Ball python ate a piece of plastic

[Luvyna]

Your snake cannot digest this but since it's "the size of 2 sunflower seeds" I think it should pass OK without harming him...maybe you'll see these pieces again-
when he defecates...the blue might stand out a little?

I would however, disagree that " he associates that sound with being fed " since snakes (including yours) have no ears & cannot hear as we do, &
while they can feel some bass notes (so can we) I don't think you could possibly be that noisy when you fetched your gloves. Don't feel too
bad though...snakes are typically thinking about their next meal, whether we are or not, & yours just "reminded you" of this.

Always better (safer) to make your intentions clear to your snakes...I had to be super careful last night when I cleaned cages for my 2 large female Florida rat snakes-
they both recently laid very large double clutches of infertile eggs -neither has ever mated & they do this every year. They've been ravenously hungry & eating
every few days...neither one is skinny, but each is still ready to "take my arm off"- they were SO tense, but I conveyed the right unwelcome message (I'm NOT food!)
& managed to briefly handle them out of & then back into their clean cages without any nips. Silly girls! And btw, any time I walk by their cages, they're
hoping I've got more for them to eat...it's our motion they see, but they don't identify us with vision alone, always remember that. To a snake, motion means prey.

I'm glad to hear he will most likely pass it, I really hope those little pieces won't stay inside him. It was definitely a good wake up call to be careful in the future How do you communicate to your snakes that you are not about to feed them so you can still reach in to clean and handle, especially when they are very eager, as your rat snakes were?

Gotta double down on this one. Your snake definitely doesn't associate the sound of latex gloves with feeding time. Tough for an animal with no ears to associate sound with anything...

Oh I probably should have phrased the thing about the sound better, what I meant was that he seems to be able to detect people going up and down the basement stairs.

Even though snakes don't have ears, I think he must be able to feel the vibrations. My room is right across from the stairs to the basement, and we have some pretty rickety steps. Before I feed him, I usually go up and down the stairs a few times while thawing the mouse. I think he can recognize the vibrations, because he goes into food mode like clockwork when anyone goes up and down the stairs. My family and I have even tested it many times, Noodle can be sleeping in his cave, and if any of us go down the stairs and back up, his little head immediately pops out of his hide with his neck in an "s" shape. Not sure how he knows, but I believe there is some association there. To make matters worse, before I tried to clean his enclosure last night I had gone up and down the stairs a few times for laundry, which might have made him think it was feeding time.

[wnateg]

How do you communicate to your snakes that you are not about to feed them so you can still reach in to clean and handle, especially when they are very eager, as your rat snakes were?

Boop em with a snake hook

[Bogertophis]

Boop em with a snake hook

Actually, my rat snakes would probably grab & wrap a snake hook...I don't want them hurting their mouths. The BCI I used to have grabbed my hook once...that's just
not pretty. That's why I like using a water spritz...totally harmless, like being in a rainstorm, but very effective. It startles them & changes their focus instantly.

I don't ever "boop" snakes on or near their head...when I use "touch" cues, it's on their body & they associate that with being handled, picked up. IMO, it's too
risky waving a metal hook near a snake's face if they decide to bite it...truly not good for their mouth.

[wnateg]

Actually, my rat snakes would probably grab & wrap a snake hook...I don't want them hurting their mouths. The BCI I used to have grabbed my hook once...that's just
not pretty. That's why I like using a water spritz...totally harmless, like being in a rainstorm, but very effective. It startles them & changes their focus instantly.

I don't ever "boop" snakes on or near their head...when I use "touch" cues, it's on their body & they associate that with being handled, picked up. IMO, it's too
risky waving a metal hook near a snake's face if they decide to bite it...truly not good for their mouth.

Makes sense. Though my etb HATES being misted. She'll totally re-position when the mist starts going. Seems like a strange reaction considering their locality.

And maybe boop was an over simplification, as I didn't actually mean on their head. I was just referring to tap training. I should've been more clear; my bad.

[Bogertophis]

Makes sense. Though my etb HATES being misted. She'll totally re-position when the mist starts going. Seems like a strange reaction considering their locality.

I believe you...so do what works best for whatever you're working with. I don't think snakes are (or should be) a "one size fits all" method. They are vastly different.

[Danger noodles]

X2 every snake owner should have a hook imho! I have a guy that custom makes them since he is a metal worker for like $35. I’ve have a few of them now because they just look cool

[Bogertophis]

X2 every snake owner should have a hook imho! I have a guy that custom makes them since he is a metal worker for like $35. I’ve have a few of them now because they just look cool

I have 2 very nice 40" hooks that were professionally made from re-purposed golf-club handles...very comfortable. Then I have a larger & heavier one that I made, plus
a very small hook that's handy sometimes...but I rarely use any of them, to be honest. I agree they're nice to have though, sometimes even for non-snake purposes.

[Bogertophis]

... How do you communicate to your snakes that you are not about to feed them so you can still reach in to clean and handle, especially when they are very eager, as your rat snakes were? ...

These 2 gals are "bottomless pits" since laying all those eggs, so I use a combination approach to tell them I'm not good eating: I give them my scent a few times by
blowing air across my hand thru the screen in their direction -I can see their tongue flicks & reaction but they're still hopeful & if I moved fast they'd be ALL OVER my
motion. I also use a spray of water to their faces...don't think for a moment that this is mean, there are times they will even drink this way like a water fountain, and
it's a great way to redirect them without harm. I also touch their body by hand, as they recognize touch- but again, I pay close attention to their reaction & I can tell
when it's safe to pick them up & put them in a side cage so I can clean their tanks. This year was the goofiest they've ever been...so ramped up despite eating a lot of
food every few days (& digesting just as quickly), silly girls. I'll be happy when they calm down some & get back to normal. They're about 5' long, so they have a long
reach, and they're pretty fast.

Not all snakes respond equally-well to these cues. BPs, for example, are heat-focused...maybe you should put your gloves in the freezer or try holding an ice cube?
When I had a large BCI, she paid little or no attention to my scent...she responded best to touch cues & a water spritz, & I never had one bite from her in all the years.
Most all snakes go after motion first though, & ask questions later...pay attention to your snake, & communicate all that you can...some ppl just hold a roll of paper
towels in front of their snake...that too will make many of them back off...again, because it's a very disappointing meal, lol.

[Craiga 01453]

I'm glad to hear he will most likely pass it, I really hope those little pieces won't stay inside him. It was definitely a good wake up call to be careful in the future How do you communicate to your snakes that you are not about to feed them so you can still reach in to clean and handle, especially when they are very eager, as your rat snakes were?



Oh I probably should have phrased the thing about the sound better, what I meant was that he seems to be able to detect people going up and down the basement stairs.

Even though snakes don't have ears, I think he must be able to feel the vibrations. My room is right across from the stairs to the basement, and we have some pretty rickety steps. Before I feed him, I usually go up and down the stairs a few times while thawing the mouse. I think he can recognize the vibrations, because he goes into food mode like clockwork when anyone goes up and down the stairs. My family and I have even tested it many times, Noodle can be sleeping in his cave, and if any of us go down the stairs and back up, his little head immediately pops out of his hide with his neck in an "s" shape. Not sure how he knows, but I believe there is some association there. To make matters worse, before I tried to clean his enclosure last night I had gone up and down the stairs a few times for laundry, which might have made him think it was feeding time.

Gotcha. That definitely makes more sense. I didn't mean to double up on you in a negative way. I just wanted to second the info to affirm it was correct.

Based on your reply I think you understood that, but just wanted to make sure you knew I wasn't trying to be rude.

As for letting snakes know it's not feed time, I really don't even need to with my snakes. I just pay attention to the it heads and position of their body. If they seem "geared up" (which only my King or Borneo STP will sometimes do) I use different approaches with the different species.

With my King, I just try to keep his focus on one hand to distract him, then reach in with the other and give him a quick "pat". Sometimes he'll thrust a bit with that part of his body. If he does I just "pat" again. At that point he knows he's not being fed and I can pick him right up.

With my Borneo, I use a hook. First just a quick tap on the side/back, then a few gentle strokes and he calms right down.

My BPs, I swear I could take out blindfolded.
NOTE: I WOULDN'T ACTUALLY DO THIS, AND NEITHER SHOULD ANYONE ELSE.
I say it just to make a point. They're so chill I honestly believe I COULD, but I WON'T.

[Bogertophis]

...Oh I probably should have phrased the thing about the sound better, what I meant was that he seems to be able to detect people going up and down the basement stairs.

Even though snakes don't have ears, I think he must be able to feel the vibrations...

Yes, that's more like it. I've noticed that my little spotted python is alert to foot steps too, noticeably more than my other snakes...if she's not already on her basking
log, she pops up quickly from her hides when I enter the room. I should have named her Eveready.