Record keeping?

[Brently]

Okay so I am new to snake keeping. I have recently been lucky enough to have my long wanted boa. Now I know that there is a lot of focus on record keeping. I can see this being useful if you are keeping several snakes but if you have only one is there a benefit. I know how often to feed my snake and I can weigh her and know if she has gained or lost. I still keep records just because I have not yet figured out if there is a reason not to. What do I really need these records for? Is is only to remind me when to feed and what the weight increase is, and when the last shed was? I could use some clarification as to the usefulness of these records. I will continue to keep records until I find that there is no reason to.

[youngster]

Sometimes it helps, I don't since I only have a few animals and they all are healthy.

[CK SandBoas]

Honestly, it is in your snakes best interests that you keep accurate records of feeding, shedding, defecations, etc, so you can recognize a potential health problem in your snake. I also keep records of cage cleanings and water changes for every animal that i own.

Also, if by chance you sell your animal, you will be able to give the new owner records if asked for. There should be no reason to discontinue keeping records, to be frank.

Of course, this is just me, i'm very anal about making sure everything gets put down in each snake's notebook:)

[CDN_Blood]

I haven't tracked anything but shed dates in over 20 years, but like everyone else, that's just me :)

[jarich]

Not to mention, reptile keeping is pretty addictive! Youve only got one now, but it's very likely that may change. With just the one you'll probably remember it all but with more animals it becomes a bigger help.

[millertime89]

I kept pretty accurate records of Nero (BRB) for about 2 months, haven't really done it the past month and a half though, I think it depends on you, if you forget things easily then you should probably write things down, but I know when they last shed, when they last eat, and I've got a set schedule for cleaning and feeding so its done regularly.

[Jay]

No need for records, if your bored and have time on your hands go for it. Breeding records should be kept if you venture down that path.

[CDN_Blood]

No need for records, if your bored and have time on your hands go for it. Breeding records should be kept if you venture down that path.

I agree that it'd be good to keep records if you're breeding...very careful tracking would be appreciated by anyone wanting offspring, I should think. I know that if I ever bought an animal from a breeder (never have in 24 years) I'd want to know exactly which animals were the sire and dame as well as any other background I could possibly get on the animal I was purchasing.

I'd want pictures, too, particularly if someone was claiming an animal was 'het' for this or that. That's one area you simply cannot believe unless you see the records.

[millertime89]

I agree that it'd be good to keep records if you're breeding...very careful tracking would be appreciated by anyone wanting offspring, I should think. I know that if I ever bought an animal from a breeder (never have in 24 years) I'd want to know exactly which animals were the sire and dame as well as any other background I could possibly get on the animal I was purchasing.

I'd want pictures, too, particularly if someone was claiming an animal was 'het' for this or that. That's one area you simply cannot believe unless you see the records.

Most breeders that are selling hets are going to want to protect their name and not risk selling a non-het as a het. Sure there are some unscrupulous breeders out there, but their names are destroyed relatively quickly. When I get into breeding, all hets will be marked accurately. I'm thinking anything that's possible het will be sold as such, but at normal price in case its not het and I would feel bad.

[Lankyrob]

I started off with meticulous records - eating, shedding, pooping etc etc - a year on i dont see teh point, i am never going to breed, i see the snakes constantly so can check they are "ok". I have a terrible short term memory but an excellent long term so i can tell you (within a couple of days) how long it has been since each of my guys has last shed/pooped.

[shaunyboy]

i keep shedding and feeding records

it helps me compare my snakes behavoiral patterns from one year to the next,this can give me a heads up if my snakes are acting different

helps me differenciate from illness and normal behavoir for each snake,catching the early signs of illness can save a lot of hassle later on imo mate

cheers shaun

[alessia55]

I keep feeding and shedding records bc one of my snakes occasionally refuses meals, so it's good to know how long its been since he last ate. But i'm not a stickler about it at all.

[ineedsoap16]

I keep feeding shedding and weight records. I like to be able to track their growth.

[Marica]

Since I have snakes on various feeding schedules and prey items, I quite like the features on iHerp. The dashboard will list how long it's been since each ones last fed and allows me to record feedings in batches. I also record sheds, and occasionally weights as well.

I have found record keeping extremely useful for vet visits, while giving medication, keeping track of re-establishing post re-gurge, etc. Long-term may not be necessary, however, if an illness strikes knowing your snake's habits during the previous months could be quite helpful.

[Lankyrob]

Are there any decent Ipad apps for snake records? Just thinking if i was to keep them then i am more likely to update on the IPad than i am anywhere else :)

[UwabamiReptiles]

I keep records on all my snakes. I even did when I only had one, but like jarich said, reptile keeping is addictive. I have a decent size collection now and there is just no way I would be able to remember what each individual snake has done or has not done. Its a great idea to keep records if you are breeding so you can relay that information to potential buyers. Its really up to you personally if you want to keep records or not. No one can tell which way is best because in the end its up to you.

[millertime89]

Are there any decent Ipad apps for snake records? Just thinking if i was to keep them then i am more likely to update on the IPad than i am anywhere else :)

iHerp that Marica was talking about, I might DL that for my itouch.

[Lankyrob]

I did look on the Itunes store for IHerp but it didnt come up with a search???

[millertime89]

iHerp : Online Reptile Software, Husbandry, Community, Tracking, Breeding, Snakes, and More! (http://iherp.com/Welcome.aspx)

[Brently]

Wow okay. I keep records of feeding, shedding and weight. But I don't keep one for poop as I keep it on an app on my phone and there is no section for that. I am new to the hobby so perhaps I will find this more or less necessary as I go. Thanks for the feed back though guys.

[It'sKourtneyYo]

Iherp is very cool man. I JUST signed up for it. lol

[red ink]

I keep records...

Feed date:
Feed type:
Shed date:
Shed interval:
Shed condition:
Weight and length at time of shed:
Issues dated: i.e. bad shed (why when how i fixed it), feed refusal (how long, weight at the start of refusal, husbandry checks i.e. temps/humidity date of feeding commencement, conclusion on why it refused a feed)

All of this helps me solve issues as something will come up at one time or another and having records of how I dealt with it in the past helps... Also gives me growth and feeding patterns i.e. what time of the year they switch off in relation to seasonal and temperature changes so I'm not wasting rats.

[candyraver69]

iHerp : Online Reptile Software, Husbandry, Community, Tracking, Breeding, Snakes, and More! (http://iherp.com/Welcome.aspx)

I use this also. Things that may seem unimportant can really help you out when something goes wrong and you need to remember "when did my snake last poop" and can't. Also, the more data you have, the easier you can see when something is wrong before it's otherwise obvious. Regular weighing and comparing that to defecation and meals can really tell you a lot. For example, what if your snake is eating and pooping regularly, but not putting on a good amount of weight? I watch my adolescent snakes for a steady weight gain (about %30 of each meal). If they aren't putting that much on, I know something is not right. For adults the goal isn't weight gain unless they are recovering from breeding or illness, but I can carefully watch to make sure they don't lose weight.

I say it takes a matter of seconds with a good program to make record of things, you might as well. iherp is very simple to use, and the batchfeed function makes it cake even for very large groups of snakes.

Oh, what I would pay for a program of that caliber for my rats!! I have to use the next best thing, a database that I wrote. It's just not as user friendly to add information. I could add a better front-end to it if I had the time and patience, but I don't right now.

I've also been experimenting with Degei. It has a few functions that iherp does not, but is a little trickier to use in my opinion. I have kept it around for its feeder inventory functions, because that is awesome. No more running out of feeders and forgetting to order more for me.

[ZARADOZIA]

I keep records...

Feed date:
Feed type:
Shed date:
Shed interval:
Shed condition:
Issues dated: i.e. bad shed (why when how i fixed it), feed refusal (how long, weight at the start of refusal, husbandry checks i.e. temps/humidity date of feeding commencement, conclusion on why it refused a feed)



This is what I do also. I don't record BM, just look for it before each feeding. More of a "yep, time to clean the cage"

[Norm66]

I did look on the Itunes store for IHerp but it didnt come up with a search???

I don't know if iHerp has an app, but I think I might sign up anyway. It sounds neat.

I did download an iPhone app called 'Snake Keeper'. It's OK, but doesn't seem to be the best. The d/l is free but if you want to keep more than one snake it's $1.99.

I keep records of my fish (new fish, water changes, test readings etc.) and I plan to keep track of the basics for my snakes too.

[Jenn_06]

i put everything in a notebook and once a month i set on my computer and use Vyper to enter everything into it, now that im breeding i also enter everything what my pairs do.

[Brently]

Well I know that Snake keeper is an okay app for the iphone but I am not sure if it is supported by ipad as well.

[candyraver69]

i put everything in a notebook and once a month i set on my computer and use Vyper to enter everything into it, now that im breeding i also enter everything what my pairs do.

I want to get Vyper but can't find it because the company sold the program and didn't say who they sold it to! :(