in any danger!

One quick question though - does a BP absolutely need a lamp, or is a head pad sufficient? I've read mixed things about it, and if I could, I'd rather not use one. I'm probably being paranoid, but it seems like too much of a fire hazard to me. And the last thing I want to do is burn my little snake. He seems to like it cooler anyway - he came with one hide on the warm side of his terrarium. I know that BPs should have hides on both sides, so I put another one in the other end... and he spends most of his time in the "cooler" hide.

Anyway, that's me. This looks like a great forum, I look forward to learning a lot more and meeting more BP folk! This may be my first BP, but I highly doubt it'll be my last... I think I'm hooked!