Said it perfect

Quote Originally Posted by Cheesenugget View Post
Ok... I remember (sort of) who Crowley is and your bond with him... And I had been reading the posts here as well as watched the vid...

Having your parrot so close to the snake enclosure... In a glass tank where he already can feel exposed from all sides... And some fur item as a 'bed' (I know of dog and cat beds... Even bunny beds. But snakes using a bed?)... If you are going to see him with human qualities, you should also sympathize him what you are putting him through. Love has nothing to do with it, even if he can love as a snake. He is stressed out and you are not helping him.

Crowley may be that special snake, but he is a snake first before anything else you hope or imagine him to be. His needs as a ball python comes first... One being feeling secure. Your snake is fine until he enter a his hide. Animals retreat to a hide for security and shelter. Instead of feeling that way, he 'spazzes' and appears conflicted: wanting to hide and be secure vs not being able to relax to do so being where he is. Do you not see that?

When I train dogs, one mantra has always true for most trainers: let dogs be dogs first and foremost. You can dress them up, cuddle them and baby talk them to no end. But for them to be trained and behave properly, you have to treat them like dogs.... Because no amount of baby talk will teach a dog not to jump on someone, or to listen to you when he runs off chasing a squirrel. What they are will always trump what you think they are.

Part of being its guardian means learning how to be humble. You can wrong, and I have found some really bad, outdated and incorrect husbandry info from supposedly decades long experienced breeders(not naming names) out there... So learning how to be humble and consider what the others are saying on this thread, will ultimately make you a better guardian for Crowley and a happier Crowley.