New BP owner here!

treaux · 10-06-15, 01:02 AM

Hello everyone. Just received my Mojave BP on Friday and have been very happy so far! He was born on 7/9 and I think he's beautiful.

Very new to owning a snake and it's been a learning experience, which has led to me finding this forum. I have previously owned various lizards and chameleons when I was a teenager and have had nothing since for many years.

I got a basic enclosure and setup, but I can see there are various things I will want to improve as time progresses.

For now I am just enjoying him and trying not to stress him out too much as he gets familiar with me and my home. He already has a friendly demeanor and has not tried to bite me at all. He quickly will start to explore my arm if I pick him up, though is very cautious around me and will stiffen up if I make any movements.

He ate his first live fuzzy mouse on Saturday and spent all of Sunday in his hide.

I haven't thought of a name yet, but will come up with something soon (as well as more pics.) Here's a shot of him exploring his new home:

My friend also purchased a standard BP that is a month younger than mine. His is much more skittish and scared and has not eaten yet. He will lunge at you as soon as he sees your face. He is currently in a 10 gallon tank that I think is a bit too exposed and is in the living room. We've tried covering the sides and the snake has taken to its hide. Hopefully it will eat in the next week or so.

marvelfreak · 10-06-15, 05:59 PM

Beautiful snake.

riddick07 · 10-06-15, 09:25 PM

Your guy is so pretty! I would switch him over to frozen feeders though instead of feeding live.

I agree your friends one sounds too exposed. If your friend is up to suggestions I would put him in a less high traffic area and don't poke at him for a week or two then try feeding again. Of course something could be wrong with temps, humidity, and such. BPs spend pretty much all their life in the dark so it's not a big deal if he is sticking to his hide. My girl is in a bin that is tan so it's dim inside yet she still stays in her hide so she can be rolled up in an even darker place.

**EL Ziggy** · 10-06-15, 10:34 PM

Welcome and best wishes treaux. Your BP looks great!

treaux · 10-07-15, 08:43 PM

Thanks everyone! Been spending all my time reading about BPs and making my long term plan for him (been calling him Mo for the time being...it may stick). He seems pretty comfortable in his current enclosure even though it's all glass. He never balls up or recoils when I approach the cage, but does stop moving and is just very cautious of me. Every time I have checked in the night he has been out exploring or relaxing on a tree branch. He has tried to soak a couple of times, but needs a bigger tub, so that's on the way. He even comes out a few times during the day or when I have the white light on in the evening.

As far as handling, he has gotten a little more comfortable being picked up and doesn't ball up when I handle him (just a brief stiffening at first). Once I have him he'll just sit there looking around for a bit before he tries to leave. He hasn't tried to explore my arm, just starts heading for the nearest object and I can walk him along my hands. He has gotten startled a couple times and struck out (at nothing really) and once went flying off my hand onto the blanket below. I didn't really want to grab him and hurt him so I just let him fly. He quickly went back into exploration mode though and is so fun to watch.

I plan to switch him to rats and I think the F/T is the safest way to go for the future. I will try a F/T fuzzy rat next and see if he takes it.

trailblazer295 · 10-07-15, 09:04 PM

First nice looking BP, congrats on joining the snake world. My first was a BP as well. As long as you're okay with him going on hunger strikes you'll be okay.

Sorry it's hard to tell from the picture but how many hides do you have? How big is the exo terra? Personally I prefer to leave mine alone for a feeding or two to let them settle before handling. Some don't care and eat anyway just the travel etc can be stressful and letting them settle can't hurt.

Side note, I really like your wood decor, where did you get it?

treaux · 10-07-15, 09:33 PM

Currently only one hide. I ordered another with the bigger water dish that should hopefully fit on the warm side. The enclosure is the 18" cubed one, so it doesn't have a ton of floor space. I got it off craigslist with those branches, hide, water dish and heat pad for $50 just to get started (since I of course was overexcited and ordered the snake without preparing at all).

I'm not sure where the branches came from or what they are. They smell like cinnamon when wet.

My little guy likes to climb, and unfortunately he fell from one of the higher branches so I had to re-arrange them to make them lower to the ground.

I plan on blocking out all but the front window so it doesn't seem so exposed and once he gets bigger getting a nicer reptile enclosure (though I keep checking on craigslist and if the right one comes along I may jump on it). I like the looks of those light weight molded ones that can stack if needed. I already get the feeling my friend is not as enamored with his BP as I am so I may end up adopting his. What size enclosure will last my BP his whole life? I'd rather buy that now (even if I have to block off some to make it smaller at first) than play the upgrade game.

treaux · 10-10-15, 04:29 PM

Done a little redux on his enclosure including a second hide and some new carpet. I also blocked out the sides to make him feel less exposed.

I have a heat pad under one hide, however it's not in use yet as I haven't gotten a thermostat yet. I'm thinking I'm going to order a Herpstat 2.

I think my overall plan is to order an Animal Plastics T8 with a divider and put both mine and my friend's snake in it in my living room. My only concern is if the noises from watching movies might bother the snakes. My friend's BP has eaten by the way and become more comfortable in his enclosure (also after blocking off the sides).

Here's a few pics:

A little nervous after being placed back in to this strange place.

After a few minutes back out exploring and thinking about what chicken tastes like.

pressiniron · 10-12-15, 01:17 PM

I love the colorings...yours is a little lighter than mine. Nice setup too!

treaux · 10-12-15, 05:00 PM

Thanks! I really like the Mojave colors. My friend opted for the normal BP and his colors are much darker (though still beautiful).

Both snakes are doing quite well and both ate rats this time without hesitation. My snake is finally a little more comfortable with handling, though after about 10 minutes or so he decides he wants to run away and I have to catch him from falling because he'll slither right off my arm. That's usually time to put him back.

Here's my little guy finally exploring my arm (instead of running away):

And my friend's snake that likes to just hang around and be jewelry:

Albert Clark · 10-13-15, 02:20 PM

Very good looking pythons. Welcome and congrats. Try not to house them together if you can. The herpstat is a great idea and you won't regret it. Good luck. The divider is ok as a temporary measure.