The all too familiar feeding problems with ball pythons

[Markus Heinsohn]

there is A LOT of bad info coming from the forum that i have noticed.

http://exoticpets.about.com/od/snake...akesnoises.htm

And your link is one of them. Snakes cannot 'hear' per se, they only are able to sense very low frequencies at a hery high volume. I would not place a snake directly next to my stereo and listen to rap music at 100 db, but I doubt snakes can sense acoustic waves that are at a normal or even remotely high noise level.

[Markus Heinsohn]

And your link is one of them. Snakes cannot 'hear' per se, they only are able to sense very low frequencies at a hery high volume. I would not place a snake directly next to my stereo and listen to rap music at 100 db, but I doubt snakes can sense acoustic waves that are at a normal or even remotely high noise level.

But to quote myself... Science is not entirely sure yet, so I'm not sure either...

[extensive]

hmmmmmm

[SatanicIntention]

What feeding problems?

I've been noticing ALOT of misinformation too on this forum, and I'm honestly getting tired of it. :

[elevatethis]

Ball pythons are one of the most widely kept snakes in captivity and I think you can make an argument that as a result, they are also the most "MIS-kept"...hence the reputation for being bad feeders...when in all reality the problem is too many of the PEOPLE that keep them don't know what they're doing.

The feeding response of a well-kept, healthy ball python rivals even the most enthusiastic species of snakes in captivity....

[rabernet]

And your link is one of them. Snakes cannot 'hear' per se, they only are able to sense very low frequencies at a hery high volume. I would not place a snake directly next to my stereo and listen to rap music at 100 db, but I doubt snakes can sense acoustic waves that are at a normal or even remotely high noise level.

Actually, the Barkers address this in their book - I'll look it up when I get home - they conclude that they CAN hear.

[rabernet]

From Pythons of the World, Vol. 2: Ball Pythons by Barker and Barker, P. 25

According to Wever (1978), the gopher snakes he was testing could hear aerial sounds in the frequency of 40 to 2,000 hertz at reasonable voumes, with the greatest sensitivities in the lower ranges. There is no reason to assume that the hearing of ball pythons is any less acute, as the structure of the ball python ear is very similar to that of the gopher snake. The frequency of the human voice falls within the range of 80 to 3,000 hertz (Goris, pers, com.), and most voices are in the range of 500 to 1,000 hertz. Therefore, the answer to a commonly asked question about ball pythons is, "Yes, your snake can hear you when you talk to it."

[Markus Heinsohn]

From Pythons of the World, Vol. 2: Ball Pythons by Barker and Barker, P. 25

Well, to assume that snake A can hear because snake B can, based on a study 30 years ago which also states that the inner ear is 'similar', not identical, is a bit of a stretch IMO... but oh well, maybe they can hear, maybe they can't.

[mwedgley]

Well I can't tell you my temps because I think one of the rats chewed my temperature guage so I have to get another. I can tell you right now that my setup and handling probably isn't perfect. I am new and this is my first ball python. Alot of care sheets out there I have found to be basic and junk. i am totally up for suggestions. Also I am going to build a new cage out of melamine and when I do that I am going to correct a lot of thing in it. The cage should be built in about two weeks

[ChrisBowsman]

You should know if a rat did that.... it's pretty dangerous to leave snakes and rodents together unattended.