Gaining Back Trust

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Respiratory infections in young animals like this are very preventable so long you are willing to understand the species have the right expectatio and are willing to listen.

At this age RI are mainly due to a combination of stress and improper husbandry and if the animal does not have a RI yet, it's only a matter of time considering everything.

Breeders raise 100's even thousands of hatchlings each year yet hatchlings do not develop RI. Why? Because they provide optimum husbandry and limited stress.

I have done this for ten years and never had a single hatchling with a RI and some remain in my care for up to a year. Not that it can't happen but it is VERY unlikely.

It's really not rocket science it's knowledge, and understanding of the species and willingness to listen.

If you want something you can handle every day that tolerates handling and is forgiving when it it comes to husbandry, get a corn snake or a milksnake, because BP are not it, never have, never will be.

If you want something that loves you, cuddles with you, trust you and you can play with you for hours at the time get a dog.


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[KingWheatley]

Before you think he is sick... If you do not see mucus or bubbles in his mouth he might just have a piece of stuck shed in his nostrils especially if you hear the "clicking noise" coming from his nose. Also from personal experience if your animal is still on the small size "under 600 grams" it could be stress driven his "wheeze". Some little ones will let out clicking noises under serious stress. Doesn't necessarily mean they are sick. I would leave him be. If you want to increase temps to attempt to help burn it out no more than 2 degrees. If he is still feeding that is a good sign this is stress induced. I would leave him alone for the next few weeks. Let him relax, feed, and shed. See if it was stress induced.

He has gone through a rather agitating time, and it was directly after checking his mouth. So understandable.

I haven't taken him out since, so I've already been hands off with him.

I take him out twice in a week

"Oh god he's going to die! Do you want to kill him!? What's wrong with you!?"

Lol... some of these people just read two words and freak out.


Herp Derp

[KingWheatley]

Respiratory infections in young animals like this are very preventable so long you are willing to understand the species have the right expectatio and are willing to listen.

At this age RI are mainly due to a combination of stress and improper husbandry and if the animal does not have a RI yet, it's only a matter of time considering everything.

Breeders raise 100's even thousands of hatchlings each year yet hatchlings do not develop RI. Why? Because they provide optimum husbandry and limited stress.

I have done this for ten years and never had a single hatchling with a RI and some remain in my care for up to a year. Not that it can't happen but it is VERY unlikely.

It's really not rocket science it's knowledge, and understanding of the species and willingness to listen.

If you want something you can handle every day that tolerates handling and is forgiving when it it comes to husbandry, get a corn snake or a milksnake, because BP are not it, never have, never will be.

If you want something that loves you, cuddles with you, trust you and you can play with you for hours at the time get a dog.


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I'm not trading in my snake.


Herp Derp

[Stormy]

You need to leave your snake alone; you are causing it more stress every day. Every time I come on here your snake is in some new situation that is stressful. Scared by a dog, over handling by you, forcing its mouth open because of a "suspected" RI, cranking up his hot spot to a dangerous level.

Honestly, leave the poor thing alone for awhile.

[PitOnTheProwl]

Interesting....... SMH

[KingWheatley]

((Video removed at the discretion of the admin.))

"I will rememberrrrr youuuu"

-eye roll-

(Btw he's never seen my phone. This one is super reflective, so he saw another snake but couldn't smell him. He had a soft body, so he wasn't tense at all. But when I held him over his tank he wanted to go back, so I cut the video short. Otherwise I was going to show off the rest of the tank.)

Pit this is directed strictly towards you

The phone is shaking. Not so much my arm.

If he was afraid he'd start striking. Because that's what Wheatley does when he is upset.

Also, obviously snakes can't hear. I still talk to him though. Just out of habit. Just because he's a cutie.

Herp Derp

[Eric Alan]

Intent of the video aside, I will offer the following husbandry advice, which I strongly recommend you follow:

• Despite your bravado, you have not shown that his hot spot is safe. Hot spot temperatures should always be taken on the enclosure surface - not on top of the substrate. Rather than taking the temperature on top of the paper towel, take the temperature directly on the floor of the enclosure. I bet you'll be surprised by the difference. The air between the paper towels and the floor, and the paper towels themselves, act as insulators to heat generated by the pad. When Wheatley moves the towels aside and hides underneath them (directly on the floor), he needs to be safe doing so.

[mlededee]

Natalie, you are a very, very new beginner to ball pythons. You do not know what you are doing and it is evident in your posts. You are bringing the drama, when all everyone wants is for you to have a happy and healthy snake. Right now, you do not have a happy and healthy snake. You think you know your snake, but you do not have nearly enough experience with snakes to be able to know whether or not your snake is stressed out. I am telling you that he is. Everyone is telling you that he is. Listen to the people that have decades of experience in keeping ball pythons because they only want to help your snake.

[voodoolamb]

Natalie, you are a very, very new beginner to ball pythons. You do not know what you are doing and it is evident in your posts. You are bringing the drama, when all everyone wants is for you to have a happy and healthy snake. Right now, you do not have a happy and healthy snake. You think you know your snake, but you do not have nearly enough experience with snakes to be able to know whether or not your snake is stressed out. I am telling you that he is. Everyone is telling you that he is. Listen to the people that have decades of experience in keeping ball pythons because they only want to help your snake.

Very well put.

[dkatz4]

If you want something you can handle every day that tolerates handling and is forgiving when it it comes to husbandry, get a corn snake or a milksnake, because BP are not it, never have, never will be.

If you want something that loves you, cuddles with you, trust you and you can play with you for hours at the time get a dog.


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^This^

I've mentioned this in other threads regarding "best beginner snakes" and whatnot, but I've NEVER understood by B-P's have this reputation as the perfect first snake. Compared to corns, kings, and milks these guys are positively high maintenance, and picky eaters to boot! Yes they are generally not prone to bite, but that doesn't make it the perfect beginner pet. I know when researching for my snake the first question i asked myself was, "How do i feel about creating and maintaining a mini tropical ecosystem inside of a plastic box?". The handling issue was also of concern to me b/c, heck, i really like handling my snake. At the end of the day, even though they are awesome and come in amazing morphs, i decided that, for me, a BCI was a better "beginner" choice; always eats, very tolerant of handling, and although tropical, known to be very adaptable to fluctuations in climate (within reason, of course).
So I guess what i'm saying is... Boas Rule! BP's Drool!
JK JK JK

regarding cuddly pets, i have a theory: i think the most "serpentine" mammal you can own is a ferret. they are long and bendy, live in a tank, and sleep all day - awesome little critters, but check you local laws, they are not allowed in some places.