Chronicles of a new snake owner.

Artemis · 07-11-04, 12:23 AM

So now I understand what everyone means when they say that Ball Pythons are a good starter snake if you can deal with the leaving them alone in the beginning. So I did that, and it paid off. Omega is eating f/t rat fuzzies now, and I had him probed today, its official, he's a boy- I can continue to call myself psychic . First shed ended up being ok. Most of it came off in one piece and he shed his head beautifully. So far Im feeling really good.

Now I can relax a little bit that I know he is doing well, and I am taking good care of him. So in comes the handling, and thats going really well. Im slowly learning to trust that he wont bite me, and he is slowly learning to trust me, too I think.

Questions now are more in depth- how much is too much with the handling? Can my snake actually hear me? (I talk to it like I do the cats, and my husband insists it cant hear me- I think it does, and its learning my voice =)

It is insane how even the other shoppers at the LPS react to the snake. Its amazing how curious the little kids were, wanting to touch or hold him, and how conversely freaked out the older ladies were. One poor woman standing next to me nearly had a heart attack when her hubby pointed out that I was holding a snake. She jumped straight into a nearby display. I tried really hard not to laugh- she hadn't even noticed it until he said something! The probing was quite the adventure, but the snake didnt seem to mind too much.

Anyways- if anyone can tackle my questions about the deeper subtleties of having a "pet" snake, that would be awesome. Im hoping hubby is wrong and it can hear me.

And a big big thanks to everyone who has helped me get this far. All the good advice has really been utilized, and paid off. I appreciate it. I'll post some new pics of Omega soon. He is looking awesome all freshly shed and fat =)

Artemis

smeagel · 07-11-04, 07:24 AM

well, i handle my ball pythons about once, maybe twice a week, to much handling and they could get stressed out, which might go back to them not wanting to eat. And i'm not sure on what level snakes can hear, i know they sense movement in the way of vibrations through the ground.So as far as learning your voice i don't think they will. But congradulations on the good shed and eating, hope he keeps eating for you, and all you have to remember is when he goes into shed, keep the humidity up more than usual and he will shed good, they also shed better the older they get at least mine have.

snakehunter · 07-11-04, 08:39 AM

Dont worry about the biting, bp's are quite reluctant to bite.

My bp DOES recognize me though, I am the only one that can pick her up, if anyone else does she will curl into a tight ball, and wont come out until she is bake in her box, or she is handed to me!

thunder · 07-11-04, 10:11 AM

your snake will recognize you, but he can not hear your voice. they recognize you by scent, the same as dogs.

Artemis · 07-11-04, 10:20 AM

Darn- the hubby is celebrating over here. (He never gets to be right

I try to leave him alone for the most part- the probing was by far our biggest adventure but he didnt seem to get too stressed, and for the first time was seemingly reluctant to go back in his enclosure. Usually he will go back in right off my hand, but this time I had to make him.

Anybody else? How much do you hold your snakes, do you let your kids play with them, etc, etc, etc?

Art

nita · 07-12-04, 04:56 AM

We kinda take turns with the handeling and they probably only get handled for a real amount of time maybe every other week. Of course when I'm cleaning and feeding they are handled since they are fed in different enclosures. Yes my kids are allowed to hold the snakes. Tatiana really doesnt' care much, she prefers the bunny rabbits but getting Sasha to let me put them back was a real challenge in the beginning. My girls all like them and will touch them but Sasha would walk around all day with ball "boa" if she was allowed to. She is always asking about her snakes and if they can come out now. She knows how to hold them and that she has to be gentle and of course is always supervised. Proper sanitizing, washing with antibacterial soap and using purell always follow snake handeling too.

Vengeance · 07-12-04, 06:31 AM

Quote:

It is insane how even the other shoppers at the LPS react to the snake. Its amazing how curious the little kids were, wanting to touch or hold him, and how conversely freaked out the older ladies were. One poor woman standing next to me nearly had a heart attack when her hubby pointed out that I was holding a snake. She jumped straight into a nearby display. I tried really hard not to laugh- she hadn't even noticed it until he said something! The probing was quite the adventure, but the snake didnt seem to mind too much.

Was just re-reading your post and had to do a double take, you took your Ball python to a public shopping center and walked around with him?

nita · 07-12-04, 08:51 AM

LPS (local pet store), lots of pet stores allow you to bring in your pets. Pet smart and Superpet both allow you to bring your animals in as long as you are in control of them either carrying them or on a leash.

Vengeance · 07-12-04, 09:38 AM

Oh, ok, thought LPS was short form for something else, my mistake.

Artemis · 07-14-04, 07:09 PM

Hahaha yeah he had to go back to the pet store to be sexed. They have lots of snakes at our local pet store, its not a chain store and ive been going there for years, they are really great.

That woman leaping into the display still makes me snicker when I think about it, though.

I do know a lady who took her BP to walmart with her. Some elderly ladies tattled on her and they made her leave. Living in the country sometimes means the minds are as small as the towns are.

thanks for the replies, and dont worry nita, Willow gets total supervision when she holds omega, and im not trying to give anyone salmonella, I actually keep a little pump of sanitizer down by the enclosure! Thanks so much for writing though- I feel better knowing others let their kids handle.

Art

Vengeance · 07-14-04, 08:41 PM

Well as a Ball pythn owner myself I also wouldn't approve of someone walking around a walmart with a Ball Python. That doesn't come from a small town mentality, it comes from a common sense mentality.

Herpers have enough bad publicity as it is, people like that only compound the problem not help it. As pet owners we should be responsible, and walking around a walmart with a snake is not my idea of a responsible pet owner.

Artemis · 07-14-04, 11:48 PM

Oh I agree- don't get me wrong, and I think indoor public places are not places for any pet, let alone a snake. I do think though, that it wouldnt be the worst thing for people to take their snakes out in acceptable public places more, and if that were a common practice among herpers, then people would fear them less. If I brought my dog to the work picnic (if I had one) people would go "awwww" and pet it and stuff. If I bring my snake, then chances are people are going to scream and shriek and leap into things, just like the chick in the pet store. But despite their initial reactions, the longer they see me sitting there with it, and it not visciously attacking anyone, the more curious and the less afraid they would become. There is a guy I work with who keeps a corn in his office (it is ofcourse in an enclosure). At first a lot of people freaked, but now he frequently gets random visits from curious co workers who have lots of questions. While some would argue the office is no place for a snake (though we have more fishtanks around here than you can shake a stick at), I think a lot of people around here have a better idea of what snakes are all about- just from it being here and piquing their curiousity.

My ultimate goal with Omega is to make him an educational snake. I know people do it, and take them around to schools and stuff to show the children, and I would totally LOVE to do that. However, Im sure there are all kinds of legal ramifications I had better figure out before persuing this little idea- I dont need to get sued, either =)