Today is Wiggles's 1st gotcha date. One year ago, I drove 3 hours down I-95 to Maryland where picked him up from a guy in a Wawa parking lot. My first impression, "He's so small." Having only ever kept an adult ball python, the difference was startling. I'd seen pictures, but they were all close ups that made him look much bigger. Since then, he's grown from about 120 grams to about 240 grams. So, he's doubled in size. I still think he's tiny. I probably always will. He's also successfully completed target training, though you never really complete target training, and I've transitioned him from mouse hoppers to Reptilinks.
This year, I'll continue with his target training. I'd like to teach him to target over greater distances. I'd also like to introduce non-food reinforcers, because I'd like target him more often than I can feed him. I'd also like to add foraging exercises to his enrichment activities. It'll be fun to hide a mouse and a Reptilink and see which he goes for first. I'll likely also start desensitization training. I don't handle him much. It's just not my favorite thing, but other people like handling him, so I don't want him to be stressed.
I'm also updating his enclosure. I've replace his huge climbing branches his bench with bamboo reeds and a net I wove out of twine. I'll post updated pictures once I'm done. I've notices Wiggles likes to squeeze himself into small spaces. so I'm mulling over ideas for hides that are snug but expand as Wiggles grows. If all goes well, Wiggles's 2nd year with me should be as fulfilling as his first.
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