Climb Suggestions?

[loonunit]

(And congratulations on your new buddy! I hope you all have lots of fun.)

[loonunit]

Have you seen that Ball Pythons in the Wild video? In Ghana? There're trees and bushes and low branches everywhere. I guarantee you the ball pythons climb and perch and fall off naturally. Just like they do in our tanks.

We're so busy claiming ball pythons are not active, and attributing "restlessness" to stress. But in the CITES study they were found to have "territories" of about an acre each. Could they be stressed... because they can't explore? In almost all other areas of snake husbandry, exercise is considered important--so important, lack of exercise leads to an increase in egg-binding in female corns.

And as my final argument in favor of climbing not always being stress-related, I give you Exhibits A and B:





That is not stress. That is enthusiasm.

[DZ Reptiles]

Do you have a link to that video? I'd love to check it out.

[jxk]

I would 2nd a request for a link to BP in the Wild, but I'm pretty sure it's not freely available anywhere.

I'm all for BPs having something to climb that's not dangerously high, as I doubt most spend their life in the wild hiding in a 2'x3' space with a 3rd of it under a hide.

[KatStoverReptiles]

I just wanted to clarify that I'm not looking to suspend her from the ceiling or anything. I just thought she might like a little variety and I am only thinking of something maybe 6in off the ground? After reading through these forums, I'm returning my log hide and large water bowl to petco in place of a more "clean-friendly" hide and smaller water bowl. I'm also going to get a 2nd hide for her cool side. I'm going to look at the grapevine style climbs at petco as I think they have them (if I'm remembering right from my last trip) and for some fake leafy vines to make her feel all secretive Thanks again guys.

[el8ch]

I bought a small piece of what looks like driftwood from my local aquarium store. It looks nice and it seems like my little guys enjoys it. Almost every morning now when I head to work he will be chilling on his log, he loves to climb and just hang out.

[kitedemon]

I like the exo terra vines myself I use rocks to support both ends and make an arch for mine.

As to BP in the Wild video I borrowed mine from a friend but I believe it is available on line. It is not a high quality production but interesting.

I have been reading tons of articles and papers (I work in a university so we have a great library and a resident herpetologist...) and have encountered some interesting facts...

Did you know in studies studying the prey items or wild ball pythons up to 70 cm (28 inches) that an Italian research team found they fed predominately on birds? That same team considered Ball Pythons to be at least partially arboreal ? They also have been observed foraging in trees as early as 1969? I figure that if they have been found in trees, have eaten young birds, it is quite likely they climb just fine.

ref. Journal of Zoology, London, 246 1998.
Ball Pythons Barker&Barker 2006
Art of Keeping Snakes De Vosjoli 2004

[gardenfiend138]

I like the exo terra vines myself I use rocks to support both ends and make an arch for mine.

As to BP in the Wild video I borrowed mine from a friend but I believe it is available on line. It is not a high quality production but interesting.

I have been reading tons of articles and papers (I work in a university so we have a great library and a resident herpetologist...) and have encountered some interesting facts...

Did you know in studies studying the prey items or wild ball pythons up to 70 cm (28 inches) that an Italian research team found they fed predominately on birds? That same team considered Ball Pythons to be at least partially arboreal ? They also have been observed foraging in trees as early as 1969? I figure that if they have been found in trees, have eaten young birds, it is quite likely they climb just fine.

ref. Journal of Zoology, London, 246 1998.
Ball Pythons Barker&Barker 2006
Art of Keeping Snakes De Vosjoli 2004

WOW! Nice scholarly research...I' surprised this hasn't come up before (at least in my lurking). Very cool to know indeed. I know my guy and gal sure are climbers.

I use grape wood because it's nice and smooth. And, yes, it is more work keeping them clean, but bp's aren't exactly the most active companion animals, so I enjoy making the extra time to provide and maintain as naturalistic of an environment as possible. Also, although I have nothing to support this claim, it seems that providing adequate climbs would aid in building muscle, as more energy is expended when climbing.

[kitedemon]

I have been taking notes on my collection who seems to climb and who doesn't and if it seems often or not. We are all nocturnal in my house, every body is up nights. I have been finding and and my reading supports this, that the younger balls climb quite a lot where as the older of the group do not as often.

There is a lot of debate over this and a lot of that seems to stem around tubs vs enclosures. To my mind it is a silly debate, they thrive in both or can falter in both it isn't the enclosure that matters. It is the keeper. A knowledgeable, careful keeper makes for healthy happy animals, in a tub, in a tank, or enclosure. I believe any size or shape will work too. Each has their own issues and pros and cons but set up with the needs of the snake in mind and all the issues balanced by someone whom cares enough to read and learn the animal will do well. Climbing or not they don't need to climb but will if given the chance.

I have a small rack, two tanks, and 4 enclosures (well shortly anyway) So I am learning the pros and cons of them all and adapting them all to the influences of my house. I like things about each method and don't like others. But to my not a breeder, there is no clear advantage of one over the other.

[sho220]

But in the CITES study they were found to have "territories" of about an acre each.

Probably because they have to search for food as it's not dropped into their tub once a week...