#ball python tips

[danieldreamwalking]

GUESS WHOS GETTING A SNAKE TOMORROW

BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS FOR YEARS

MY LIL SNEKY BABY

ITS GONNA BE SO AWESOME 😈

HE COMES HOME IN A BAG 😃

WILL POST ONSHOT OF HOW I GOT HIM IN MY MCU DR SOMTIME CUZ I SCRIPTED HIM IN LITERAL *YEARS* AGO

[beetlejuicesgraveyardrevue]

Hi snakeblr/reptiblr! My girlfriend and I are planning on moving across the country in the near future. We're in the very early planning and saving stage right now and the thing I'm most concerned about is organizing travel plans for my pets. Obviously there's a lot of moving parts that go into traveling with any animal, I have 2 dogs and 2 cats as well, but as a relatively new snake dad (1 BP and 1 corn, I’ve had both for a little under 1 year) I'm interested to hear if/how other reptile owners have done long distance moves like this. I'm considering leaving my snakes in their current set ups with a friend, getting entirely new set ups once get to my new place, and then having them ship the snakes to me once everything's settled... but that leaves me with quite a bit of anxiety because i'd really rather be in charge of their care... at the same time a 3 day long car ride with dogs, cats, and snakes doesn't sound like a great option either. I just really want them to arrive safely with as little stress for them as possible. I've considered rehoming them locally before I leave but that's an absolute last resort, they're my kiddos and I want them with me forever. I would be devastated to rehome. Would love any advice or stories if you have them to share!

[saltycharacters]

[ID: Artwork depicting Klavier Gavin from Apollo Justice / Ace Attorney in the Owl House universe. He’s posing casually while angling his staff like a guitar, and his ball python palisman is balancing on its tip. Following this is a brief comic comparing Owl House’s Light Glyph to the meme, “Me as a Baby”, showing that the symbol in the middle resembles the strange clothed gnome- the artist is also drawn in the corner squinting at this and murmuring, “Holy shit”. End ID]

I've Owled Klavier Gavin's House

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[maculategiraffe]

hello! was it difficult to socialize hildegard? have you ever been bit? does it hurt?

ball pythons are generally extremely docile and highly recommended for beginner snake owners because they have basically no aggressive instincts. their standard operating procedure when they think they might be under attack is to hide, under their own butts if necessary. so in terms of socializing her it was mostly about taking a little self woven basket of noodle out of her terrarium and putting her on our ankles under a blanket and then waiting for her to slooooooowly relax and uncoil and start exploring. by now she is completely unafraid of us and doesn't even flinch when we pet her head unless she didn't know we were there (she doesn't see very well so she flinches easily from any sudden movement in the vicinity of her face, more from instinct than actual nervousness I think). she likes my boyfriend better than me because his body is APPARENTLY the perfect temperature for warming her little tummy on and she will squiggle around until she finds his leg and then pile herself up on his shin and fall asleep.

the only time either of us has been bitten is once when my boyfriend went to feed her and she accidentally struck his hand instead of the rat. (we consider this user error on our part and fairly easy to avoid with proper use of rat tongs.) she let go immediately (unlike when she accidentally struck a towel near the rat she was aiming for and decided to just try and eat the towel instead) and the injury was extremely minimal. teeny tiny pinpricks that only broke the skin because of the force of her strike. her teeth are soft and flexible, somewhat like toothbrush bristles, and she isn't venomous, so a bite isn't a big deal unless she is actively trying to swallow you whole, and even then it's mainly a problem for her. there are tips and tricks online for getting a really determined and misguided ball python to let go of something they have decided they are going to eat, including a finger, but I've never had to try any of them and even then I think for the finger in question it's more like being caught in one of those little finger trap toys than being devoured by a beast.

she's definitely the best and prettiest and most wonderful noodle in the whole world but other ball pythons are probably pretty good too

[solisitude]

oh my god any black sisters hcs?? pls?? they're so underrated i fear

now THIS is a damn good ask anon THANK YOU for this. and you bet your ass i have some good ones for them.

narcissa black headcanons

has always been very tall

has very fragile bones but has never so much as sprained an ankle

exceptionally smart in arthimacy

never rushes about. she is always perfectly calm

values punctuality

has an appreciation for early muggle fashion

bruises very easily

would not be caught dead with her hair in a ponytail

cries very silently and stoically

hates the feeling of chapped lips

has a secret sweet tooth

something of a teachers pet even if she was never in the absolute top of her class

admired by most younger year slytherin girls

always has her nails done. always french tips.

fidgets with a dragonfly pendant she always wears when she's nervous

cried herself to sleep every night for the first week at hogwarts because she was scared

really wanted to try out for the quidditch team but was forbidden from doing so because her mother said it was "unbecoming of a lady"

sometimes when she's comfortable she will hum a lullaby andromeda used to sing to her

has a frankly unnerving stare

the only indication that she is irritated is a slight purse of her lips

very used to getting her way

does not talk about her emotions very easily

very interested in wizarding politics and reads the daily prophet every morning

is often underestimated and uses it to her advantage

andromeda black headcanons

the original white sheep of the black family

despite her upbringing she has never felt superior to anyone because of her blood status

has always had a bit of a soft spot for narcissa

smokes occasionally

was vehemently against the concept of marriage until she met ted

she's the one that proposed

"hey ted. let's get married." "okay meda, whatever you want"

and they just did it

can pack a mean right hook

enjoys reading muggle feminist literature in her spare time

always has her hair in a kind of messy updo

has a lot of friends who she genuinely cares about

tried to talk to narcissa after she was disowned but narcissa ignored her

buys sirius a christmas gift every year

was the first person sirius told about his crush on remus

is incapable of sitting in a chair properly. always has a leg propped up or her back on the armrest

does not enjoy solitude

does not cry often

took sirius to his first tattoo appointment

her love language is acts of service

tried to stay at hogwarts for as many holidays as she could

blushes very easily

bellatrix black headcanons

oldest black cousin

uses her wand to tie up her hair often similar to how sirius ties his up

sharp witted and quick to retort

dresses in all black always

cackles instead of laughs

used to lock andromeda and narcissa in her room when she was 12 and they thought it was a joke but she'd to it only when she knew their father was drunk and violent so they'd be spared

sneaks out after curfew to walk in the forbidden forest

started studying black magic at a very early age because she wanted to be powerful

can not eat spicy food

once hexed a boy's fist into his own mouth because he tried to touch her without permission

picks at the chapped skin on her lips when she's bored

often created her own spells and practised them on younger years

was extremely prideful and vain

did not like either of the black brothers and saw them as competition

has a pet ball python she keeps on her neck

[tearsinthemist]

Want to learn something new

Want to learn something new in 2022??

Absolute beginner adult ballet series (fabulous beginning teacher)

40 piano lessons for beginners (some of the best explanations for piano I’ve ever seen)

Excellent basic crochet video series

Basic knitting (probably the best how to knit video out there)

Pre-Free Figure Skate Levels A-D guides and practice activities (each video builds up with exercises to the actual moves!)

How to draw character faces video (very funny, surprisingly instructive?)

Another drawing character faces video

Literally my favorite art pose hack

Tutorial of how to make a whole ass Stardew Valley esque farming game in Gamemaker Studios 2??

Introduction to flying small aircrafts

French/Dutch/Fishtail braiding

Playing the guitar for beginners (well paced and excellent instructor)

Playing the violin for beginners (really good practical tips mixed in)

Color theory in digital art (not of the children’s hospital variety)

Retake classes you hated but now there’s zero stakes:

Calculus 1 (full semester class)

Learn basic statistics (free textbook)

Introduction to college physics (free textbook)

Introduction to accounting (free textbook)

Learn a language:

Ancient Greek

Latin

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German

Japanese (grammar guide) (for dummies)

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Russian (pretty good cyrillic guide!)

Jan 2, 2023

Want to learn something new in 2023??

Cooking with flavor bootcamp (used what I learned in this a LOT this year)

Beekeeping 101

Learn Interior Design from the British Academy of Interior Design (free to audit course - just choose the free option when you register)

Video on learning to read music that actually helped me??

How to use and sew with a sewing machine

How to ride a bike (listen. some of us never learned, and that's okay.)

How to cornrow-braid hair (I have it on good authority that this video is a godsend for doing your baby niece's black hair)

Making mead at home (I actually did this last summer and it was SO good)

How to garden

Basics of snowboarding (proceed with caution)

How to draw for people who (think they) suck at art (I know this website looks like a 2003 monstrosity, but the tutorials are excellent)

Pixel art for beginners so you can make the next great indie game

Go (back) to school

Introduction to Astronomy (high school course - free textbook w/ practice problems)

Principals of Economics (high school course - free textbook w/ practice problems)

Introduction to philosophy (free college course)

Computer science basics (full-semester Harvard course free online)

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Japanese for Dummies (link fix from 2022)

Ukrainian

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American Sign Language (as somebody who works with Deaf people professionally, I also strongly advise you to read up on Deaf/HoH culture and history!)

Chinese (Mandarin, Simplified)

Quenya (LOTR fantasy elf language)

Dec 26, 2023

Want to learn something new in 2024??

Beginner-oriented video on how to sail

This guy has so many videos on baking different types of bread. SO very many.

Coding in Python - one of the most flexible and adaptable high-level programming languages out there - explained through projects making video games

Learn to swim! (for adult learners. I don’t care if you live in Kansas or Mali or wherever. LEARN TO SWIM.)

Learn how quantum mechanics works. Then read some more about it

[Learn about quantum mechanics again, but in a more advanced engineering/mathematics class. Then read more about the math and physics of it]

Poetry Handbook, by Mary Oliver

Something I learned this year: how to sew a quilt (Here’s a very easy beginning pattern that looks amazing and can be done with pre-cut fabric!)

How to hit the ball in softball

Tutorial video on what is under the hood of most (gas) cars + weird engine sounds and what they mean

Full beginner mechanics technical training, if you want to go more in depth

Playlist on how car engine physics work if you want to go ultra in depth

Lecture series on architecture design through study of buildings

How (American income) taxes & tax law work (choose “audit course” at checkout for free class)

Pickleball for beginners (so you can finally join your neighbor/friend/distant cousin who is always insisting you join their team)

+ Para-Pickleball for beginners (for mobility aid users!)

School is so much more fun when there’s no tests:

American Law - Contracts

Shakespeare’s Life and Plays

Fairy Tales: Meanings, Messages, and Morals

Modern Poetry

World History [Part 1, Part 2]

Learn a language:

Arabic + Resource Guide compiled from Reddit (includes info on different dialects)

Chinese (Cantonese) (audio)

Urdu (frequently recommended course on Reddit) + Resource Guide

Yucatec Maya

[fellowshipofthenoodles]

Spotted: Croc shoe

[id: the very tip of Second Breakfast’s nose poking out from behind a bamboo root. She is a white and yellow albino ball python]

[starscatteredsky]

Tips and fashion for a ball python??

tips and fashion for a ball python

pt: tips and fashion for a ball python

sunbathe! make sure to use proper sun protection!

dress in the colours of your morph!

use a heat seeing filter, mood rings/clothes/makeup/nail polish, heat seeing goggles, or other ways of connecting to the way your kintype sees!

try out some snakeskin makeup looks!

wear snake themed jewellery!

try some hissing vocals!

make/commission a snake mask, or get some fangs to wear!

make a blanket and pillo burrow

get a heating pad, electric blanket, or other things to keep yourself warm

wear leathery, sequinned, or scaley textures!

here’s the fashion inspiration board!

(image desc in alt!)

you didn’t give any themes to follow or what morph you are, so i went with something hopefully general enough to work! feel free to re-request with more details if you want though!

x x x

x x x

x x x

enjoy and hope they help! -🩸

Requests open!!!

[image description:

a DNI banner with the background being the promotional image for Little Nightmares 2. The writing reads:

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Before you interact: We are pro mspec gays/lesbians, anti endo/tulpa "systems", enjoy MCYT/DSMP, pro self diagnoses with extensive research, multiple alters are punks/ anarchists"

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[shadythetortie]

I just dropped the last three rescues off at their new home and man, why are Reptile People(TM) so god damn pretentious? This isnt my first day taking care of reptiles. I've had snakes for 14 years. But this fucking guy decides to preach outdated snake care to me like its my first fucking day on the job. Fuck. He has super nice enclosures that he built himself and his other animals look amazing and I have no doubt in my mind they will be well cared for but my god, he is so fucking full of himself.

Vent under the cut because I'm just pissy and need to talk about it.

Context: Kiera is a 16+ year old red tail boa that is 8 ft long and has always been aggressive in her tank but she is fine out of it. She's the only snake I have ever had this issue with that I couldnt fix with tap training or adding more cover, hides, handling, etc. Fred is a ball python that is suspected to be around the same age but always has issues shedding and can never seem to keep weight on even with added humidity around shedding time, increased feeding, and soaks. They are rescues. I do not know their full history. I was up front and very transparent about their problems and he did not have any qualms about it.

So we go in and I'm trying to explain Kiera's behavior so he knows as much as possible about these snakes. There's no point in lying about it, she isnt the nicest snake in the world and that's fine. She's the kind of snake that will strike the side of the tank if she is hungry and will go after hands if you smell like cats, ducks, etc. She tagged my dad once and latched onto my jacket because it smelled like ducks.

As I'm explaining that she isn't the nicest snake and can be unpredictable at times, this guy takes her out of the tub and starts handling her. Which is fine. But then he invites his two year old daughter to come pet her. My anxiety goes up a little, because I dont want this kid to get bit. Kid pets the boa and then he goes to put Kiera in the tank and she is trying to turn around and get out. Decides to try and go for his hand, but he's got a good grip so she doesnt get him. But like.

Me: Kiera can be unpredictable and has tried to bite

Him: Why do you keep going for my hand? :(

He gets her in the tank and shuts the door. Looks at me with a perfect copy of the Winnie The Pooh in a tux face and says "Oh, did you make the newbie mistake of feeding them in their tanks? All of my snakes get taken into separate bins to be fed so they dont get the hunting aggression in the tank. I'll fix that no problem."

I tried to explain that every single one of my snakes get fed IN their enclosure because then they dont get stressed and have the regurg issue with handling, and she is the ONLY one like this. He ignores me. Whatever, okay, kind of getting an idea of this guy. Then we go to put the ball pythons away.

"Oh, the other tank isnt set up with a lid yet but they'll be fine together, ball pythons can cohabitate, they're actually a social snake."

Hot tip. No the fuck they're not. I didnt say that but what I did say was "That's not been my experience with them and everything I know says they should be separate. If you werent ready I could have waited a few days so you had time to set up."

"No, they'll be fine together. Ball pythons can live together fine. They're actually a social snake. But its only for the night, I'll have them separated tomorrow."

Alright fine. Whatever. Shows me the other tank that is being set up. Reassured that they will be separated. Proceeds to tell me that he doesnt LIKE to do it but he may have to powerfeed to get Fred's weight up and then turns to me with the same fucking face again.

"You do know what powerfeeding is, right?"

Yes, thanks, I know what powerfeeding is you fucking prick.

As we're leaving he's explaining how he used to run a pet store and bred his own snakes back in Ontario (ah so he's a breeder it makes so much more fucking sense now) and turns to me, like I'm supposed to be impressed, and says "Do you know how many aggressive animals I have handled? I've been bit tons of times."

I kind of lost my patience and just looked him in the eye for this one.

"I work in a vet clinic with aggressive animals every day. I've also had snakes for 14 years and never been bit."

I didnt get a reply cause there was a kid outside and he heard me say snake and him and his friends got really excited and started all talking about their snakes. Then one kid threw a snowball at the other, and the other kid went to throw a snowball at ME to which the new snake owner stepped in and told them off about throwing snow at nice ladies (which was a nice distraction for me to say bye and go to my car)

So like. All in all the snakes will be well cared for. But god fucking damn it. I'm just so pissy about this dude's attitude. Its not a prize that you get bit, or that you never update your knowledge about the hobby. Just because I look like a teenager (I'm 28) doesnt mean I dont know anything. I ran a snake rescue. These are the last three out because I realized I was in over my head and they needed a better home with more attention. I'm not fucking new at this.

Reptile breeders are like this like 90% of the time. Dog breeders will at least listen to what you are saying and then just tell you 'okay' and not listen to any of it. Reptile people though are so fucking preachy.

Ugh. I'm just. Mad.

[reptilesoftheworld]

Caring for Your Pet Snake: The Complete Feeding Guide

Feeding your snake is a vital part of their care routine that hugely affects their nutrition and overall health. Whether you’re curious about what foods are suitable or how often to feed, this guide has you covered. We’ll dive into the various diets suited for different types of snakes, how to establish a feeding schedule that matches your snake’s life stage, and tips for effective feeding. If your snake stops eating, we'll also discuss potential reasons behind this behavior and how to tackle it. Whether a long-time snake keeper or just starting your journey, ensuring your scaled companion has the right diet is essential for a healthy life.

What Do Snakes Eat?

To keep your snake healthy and content, it’s important to understand their dietary needs. Snakes are carnivores, so their meals consist entirely of other animals. Here’s a rundown of what different species might eat:

Rodents: The majority of pet snakes, such as corn snakes, ball pythons, and king snakes, thrive on rodents like mice and rats. These can be conveniently purchased frozen from pet suppliers.

Birds and Eggs: Certain wild snakes hunt small birds and their eggs, though this diet is rare in captivity unless you have a species that thrives on it.

Amphibians: Some snakes like garter snakes consume frogs and toads in the wild, but these meals are not common in captivity.

Fish: Aquatic snakes, such as garter or water snakes, may hunt fish. However, be cautious—in some cases, certain fish can pose risks to snakes.

Insects: While juvenile or smaller snakes might eat insects, this isn’t typically the case for pet snakes.

Lizards and Reptiles: While larger snakes might prey on lizards or even other snakes, this practice is generally avoided in captivity due to potential harm.

Replicating a snake's natural diet as closely as possible is key to its health. Always consider the appropriate size and type of prey for your snake’s species to ensure proper digestion and well-being.

How Often Should You Feed Your Snake?

How frequently you feed your snake depends on several factors such as age, size, species, and appetite. Here’s a basic timeline to consider:

Hatchlings (Under 6 Months): Young snakes experience rapid growth, so they typically need to eat every 5 to 7 days.

Juveniles (6 Months to 1 Year): During this stage, feedings usually occur every 7 to 10 days. As they grow closer to adulthood, you can gradually increase the time between feedings.

Adults: Most adult snakes can be fed every 10 to 14 days. Larger species or those with slower metabolisms may do well with a feeding schedule of every 2 to 3 weeks, depending on their activity.

Species-Specific Needs: Some snake species may have unique dietary schedules, such as arboreal snakes that might require less frequent feedings than their ground-dwelling relatives.

Pay attention to your snake’s behavior and physical condition. Indicators of overfeeding can include regurgitation or excessive weight gain, while signs of underfeeding may be noticeable weight loss or lethargy. Adjust feeding schedules accordingly to suit your snake's needs.

Proper Feeding Techniques for Your Snake

Feeding your snake is not just about offering food; it’s crucial to ensure their comfort and health. Here’s a step-by-step guide to make the process smoother:

Select Suitable Prey: Choose prey that fits your snake's size and species. Typically, the prey shouldn't exceed 1 to 1.5 times the width of your snake.

Use Pre-Killed Prey: It's safer to use pre-killed or frozen-thawed prey. Make sure to thaw it thoroughly and warm it to room temperature before presenting it.

Feeding Time: Many snakes are more inclined to eat at night, so choose a time when they are most active.

Separate Feeding Area: Some owners opt to feed their snakes in a different container to prevent associations with handling and reduce bite risks.

Use Tongs or Tweezers: Offering the food with tongs or tweezers can keep your fingers safe from accidental bites.

Leave Them Alone: Give your snake space and time to eat without interference. Avoid handling them for 24 to 48 hours post-meal to ensure proper digestion.

Monitor and Clean Up: After feeding, check that your snake has consumed the prey and promptly remove any uneaten food to avoid spoilage.

By following these steps, feeding can be a hassle-free experience that contributes to your snake’s health and happiness.

What If My Snake Is Refusing to Eat?

It’s concerning when your snake doesn’t want to eat, but several common factors might be at play. Here’s how to handle it:

Temperature and Humidity: Snakes need a suitable environment to regulate their body temperature. Ensure the enclosure’s temperature and humidity are right for your specific species.

Stressors: Environmental changes, excessive handling, or loud noises can stress your snake, causing them to refuse food. A calm habitat with hiding spots can help alleviate their stress.

Shedding: Snakes often lose their appetite during shedding. If you notice signs like cloudy eyes or dull skin, wait until shedding is complete before offering food again.

Prey Issues: Your snake might be hesitant to eat if the prey is too large, too small, or simply not what they prefer. Make sure you provide appropriately sized and desired prey.

Health Concerns: A persistent lack of appetite could indicate health issues. Consider visiting a reptile veterinarian for advice.

Breeding Season: During breeding season, snakes may naturally reduce their food intake. Be aware of seasonal behaviors and adjust feeding accordingly.

A bit of patience goes a long way; snakes can skip meals occasionally without harm. Keep an eye on their health and behavior, consulting professionals when needed.

Want to learn more about reptiles? Read this blog.

[cyanocoraxx]

Hello! You have cool snakes and know a lot about them too, could I have some of your advice? I've recently been really into snakes, and seen tiktoks of how happy their owners are with them, it makes me really jealous and wishful for a snake companion of my own.

Except I know NOTHING about them, their care, needs or expenses. My experience with pets is a typical low to average maintenance dog, that's it. Never handled reptiles in my life. BUT SNAKES ARE SO ENTICING, and supremely cute too

I was wondering if you have any advice for a complete beginner on what kind of snake to get that's easy and as I said, for beginners (if it even works that way, I don't know a lot about snakes). If you have any resources and such.

Or even like, a checklist to see if I'm even eligible to own a snake (it could be hard idk). Want to know if it is even within my capabilities, the lifestyle needed and stuff like that.

Could you also give tips on their body language? I remember you mentioning in one of your posts that body language is important, and I wouldn't want to mess up. I want the potential cutie to like me after all.

Thank you anyway for your time! Appreciate it <3

so sorry for the late response i wanted to sit down and give a proper thought out guide and just haven't had time <3

checklist for eligibility:

you will need: a terrarium/vivarium, a heating device (heat mat, ceramic emitter or heat bulb), a thermostat (to control the heating device), a water bowl, a hide, substrate, and enrichment (sticks, leaves, decoration etc). make sure you have all of this on hand before you bring your pet home

you'll need to be comfortable or at least willing to feed your snake frozen prey, which means being able to consistently provide mice or rats (most common). most reptile stores will stock frozen!

depending on the species you want you'll need space for a vivarium. if you want a snake that can grow to be 4ft for example you'll need a space to put a 4ft viv.

you'll need to have time to regularly spot-clean their enclosure, which means binning their waste and removing shed skin. a full clean out once a month if not bioactive.

best "starter" snakes (imo):

rosy boa (2-3ft long, 25 years+)

royal python (3-6ft long, 20-30 years+)

corn snake (4-6ft long, 15-20 years+)

rosy boa - these little noodles don't get enough credit! they stay very small, they're very docile, and easy to care for. due to them being so small they only need small prey items which won't take up a lot of space in your freezer. they're very good eaters. downside is they're less common than royals and corns so depending on where you are you may struggle to find one near you. they can also be more food-motivated than royals and when they have food on their mind they can be a little more bitey - but with their tiny size, i promise you can't even feel it (from experience)

royal/ball python - a very common snake that can be found in most reptile shops. they're well known for being extremely docile and easy to handle as well as being super duper cute. they live longer than corns and rosys. downside to royals is they can be "fussy eaters" which can make new owners nervous - they're known for going off their food for months. they will also need larger prey items as they grow, so if you're not keen on keeping larger mice/rats in your freezer this is a downside. they're also more sensitive to improper temperature and humidity than corns.

corn snake - very common so can be bought easily! they also tend to be some of the cheapest snakes, especially if you want to get a "normal/wild type" morph. due to them having a large range in the wild they can tolerate a wider range of temperatures and humidity levels. corns are much more active than royals and rosys, so if you want a snake you can watch do its thing then a corn is a good shout. with this being said, they can be more "squirmy" when being handled compared to royals and rosys as they kind of struggle to stay still.

however, you're not limited to a choice of just three species. as long as you research your snake thoroughly and make sure you have everything you need, you can keep whichever you prefer. my first snake was a brazilian rainbow boa which is a more "intermediate" species and "not suitable for beginners" but he's been great. with their more extreme humidity requirements, i just made sure to keep a hygrometer on hand (to measure humidity) and provided plenty of moss, a large water bowl, and regular mist spraying. never had an issue <3

basic body language:

it's important to note that when a snake is preparing to shed its skin it will be vulnerable. its eyes will cloud over and its skin will feel irritated. we call this being "in blue" because the snake takes on a milky blue colour. during this time your snake might become defensive and this is normal. you should leave a snake in blue alone.

signs of a calm snake: short tongue flicks, loose and relaxed body, moving slowly, fluidly moving towards stimuli, curiosity, regular breathing. a calm snake may sit in an "S" position but it will not be coiling up or fixating on you.

signs of stress in snakes include: long and slow tongue flicks, tail rattling, tail wagging, hissing, striking, open mouth breathing, regurgitation, body flattening, gliding (moving very quickly away), coiling with the head raised (preparing to strike)

this is a very obvious example of a defensive corn snake: their body is coiled into an "S" shape, the head is raised. it takes this position so that it can 1. have a clear view of you 2. to strike upwards/forwards at you if it feels threatened 3. to look bigger to frighten you off. this is a snake who doesn't want to be touched at ALL

let me know if you need anything else <3

[thicctator]

Hi!! I saw your ball python embroidery (stunning!) and wanted to ask you how you got into embroidery? I sew on occasion, but I’ve got this big collection of embroidery thread I want to use, and no idea where to start. If you have any tips, I’d love to hear them. Love your work!

Hiya! I picked it up as a means to manage my anxiety- it’s pretty cheap and easy to get into as well! If you find a simple pattern with only a few colour changes you can make something cool for just a few bucks!

I recommend using branded embroidery floss (DMC is my choice), but any needles, aida and hoops that you can access are perfectly fine :)

I’d just put a motif you like into Etsy and find an affordable local craft store/website - if you find you like it - invest in better kit as time goes on ^_^

[peachie-wren13]

crying on main again with whatever the fuck this is. Grief fucking sucks.

It's that time of year again where I remember that one of my best friends was 8 months older than me when we first met and now I'm 5 months shy of being two years older than he ever was or will ever be

when will the knowledge that we will only ever get farther apart in age and I will continue to change from the complicated 16 year old I was when I first knew him, stop feeling like someone is pouring molten metal on my chest?

It's heavy and it's hot and the burning heat of the grief over who he could've become scalds my heart with the weight of a thousand unfulfilled promises

we were supposed to get a house somewhere, the three of us; living together as friends with a zoo of dream pets, a monitor lizard, a handful of ball pythons, three cats, two dogs, and at least one bird.

He would perform, fire dancing and magic tricks for tips on the boardwalk, she and I would be artists drawing for commissions or just for fun and making ceramic mugs, plates, bowls and tchotchkes to sell at a stall at the farmers market.

He was supposed to finish forging me a sword for no reason other than he was learning to be a blacksmith and he wanted to.

I was supposed to ship him a box of my old webkinz because his had been donated years ago.

He was supposed to send me another post card.

We were supposed to meet in person.

He was supposed to grow old.

Now I get to feel my heart break all over again because instead of mapping how far from our road trip route it would be to meet up with him, I'm looking on FindAGrave for the location of his headstone so I can leave him a bouquet of blue flowers when we pass through Kansas City.

You were the kindest person I ever had the pleasure of knowing, I will spend the rest of my life striving to be half as good a person as you were.

I look for you in every clear blue sky and in every fiery sunset, Icarus.

I see you, in the way I scream to music in my car with the windows down, in the way I dance while washing the dishes, in every pun I make, hug I give, and candle I light, I see you.

[hogteeth]

Hey! Kind of an odd one, and totally cool if it's not something you have the bandwidth for! Your pics of Sok's enclosure have popped up on my dash a couple times and it looks great! I saw one where you talked about making it bioactive, and it piqued my interest!

I've heard some pretty mixed things about bioactive setups for KSBs, so it's not something I've looked into much, but mine has been struggling to get his eyecaps off during sheds lately, so I'm looking for ways to up the humidity... Do you recommend the bioactive enclosure? Any helpful tips or resources for someone looking to do the same? :)

I highly recommend a bioactive for kenyan sand boas!

Due to their name, there is unfortunately a persistent misunderstanding in their care in my opinion. Their scales don't do well in bone dry enclosures, and they do need higher humidity, unlike western hognoses that are extremely prone to scale rot. Their range overlaps with ball pythons in some areas, and they have similar scales. Kenya has an average humidity of 70%.

In a dry enclosure with aspen, he was having extreme shedding issues even with many kinds of humid hide and starving himself to where his spine was visible, to the point I had to imprison him in dry baby jail (tupperware with a moist rag) for hours, and it still damaged them. I switched to a mix of 1/3 coco coir, 1/3 soil, and 1/3 sand ish with reptile safe leaves kept slightly moist and his scales are beautifully healed, perfect sheds, and he's a plump lil bean, great eater. He's never had scale rot either.

What you want to avoid is standing water, wet-wet soil can cause scale rot and root rot of the plants. The plants help with that though a ton. Pothos of any kind are amazing for enclosures, other plants I've had hit or miss experiences with. Tradescantia zebrina I've just experimented with recently, and it seems to be a good option as well. A linear UVB will grow them, but since sand boas don't really appear in the day, plant LEDs will make the enclosure thrive. Springtails are essential for cleaning up any organic decay, I've had trouble getting isopods to breed, but they're less necessary.

I use a 75-100 watt heat bulb on thermostat depending on the season, and a mini heatmat on thermostat on the warm side at 85 F for nighttime temps. This also helps the water evaporate and such. He absolutely adores his rocks that are under the heatlamp in the day, since they're warm at night and he can cuddle em.

To water the enclosure, I sprinkle water on the top layer when it looks dry (can also poke your finger in let it feel dryish to second knuckle), the hot side more often than the cold side since it evaporates more. It then makes its way down gradually and tunnels will hold, without having the risk of standing water at the bottom of the enclosure where he's at. That's what can promote anoxic conditions and harmful compounds from dead bacteria and stuff. I don't recommend a drainage layer since they burrow and they'll make their way in and get stuck in it. Maybe every two months I take out all the plants and decor (and him) and stir the dirt too, folding it so the bottom dirt is on top and vice versa and adding more dried leaves and bits of sphagnum. During that time you can also replace a portion of the soil with fresh stuff.

Hope it helps :D

[truedarkhunter]

A look at Snake's snakes

I noticed there were more up-close looks at some of Snake's ophidian friends. So I took a few moments to stare at them and try to determine the species. Some are very likely, others are best guesses, but it's still a fun exercise. I started with the notes online with the kuro fan-site then expanded them.

Johnathan is a rattlesnake (called the “Old Man” by the others.) Likely a Western diamondback given the ridge over the eye.

Emily:  Kingsnake (false coral snake)  She has the red touching black, so false-attack.  The bands are wider than on Milk Snakes. Bronte:  Looks to be about 2 feet long and has a pale body and dark spots.  Belly is pale.  Guesses:  Could be a hognose snake, a night snake, or a variety of brown snake.

Donne:  Very small snake.  Can subtly reside at the top of Snake’s ear when travelling (Guess:  Common Krait aka “Karait”– the small, but deadly brown snake from Rikki Tikki Tavi.)

Goethe:  Orange snake, white spots, round eyes.  Childish and friendly (My guess:  Leukistic boa or python)

Keats:  Depicted both with a pattern on his back and as an non-patterned snake.  Often used as a guide.  (Sheds often?)              (Guess:  Ball Python or other python based on uneven loops of the pattern drawn and the thickness of the tail tip.)

Oscar:  Shiny two-toned green snake with a dark back, lighter stomach.  Tip of his tail is dull grey.  Tongue is blue.  Oscar has a rough temperament and speaks like a young man.  (Guess:  Red-tailed green rat snake. It has both the blue tongue and sometimes has gray tails.)

Webster:  Zig-zagged, cross-banded pattern, 4-5 markings atop head, slit pupiled eye.  From Queimada Island (Snake Island, home of the Golden Lancet/Golden Lancehead Pit Viper.)  His poison can kill a human within 30 seconds.  (Guess:  Golden Lancet. It’s the only place they live.  Webster is just a strongly patterned one.)

Wilde:  Black-and-brown spotted python, largest of Snake’s snakes.  Widest part of his body measures between 4.72” (12cm) and 5.12”(13cm) and his head is relatively small in relation to his body.  (Guess:  Boa Constrictor based on loose loopy pattern.) Head small in relation to body only the size of a small fist. 

Wordsworth:  Dark brown snake with lighter brown and black crossbands.  Has straight belly bands.  Speaks like an old man and is quite knowledgeable.  (Guess:  Eastern Copperhead.  This snake is not that dark on the body, the markings are a strongly open diamond shape and the head is strongly colored.  However, there is a clear band over the nose and past the eye that isn’t present on the copperhead.  Tail is thick.  Could be another constrictor.) Unnamed:  Black Mamba killed by Patrick Phelps in Book of Murder.  It’s highly venomous, from Southern Africa. 

                     Victims die within an hour of being bitten.  Black mambas are the fastest land snakes in the world and                      excellent tree climbers.

[originemesis]

@mothvalentino 's room still smells like cum and someone here is allergic to that- xxx

Val's chest reverberates with a low, foreboding chuckle. He steps closer, taking full advantage of his height to loom. ཐིཋྀ "You might not be one of my whores but I'm still gonna bitchslap you like one if you don't shut the fuck up and do as I say."

"Alternatively, I would like to see just how tight this collar around your neck can become."

Urk-... he glowered UP at him. Why was everyone so freakishly tall in hell, anyway? That's HIS thing! In heaven, anyway. Aside from Sera, the actual statute of liberty herself and a few other eldritch seraphim, the first man was six thousand years ahead of being bred down to a short king.

"Look dude, it's in literal writing that I only do what one of you says- so pop off to the TV-Dinner downstairs if your ass hurts about it ~ " Technically he's not being mean. But the collar is still snug enough for him to not risk another python squeeze.

"But tell ya what. I'll give you a demo, free of charge." The collar seemed complacent at that, so he flashed the golden axe into his arms with a quick flex of his talons and proceeded to pluck a certain riff while he side-stepped and circled the puddle on the floor like he's playing it an introductory hype up despite it already being there flat as well...liquid on tile.

"Bowowow wow ~ wowowowowow. BOW wow wow WOW waugh waugh waugh WAUGH-HAHhh?? Just gimme a kiss! " The notes from a heavenly instrument in hell is a ground rumbling affair. Mostly a bass boosted affair that sent tremors up through legs. It started to cause the liquid on the ground to centrifuge up just to escape the vibrations. "-yeah, she knew what she was doin' and I knew it when she told me to..." A stomp on the now clean tile and he slid his leg through the rising puddle with a strutty strum downwards to send the particles upwards and swirling around him. "Walk this way! Now walk this wayyy ~ " And with each command commandeered by the particular direction of his twangs, the drink particles followed orders, putting on a firefly like show until he directed them all into one ball over his head.

"-walk this waaaay. Uh-like THIS!" And on one final screeching to a stop note, he rammed his tongue through the V shape of talons he'd pressed to his lips and caught the Capri Sun drizzle at the tip of it before the mess could make its way back onto the floor. Hopefully the cum-stain free floor. Not even a five second rule would fix that.