The Life of Bean (BRB)

[JellyBean]

This is Bean (Jelly Bean David Hisselhoff) :yes:

He started his life in a warehouse deep in Hollywood Florida, where they supply reptiles to pet stores and large companies all over the US.

Bean:
"One day, a walking tree showed up, took me out of my shoe box, and proceeded to hold each one of my roommates while I held on for dear life.

My roommates are all going back in their boxes, but I won't let go... I know a good thing when I see it. I'm going home on this tree!"

And so the adventure begins...

I started my adventure on Amtrak. A 16 hour train ride as a smuggled passenger. But it was quite pleasant, I kept warm under my tree when necessary. Had water when I needed it, and I was actually calm, if not a little curious through the experience. (OK, I slept through most of it!) LOL

Here is my traveling bag so nobody knew I was a snake

I was estimated to be 3 months old, so from this day forward, my official birthday will be October 22nd, 2015.

[JellyBean]

I was a calm fellow right from the start. A little strange for a Rainbow, I know. But I'm proud to be different. I have never struck, or even huffed at my new family, and I'm a perfect eater too. Here are some pics in FL on purchase day.

[JellyBean]

Purchase day January 2016

[JellyBean]

After setting up a temporary home, I settled in nicely with my new family. I have never been nervous, and I enjoy being socialized without any signs of stress :)

As a juvenile, I do live in an aquarium, but many modifications have been made, including a plexiglass cover under the screen top. Works great for heat and humidity control, as proof shows from my awesome shedding skills

I'm going to have to get a better way to post pics, or I'll be doing this forever... (Frustrated and taking a break) LOL

[Albert Clark]

Cute! Way to go. Haha. :D

[JellyBean]

Darn it! I can't go back and edit anymore :suspicious:
Here are some feeding pics of yours truly (I love to eat)

[marvelfreak]

Nice looking Jellybean.

[macandchz]

jellybean is a real beauty. enjoyed his life story! lucky devil! i love riding on amtrak. don't think it would be much fun in a bag, though-you couldn't go to the cafe car for a glass of wine.

[JellyBean]

Thanks Albert! Thank you Marvel...

MacandChz: he went to the cafe car too... No problem staying under my blanket while I hung out drinking a beer ;)

Although he prefers to drink at home

[JellyBean]

Bean has quite the fashion sense sometimes, too

He especially likes hubby's glasses :bouncy:

[dannybgoode]

Love BRB's and Bean is a peach. Keep the pics coming...

[Tsubaki]

Bean is a very cute brb :D

[JellyBean]

My favorite new toy?
Deer Antlers!!
They make me happy and actually coax me to the top level of my habitat

[JellyBean]

Thank you Danny and Tsubaki!

Q: Bean has those extra spots in his circles on his back (I don't know the proper lingo) and has kept them now for 11 months.

Any idea if this is something he may hold onto in adulthood?

[Snakesitter]

Great story, and nice rainbow -- what a charmer!

[JellyBean]

Q: Bean has those extra spots in his circles on his back (I don't know the proper lingo) and has kept them now for 11 months.

Any idea if this is something he may hold onto in adulthood?

Thanks Snakesitter!
Any chance you can answer this question, since you breed these beauties? :D

[Snakesitter]

Sorry, missed it before. Do you mean the dark shading within each dorsal spot?

[JellyBean]

Sorry, missed it before. Do you mean the dark shading within each dorsal spot?

Thanks Cliff... I think that's what I mean?
How about a picture and arrows for the layman? LOL

[Snakesitter]

My experience with the center shading is that the darker color will sometimes crowd out the surrounding color as the snake grows. It does not *always* happen, but is a distinct possibility. Hopefully your experience will be different!

[JellyBean]

Thanks Cliff!

Last night we weighed Bean before his feeding.
He weighs 70 grams on an empty stomach.
He is 11 months old

I still need an updated length measurement, not an easy task :D

[Snakesitter]

Any time!

Take a photo of him from the top and look up SerpWidgets on the web.

[JellyBean]

Any time!

Take a photo of him from the top and look up SerpWidgets on the web.

That looks really cool, I wonder how accurate it is? (Can't be any worse than my guess measures) LOL

I'll be trying this as soon as Bean is over his big meal :D
Thanks for another great idea ;)

[dannybgoode]

It's OK-the trick is is to get a photo of the snake when it is as straight as possible and to use plenty of click points to measure with.

Sure it's not going to be 100% but it's better than guessing!

[JellyBean]

Thanks Danny. Ok, got it. I'll play with it tonight and report back. :)

[Snakesitter]

Keep us posted!!!

[JellyBean]

Looks like Bean is 26". I have another thread dedicated to his small size, and from that info, decided to update his birthdate from Oct 22nd, to September 22nd :cool:

He is in blue at the moment, so thankfully the extra peach fuzzies are helping until we order his hoppers next week.
Even when he is dull, he's beautiful. Heehee

[dannybgoode]

Up to you and I don't know if this has been discussed iro of bean but some keepers choose not to feed during the shed chucks cycle (ie from blue to skin being shed).

I don't feed during this time-gives the snake's digestive system chance to properly rest and does not do any harm whatsoever to the snake.

That said some keepers very successfully feed during this time and there is no right or wrong as such.

It is however an interesting debate and good one to research the pros and cons on.

[JellyBean]

Thanks Danny, I have been reading about that on the forum. Bean is completely indifferent to what cycle he is on, he is always a great eater. (Thank goodness!).
That said, maybe it's partially because we were feeding him smaller prey than he could handle?

Once he is settled on hoppers, we may try this theory out, so he has more time to digest his larger meals 🤗

[dannybgoode]

Thanks Danny, I have been reading about that on the forum. Bean is completely indifferent to what cycle he is on, he is always a great eater. (Thank goodness!).
That said, maybe it's partially because we were feeding him smaller prey than he could handle?

Once he is settled on hoppers, we may try this theory out, so he has more time to digest his larger meals 🤗

As I say there is no right or wrong here. Some snakes make the choice for you as they simply refuse when they're in shed (my boa for eg).

There's also a theory that snakes don't hunt in the wild when in blue due to their much reduced eye sight. I don't know if this has been scientifically studied or not but it makes sense that a snake would just hide up when they're vulnerable.

[macandchz]

love seeing pictures of bean! i'm going to have to get mac some of those antlers. i'm jealous that he is such a good eater! (HA! HA!)

[JellyBean]

Interesting stuff Danny!

@Macandchz

My friend Kim brought the antlers over saying that her son used to use them when he bred snakes...

She took one out of the bag while I was holding Bean, and he jetted out from my arm and immediately investigated.

He has never reacted like that before. Obviously he likes something about it!
As a bonus, he comes out of his hide more often now too.

We are lucky that Bean is a good eater, wish I could help you and Mac with that one ��

[JellyBean]

Bean update...
After the reviews in my "gaining weight fast enough?" Thread, we have changed BEAN's birthdate from October to November 22nd.

He has gained 3 grams and had another shed. Woohoo!
Weighing in at 73 grams before feeding. Here's our Jelly Bean

[JellyBean]

Such a pretty boy (nope, not biased. Not me) :bouncy:

[JellyBean]

We love his pink belly. You can see it in the scale pic...
But one more show off pic...

[bigsnakegirl785]

He's a good-looking guy for sure! They seem to stay tiny forever, because of their small girth. He should also go through some interesting color changes as he ages, although I'd expect him to end up about the way Snakesitter said.

[Lefitte]

He's adorable!
Also, for Serpwidgets, it can be quite accurate if done properly. In addition to the snake being as straight as possible, you also need to be as directly over them as you can be. Also, use bigger measurements rather than smaller, so a foot instead of an inch. And many points, keeping with the spine as much as possible. It's easy once you get the hang of it. I usually go for 2-3 pics per session so that I can see if one pic is way off from another or not. Sometimes the angle really changes it.

[macandchz]

bean is looking so good!

[JellyBean]

He's a good-looking guy for sure! They seem to stay tiny forever, because of their small girth. He should also go through some interesting color changes as he ages, although I'd expect him to end up about the way Snakesitter said.
Yes! And Seeing his changes as he sheds, and grows, is part of the excitement of getting him as a Neonate. :D

[dave himself]

Beans a good looking lad ;)

[JellyBean]

Thanks Mac!! :D

He's adorable!
Also, for Serpwidgets, it can be quite accurate if done properly. In addition to the snake being as straight as possible, you also need to be as directly over them as you can be. Also, use bigger measurements rather than smaller, so a foot instead of an inch. And many points, keeping with the spine as much as possible. It's easy once you get the hang of it. I usually go for 2-3 pics per session so that I can see if one pic is way off from another or not. Sometimes the angle really changes it.

Thanks for the tips.
I did try it, with three pics, and they all came out 26". I suspect my picture was not quite directly over him as it should have been, and I only had a 6" ruler... I'll have to try it again. I do believe he is a bit longer ;)

[Snakesitter]

Great updates!

[JellyBean]

The adventure continues, as I model for the mustache magazine (co-starring Davy)

[JellyBean]

Then the new "fall fashion" reviews this week...
(I'm a busy snake)

[JellyBean]

I'm really not camera shy..
36213

[macandchz]

bean is really growing well. when i first got mac, he was small enough to crawl under my bracelet. now he's almost 40 inches long. he's been a good boy lately and eating well.

[JellyBean]

M&C, that's great that Mac is eating well! Do you have a post with pics from baby Mac till now??

I love to see the rapid growth from a neonate, and Bean is finally catching up to his standard growth pattern :D

[Snakesitter]

Great progress! Funny shots, too. ;-)

[JellyBean]

Great progress! Funny shots, too. ;-)

Thanks Cliff!
Bean is definitely part of the family :D

[macandchz]

jellybean-i still can't figure out how to get pictures on here. i think i need a different phone. mine's from the stone age!

[JellyBean]

jellybean-i still can't figure out how to get pictures on here. i think i need a different phone. mine's from the stone age!

Awww, we are missing out on MacAndChz cuteness!
Did you try to click on "Advance" reply, then click on the little paper clip, then choose a photo from your phone, and hit upload?
It only does 1 pic per post, but by far the easiest way to get them directly from your phone.

Great news, Bean just weighed in at 76 GRAMS!! :yes:

[Aurora Borealis]

Cute name for a cute snake!