My younger self's dreams came true

FinishingFlight · 07-10-16, 11:48 PM

So I went to the reptile convention yesterday planning on another hognose. Well it ends up I did not find any morphs I wanted. (Didn't find any albino het. axanthics or anacondas that were axanthics or albino). It also just happens that my BF planted the seed that I had always wanted a ball since I was a kid. He had mentioned that he would be willing to reorganize our cages to eventually get a large one for a ball once it was full grown.

With that thought in the back of my mind and the disappointment of not finding the hognose I wanted. I stumbled across this guy. He is a Lesser Genetic Stripe that is probably around a year and a half old.

The name I'm thinking for him right now is Jakku. He seems chill compared to the hoggies, but I'm sure I'll see more personality once he settles. He would not come out of his ball posture, even after placing him in his new home. He stayed curled up for several minutes. Though after that he spent a good 30 minutes exploring the tank and didn't seemed frightened of me watching or moving around his tank before I covered him. He has been in his hide ever since when I've peeked in.

As I wasn't specifically planning for a ball I don't have a perfect cage set up yet. I have him in a tank with a mesh top, the tub I had was too small for him. Right now the tank is covered with a towel for privacy and help a bit with the heat. Right now his hot side sits around 91* and the cool side is around 78* using an UTH. He has two hides, a bowl big enough for soaking and and extra log for a little more privacy and something to climb on. I'm working on getting some siding and also fitting some plastic sheeting with drilled holes to replace the mesh top to keep in heat and humidity as I wanted to do that with all my mesh tops.

After the quarantine I'm going to play musical tanks and reorganize everyone. So this guy will get the exo terra that is 24"x18"x12", he will be in there until he grows out of it. Does everything sound alright for now considering the changes that will be made for the mesh top and covering the sides and back of the enclosure?

Ian of Oldham · 07-11-16, 12:04 AM

He looks fantastic and you are on the money for the tank move. let us know how you get on.

mysticmoon · 07-11-16, 01:26 AM

Wow! He's a beauty, if you don't mind me asking where did you get him? I'm trying to get my hands on a female lesser genetic stripe

**Minkness** · 07-11-16, 06:23 AM

Daaaang....he's nice....Ive wanted a lesser gstripe for a while. Congrats!

macandchz · 07-11-16, 08:13 AM

beautiful snake. i think your set up sounds fine.

FinishingFlight · 07-12-16, 08:52 AM

Thanks guys! He seems to enjoy coming out at night and exploring around, the rest of the time he is in his hides. Knowing that he is coming out at night makes me happy. He took a small rat for me this morning, so I'm happy about that.

Mysticmoon - I got him from a couple at the Reptile super show, they were not the ones that bred him though. They couldn't remember exactly who they bought from as they had a large collection and bred for Mojave. Though when I was doing research I know that kickballs has a lot of genetic stripes and when I checked now they also have a genetic stripe female.