Hello And Advice Request

[melofbelfast]

hello all well i live in northern ireland belfast im 32 and have always had a keen interest in animals and nature, thankfully we have much natural places over here dont get me wrong i love clubbing etc and the city, but i adore nature i need too see the beauty that fills our world or id go nuts

like im sure the rest of you guys here i however see the beauty even in exotic animals such as snakes tarantulas and the like

anyway for years since i about 16 ive been collecting them, however where as i am quite advanaced in my understanding of arachnids, and have quite a collection

im not so knowing of reptiles the reasons being is from 3 bad expereinces

i had a boa who was super vicious and heart brakingly had too give her up, i had an iguana who sadly in the pet store he was from had been as a young male put in with older males and had been badly picked on i finally got him calm enough too relax when i handled him or was near but his nerves were shot too hell and anything else freaked him but i endured all the tail whips bites and clawings he gave because it wasnt his fault he was a lovely animal who been abused bye people who should have known better, sadly 2 years after getting him he passed away the vet told me that i shouldnt feel too bad apparently the in fighting he had had in the tan the store kept him in had caused injuries of an internal nature and that it showd how much i cared for him that he lasted as long as he did, then finally i had an absolute joy of a pet a maclots python ohh i adored him he was such a lovely wee thing always wanted petted and was freindly too everyone, however eventually i had a feeding issue with him but i got around bye live prey back then it was legal too do so over here

anyway he eventually died of old age

however i have recently attempted too get back into the reptiles after those 3 heart breaking experinces

and seeing as i havent much experience in this side of the hobby i was hopeing for some advice

i have 2 snakes at present because i feel this is the maximum i could truely house and care for

i have a small ball python male pastel about 21 inches in length he has feed ok and is lovely too handle

however for a while there he was hissing when i went too hold him, his eyes were creamy at the time however but once out he was back too his old self

i was concerned maybe his hide wasnt good enough so have gotten him a new one and h has gone right under it, i also read that its not good too handle when eyes are milky as it indicates a up comming shed and poor eye sight at the time, ive him in a 2ft, x 1ft,x1ft tank at the moment as he is so small and am quite aware he will get bigger, ive been keeping im with a water dish and a spot lamp heat bulb, so my question in regards too this little fellow is, is there anything i can do too improve on how im careing for him or does this seem fine too you guys, he has also eaten 3 adult mice so far so thats very good

my second question is one of a more important nature

i have recently bought a carpet python she was labeled as a coastal carpet, yet every she looks very much too my eye from images i can find more like the slender bodyied and colouration of a irian jaya, my main concern is that i have her in a 4ftx2ftx2ft houseing will she need more? and can someone please give me an accurate everage of her growth because every online care sheet i have found states different sizes she's already 5ft and seems quite passive and calm ive handled her several times since getting her

the second question is that the othe day she was hissing when i went too handle her, too the point got so nervous i lifted her with my pillow figureing shed not be able too strike threw it with her size and then held her for a momement until she settled and went back too her nature of handling which is too constantly explore and not mind human contact at all, but the same thing happened when my brother was handling her while i fixed her den she hissed at him, she also went very hissy and coiled back and once again needed too the point i lifted her via thick clothing

she did have white light and i read that this can stress them out so ive changed the bulb too a red one in case this was stressing her, she has a large wooden climbing frame i found from a cut down vine tree that i took home and cleaned and dried out ages ago, she also has a large water dish i do want too get her more things too entertain her in her viv things too climb and such

so obviously she isnt a problem once i get her out however my concern is will this hissing nervous aggression keep getting worse or will she settle

at the moment im handling her once a day too try and get her settled in her new home and well used too me


but any advice would be awesome as i want too make sure im looking after my snakes as best as possible and that they and i have a good relationship as pets and keeper

mel

[infernalis]

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[whoaxmary]

Hello and welcome. Sorry to hear about your not so great experiences, but they sometimes come hand in hand with the good.
I don't know much about carpets, so I'll let someone else tackle that. I have some experience taking care of my own ball python, so I'll try to give you a response until someone more experienced comes along.

i was concerned maybe his hide wasnt good enough so have gotten him a new one and h has gone right under it,
What do you mean by not good enough?
If you mean size, it should be large enough for the snake to fit their bodies inside, and snugly touch a few sides so they feel secure, yet not cramped~ A couple of hides is a good idea, one on either side of the enclosure. As for what to use, I don't think they mind anything from a small cardboard box to an expensive fake rock hide. Whatever your preference is. ;p

i also read that its not good too handle when eyes are milky as it indicates a up comming shed and poor eye sight at the time,

Yup, the poor eyesight is why it's not always I good idea to handle them, or they are a little grumpy when you do. All depends on the snake, my ball python tolerates being handled while going through shed, but my other snakes do.

ive him in a 2ft, x 1ft,x1ft tank at the moment as he is so small and am quite aware he will get bigger, ive been keeping im with a water dish and a spot lamp heat bulb, so my question in regards too this little fellow is, is there anything i can do too improve on how im careing for him or does this seem fine too you guys, he has also eaten 3 adult mice so far so thats very good

I have my ball python in a rather large enclosure, but I also keep it filled with lots of fake lants and branches and such so she feels secure enough to move around. Covering the back and sides helps with this to. If you look here (http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/python-regius/49236-ball-python-faq-sheet-check-here-first.html) you'll see a great outline of how to care for your bp. The only other thing I can think to mention is why adult mice and not smaller rats?

[whoaxmary]

at the moment im handling her once a day too try and get her settled in her new home and well used too me

Sorry to double post -
I mentioned I'm no carpet expert, or anything expert, but isn't this a bit often for a snake that is already stressed? Have you had any sort of settleing in period? ...

...I'm sure one of our smarty-pants will be around to post soon.

[stephanbakir]

a few times a week is the most you should handle them. and never after eating, give them at least a few days to digest.

[Lankyrob]

When we "tamed" our JCP down we handled religiously once a week with a nice destressing period in between. We would hold until he settled and stopped biting and then for a bout three minutes of him being settled he would be put back in his viv. Took a couple of months to get to a point where there is now no striking no real signs of stress from him whenever he gets picked up.

[TeaNinja]

i did pretty much the same thing with my bp. he has never bit at me, but he used to get stressed when handled. i'd handle him once or twice a week for like 20 minutes and once he was calm i'd put him back just to get him used to the fact that i'm not a predator.