ball python

[beth]

I love snake stories, and most really large snakes would fall into the python category. Perhaps a lost pet.
I don't mind snakes hanging around, since they get rid of less desirable critters, such as rats. Generally, I'm not afraid of them.
I hate the latest movie out. Stuff like that just enhances people's fear, resulting in more mindless kills. If there were no snakes, the world would be a rather unhealthy place.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by Beth
I love snake stories, and most really large snakes would fall into the python category. Perhaps a lost pet.
I don't mind snakes hanging around, since they get rid of less desirable critters, such as rats. Generally, I'm not afraid of them.
I hate the latest movie out. Stuff like that just enhances people's fear, resulting in more mindless kills. If there were no snakes, the world would be a rather unhealthy place.
It was actually a black snake. I don't mind snakes around the house either, and we never kill the little garden snakes. I had no idea what kind this was though and my rabbit is on the porch. One of my dogs is also very small, I didn't want either of them eaten. When I found out it was a black snake I was no longer worried. To my knowledge they don't attack anything large, just mainly mice and moles.
What new movie are you talking about?

 

[beth]

That latest Snake on a Terrified Plane movie.....fake computer snakes. Its was the big movie this past weekend.

 

[fwildthing]

I had two red tail Boas and two balls (no pun intended) they sell heat tape at the reptile swap where I live and we had that taped to the bottom side of their wood cages and they loved it. it was about 12 inches wide and you plug it into a wall outlet an viola... happy snakes. driftwood is very important and water bowls.... my boas were six feet long. They were pets... meaning I would take them out and they would sit on my lap and try to get into my saltwater tanks cause they liked the rocks. one of my red talis would actually rub her nose on the glass trying to get in... it was hilarious. Snakes make wonderful pets, mine had personalities of their own. the boas required larger water bowls as they would lay in the water to shed. very important. fed them live rats we raised.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by Beth
That latest Snake on a Terrified Plane movie.....fake computer snakes. Its was the big movie this past weekend.

Wow, I didn't even see previews for that one! I am not home much though and don't watch much TV. I did think Anaconda was funny though (yes it has been that long) Not the killing parts, just the robot snake.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by fwildthing
I had two red tail Boas and two balls (no pun intended) they sell heat tape at the reptile swap where I live and we had that taped to the bottom side of their wood cages and they loved it. it was about 12 inches wide and you plug it into a wall outlet an viola... happy snakes. driftwood is very important and water bowls.... my boas were six feet long. They were pets... meaning I would take them out and they would sit on my lap and try to get into my saltwater tanks cause they liked the rocks. one of my red talis would actually rub her nose on the glass trying to get in... it was hilarious. Snakes make wonderful pets, mine had personalities of their own. the boas required larger water bowls as they would lay in the water to shed. very important. fed them live rats we raised.
I have been told by several different red tailed boa owners that they are even more friendly than pythons if aquired young.

 

[sepulatian]

Beth, I asked this earlier, I am still concerned that I had a hand in Sep's death. Any ideas? I was just re-reading this post. I asked this earlier "I do have a question though. If my mice/rats were breed by me and taken care of by me, is it at all likely that they were the culprit of Sepulatians death? They were all very healthy and active. I would think if they were sick at all there would be signs. You obviously know more about this than I do, and I value your oppinion." Any ideas on this?

 

[beth]

The snake likely had internal parasites when you got him. Vets are important for every animal. Only a good herp vet, IMO, who is trained and experienced with herps can keep reptiles healthy. Not any vet will do.
There is no way to know for sure what happened without a post-mortem exam. However, heat rocks have been known to cause serious problems without burns. Snakes that may lay on them with food in their stomach seriously sours the food due to the warmth of the rock. This basically leads to the animal having rotten food in his gut.
As I said, at this point, there is no way to know.
All animals carry parasites, including us! What won't kill a mouse, in a compromised snake, with lowered immunity, will kill a snake if left untreated.
If you decide to get another snake in the future, first be sure there is a reputable herpetological vet in your area. Like any pet, they must go to the vet for checkups, and when ill. A new snake needs to be seen by a vet from the get-go and then annually for check up, and, of course, as needed for illness.

 

[sepulatian]

I have no idea if there is a herp vet anywhere near me. I never thought of a vet for Sep, just like my rabbit has never seen a vet and I have had him for about 5 years now. My fault I guesse. I just never thought of that. Beth I thank you very much for the wonderfull advice you have given me on this subject, and if I do decide to get another one someday and have questions, I guesse I know who to ask!!

 

[beth]

A rabbit is kinda in a different category. It is so much easier for us to know when a mammal is unhealthy, unhappy, sick, or dying, whereas with a snake it is difficult to even guess what is going on with them. Therefore, a herp vet comes in real handy since they know what to look for, test for. Any pet can go to the vet, and certainly many rabbits do. I just think its a good idea, but a very good idea with reptiles. Most people don't really know much about their pet rep or how to take care of them. Assumptions are made that they are ok, and then one day you wake up and the pet is gone. All animals carry virus, bacteria and parasites. In a contained environment, such as a snake cage, these things can proliferate and cause serious problems for the pet snake. I sanitize my snakes' enclosure once a week, and give them a bath during and after sheds. This helps to eliminate a lot of surface bacterias that, in an enclosed environment, could be a problem if not taken care of.
They're pretty easy to take care of, compared to a high maintenance pet like a dog, but they still do need speacial care and attention. Anyway, that's my 2cents on the topic of reptiles.