what kind of BP is this? I am so confused...

[waltah!]

normals can have clear bellies and solid black down his sides?

Yea gotta love not having any room to work with!!! snakes eatin on the floor

How about feeding in their enclosures? That way they don't take up any more room at feeding time than do on a daily basis.
That bp seems to be being held like it's a Mamba or something.

[Simpson Balls]

Also another thing to add to my original comment. How would you like it if your mom or wife cooked you food and through it on the floor and said "there dinner is served?"

Daniel

[guambomb832]

1.) What the hell are the snakes doing on a dirty concrete floor in a group with rats?

2.) Why are you holding the snake like that???!!! Are you hurting it / choking it to the point where it has to open it mouth like that or does it normally hold it mouth open because of a severe respiratory infection, or mouth rot?

3.) Is there something wrong with its neck? the postion it is holding its head in looks there is something very wrong.

4.) It is a normal.

If you have never opened a snake's mouth, you wouldn't know what it is doing. The reason why its mouth is open because when you squeeze those two jaw bones at the end of the snakes head, they automatically open their mouth.

Also, if you put a ball python in a upside down when it is still balled up, you will see their head put in a similar fashion to the picture.

[spitfireashlea]

Heh, looks like you got quite the lil bugga! It's a norm, very pretty norm.

[Jay_Bunny]

I also second the request to feed the snakes in their own enclosure and not on the floor. I have very little room to work with and my snakes get fed inside their enclosure.

Also there is no need to hold the snake that way. I have some pretty aggressive snakes that I have to handle for weighing purposes and to clean their cage, and I've never had to hold them behind their head to the point they are opening their mouth. And I'm not so sure about that factoid about pressing on jaw bones makes their mouth open. I have had to give oral medication to a snake and I had to hold him behind his head. And with all his wiggling, I'm pretty sure I pressed those jaw bones a bit but he never opened his mouth because of that. You are pressing too hard on his head and neck. If the snake is that aggressive, you need to take the time to calm him down and get him used to handling.

On his coloration and pattern, I'd say he is a nice, reduced pattern normal male. I love his pattern.

[mason]

That is disgusting. Learn how to keep and handle those animals properly before buying any more. Your feeding and handling techniques are awful, i'm guessing your husbandry is too from what I see in the background it's either those unsuitable small tubs or those unsuitable glass tanks.

I'd be ashamed of pictures like those, nevermind proud enough to post them on a forum of reptile lovers!

Thats a normal by the way, exactly the same as all those photographs of normal royal pythons on all the websites and books you've undoubtebly read when learning how to care for your pets correctly

[cornball252]

Do your snakes have homes? Why are they all eating on a dirty concrete floor together?

Yes they have homes..

They are not eating on they floor, to keep them from getting nasty feeding responses we take the out let them have the inital strike out side their enclosure then place them back in once they start to eat this way it keeps them from having a feeding response in their cage...

No Unfortunately they dont.. And for only 15 Cents a month.. YOU can make a difference Thankyou

But in all seriousness, to the OP.. Do you seriously have to hold the snake behind the head like that to get a picture of it belly? Its like gasping for a breath with it mouth wide open in the picture.. And i seriously do think you may have messed up his neck because i've never seen a ball python do this.......

An no he is not gasping for air I trust my fiance knows how to hold snakes.. and he is fine.. would you like an update picture to prove it?



~Brandon

I have actually seen Toby do that a few times, if you put him down a certain way (upside-down in a tucked ball) - but it's only a second before he straightens out. And to be fair, the OP did say the snake is a jerk... so maybe that's the only way to keep it from biting? Pretty looking BP, though!

Correct he straightened right out no harm done... I also prefer not to get bit... don't know about you guys/ gals...

1.) What the hell are the snakes doing on a dirty concrete floor in a group with rats?

2.) Why are you holding the snake like that???!!! Are you hurting it / choking it to the point where it has to open it mouth like that or does it normally hold it mouth open because of a severe respiratory infection, or mouth rot?

3.) Is there something wrong with its neck? the position it is holding its head in looks there is something very wrong.

4.) It is a normal.

1.) read above....
2.)we are holding the snake like that to prevent us from being bit... and no he is not sick...
3.)nothing is wrong.... I've seen many ball pythons begin to uncurl and look like this and not just my own....
4.) You have never held an aggressive snake have you?

How about feeding in their enclosures? That way they don't take up any more room at feeding time than do on a daily basis.
That bp seems to be being held like it's a Mamba or something.

Also another thing to add to my original comment. How would you like it if your mom or wife cooked you food and through it on the floor and said "there dinner is served?"


Daniel

Again, not that im for "mistreating" my babies... but first, they are snakes... their food was not throw on the floor either... second, I hand feed all of my snakes....and third my mom and fiance already do that...

If you have never opened a snake's mouth, you wouldn't know what it is doing. The reason why its mouth is open because when you squeeze those two jaw bones at the end of the snakes head, they automatically open their mouth.

Also, if you put a ball python in a upside down when it is still balled up, you will see their head put in a similar fashion to the picture.

Also thanks for all the input guys/gals! I really appreciate it.
andI know some of these pictures look "bad" but they aren't trust me....
I would never hurt any of my snakes. None of my snakes have ever been sick.
Quick question for any one who thought we were holding that bp in a "mean" or "silly" way...

how would you hold this snake??


Getting bit is getting bit... It's unpleasant and I'd rather not get bit by anything with teeth...

[cornball252]

That is disgusting. Learn how to keep and handle those animals properly before buying any more. Your feeding and handling techniques are awful, i'm guessing your husbandry is too from what I see in the background it's either those unsuitable small tubs or those unsuitable glass tanks.

I'd be ashamed of pictures like those, nevermind proud enough to post them on a forum of reptile lovers!

Thats a normal by the way, exactly the same as all those photographs of normal royal pythons on all the websites and books you've undoubtebly read when learning how to care for your pets correctly

good job on being ignorant!!
not trying to make enemies here...

[cornball252]

I also second the request to feed the snakes in their own enclosure and not on the floor. I have very little room to work with and my snakes get fed inside their enclosure.

Also there is no need to hold the snake that way. I have some pretty aggressive snakes that I have to handle for weighing purposes and to clean their cage, and I've never had to hold them behind their head to the point they are opening their mouth. And I'm not so sure about that factoid about pressing on jaw bones makes their mouth open. I have had to give oral medication to a snake and I had to hold him behind his head. And with all his wiggling, I'm pretty sure I pressed those jaw bones a bit but he never opened his mouth because of that. You are pressing too hard on his head and neck. If the snake is that aggressive, you need to take the time to calm him down and get him used to handling.

On his coloration and pattern, I'd say he is a nice, reduced pattern normal male. I love his pattern.

Thanks for the positive criticism. But as you all must under stand its only for their Initial strike that i feed them on the floor.. normally its in a separate empty STERILIZED tub, but they were all being used.
and yes you can get a snake to open its mouth very easily by pressing there jaw bones. Also what are you having to give it orally? Baytril? just curious. If soo Amoxicillin shot form work better for RI's Oral meds only mask it or suppress the infection for a time being.

Thanks again,
-Ben

[mason]

Yes i've clearly shown myself to be the ignorant one of the two of us.

Your excuses are laughable and they only further highlight your own ignorance on snake husbandry in general, if you can't handle even the nastiest of royals without getting bitten you're doing something wrong. Interacting with a snake during feeding is wrong for so many reasons (high up there would be this is exactly how you get bitten!)

I'll leave it at that, I could go on but your own responses will have said enough for most of the knowledgeable and responsible keepers on here so there's not much point.