New to Snakes; worried about new guy?

[SRMD]

Yeah, I get where you are coming from. I had my BP living in his TUB for 3 years before I put him into his 3ft Vivarium.

I think your main problem, may just be not having enough clutter. My advice would be to get a more secure hide one entrance/exit, some plants or just anything to clutter the terrarium up a bit more, it will make your BP feel a lot more safer. Once you have done this try leaving him alone for a week, see how things go from there.



Some old photos, but this is how my BP lives, logs for him to hide in covered by plants and also two identical snug hides.

[katdog]

Thank you so much for all the advice! I'll get him a new hide and some clutter this weekend. So no one thinks all this could be related to him being almost a week off his feed schedule?


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[SRMD]

If he is stressed he won't eat.

My BP has gone 10months without eating, as long as they don't drop too much weight and seem fine, he'll be ok.

Get some secure hides, clutter.. then leave him be for a week.. then resume his feeding schedule, do not get stressed if he doesn't eat.. give him time!

Goodluck

[katdog]

Here's a pic of Midas, I've talked about how pretty my boy is I thought I'd stick this up here too. I'll keep yall updated! Any other advice on a new snake/handler is welcome too.


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[DVirginiana]

I think the importance of having clutter like fake plants is underplayed in a lot of care guides. Half the time mine isn't even in her hide, just out 'hiding' under her fake vines.

As far as hissing or jerking away goes, I basically just ignore it. I don't do marathon handling sessions or anything though, so I'm not worried about too much stress from five minutes of handling while I do maintenance stuff. If they're getting seriously freaked out by being handled, they'll make it very clear lol.

For the instance where you had him sitting with you then reached down to get him again; I think a lot of times they kind of 'forget' exactly what's going on if you don't actually have them in your hands handling them, so to him you reaching down to scoop him up was probably kind of a surprise and like you were starting a whole new handling session.

[kiiarah]

One recommendation I have found useful for new acquisitions to help them settle in is to cover three sides of the tank. I have thick poster paper that I cut to shape and stuck to the back and sides with double sided tape. This helps them to feel less exposed. I would definitely still pick up more ground clutter and a matching hide so that he has more than one to choose from. Really the more shelter and hiding spaces right now the better. Just look at the photo you posted of the initial set up and imagine how exposed you would feel in it, then do whatever you can think of to eliminate that exposure. Having just one side of the tank that they feel like a threat could come from seems to help them relax a ton. Do of course be careful to only cover the sides in a way that does not pose a fire hazard if you are using a heat lamp.

[chaples84]

One recommendation I have found useful for new acquisitions to help them settle in is to cover three sides of the tank. I have thick poster paper that I cut to shape and stuck to the back and sides with double sided tape. This helps them to feel less exposed. I would definitely still pick up more ground clutter and a matching hide so that he has more than one to choose from. Really the more shelter and hiding spaces right now the better. Just look at the photo you posted of the initial set up and imagine how exposed you would feel in it, then do whatever you can think of to eliminate that exposure. Having just one side of the tank that they feel like a threat could come from seems to help them relax a ton. Do of course be careful to only cover the sides in a way that does not pose a fire hazard if you are using a heat lamp.

That's a really good idea about the poster paper..I keep all my b.Ps in tubs so I don't have to worry.. But def a great idea for people who use glass boxes.

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[katdog]

Midas says thank you all. With a new enclosed hide and some little bushes and clutter, he's actually settled down a lot. We came home to him laying in his water bowl after dinner tonight quite contentedly. We also covered 3 sides of his terrarium with paper. Hopefully, after a week of this, he'll finally be hungry. But at least he's no longer spastic?


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[SRMD]

Midas says thank you all. With a new enclosed hide and some little bushes and clutter, he's actually settled down a lot. We came home to him laying in his water bowl after dinner tonight quite contentedly. We also covered 3 sides of his terrarium with paper. Hopefully, after a week of this, he'll finally be hungry. But at least he's no longer spastic?


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Good job, not to kill your enjoyment. laying in his water bowl? This could be a sign of mites or that the temps are too high. invest in a temp gun just to be double sure of the temperature. it could also be nothing at all and he is just their maybe pre shed or something, I'm sure someone else will chip in.

good job though 🏻

[Zincubus]

Good job, not to kill your enjoyment. laying in his water bowl? This could be a sign of mites or that the temps are too high. invest in a temp gun just to be double sure of the temperature. it could also be nothing at all and he is just their maybe pre shed or something, I'm sure someone else will chip in.

good job though 🏻

Yep . I thought of mites when I read he was sat in his water bowl ..... Also she mentioned that he'd been rubbing his head on things which can be a sign they're going to shed I think .... that's how they start the process off sliding out of the old skin ..