#wild type ball python

[snakepicturesforall]

This is a wild type Ball Python. Very Cute :)

[roguekhajiit]

I renovated Mushu's terrarium today.

Added a false bottom and redecorated.

This was his reaction.

Ignore the smudge. I missed a spot while wiping everything down.

The next project is to create a removable 3D corkboard backdrop.

[alitteraladhdmess]

I think it’s about time I introduce everyone to all my pets:)

Get ready

I have a total of 3 aquariums so let’s start with those

My goobers Buoy, Baja, Torpedo and the bullets, my snails, Kepler and Mr Gorg the Turtle respectively

And the icons Cinnamon Sticks and Pyrus:)

I’m getting my sister’s Cory catfish once her betta dies (she has 5 and her betta is 3yrs old at this point and blind)

[lazywriter-artist]

Not just one!! Two little idiots (I too love them a lot—)

They were a dream pet of mine for the longest time and was ecstatic when I managed to not only get one but two!! My beloved little sons 🥰

[kedreeva]

I didn't know peafowl also have incomplete dominant genes! I mainly know ball python genetics. Question, are there any incomplete dominant genes that are fine/mostly fine in het but cause health issues for the super/homo form? I can think of quite a few like that in ball pythons and a few dangerous genes in other common captive snakes.

The only incomplete dominants we have are white and white eye, where white is the total leucism gene and white eye is... either a form of pale leucism, or more likely a white spotting gene, we don't really know. The actual genome has not been mapped where the public can access it, and the mutations haven't been scientifically identified, so the genetics for them largely goes off of knowledge of genetics in general in combination with practical knowledge of what we see and how it travels and shows in the phenotype.

White shows white flights/throat latch in het form (most of the time, but it CAN be carried completely silently). White eye CAN turn some eye markings white (in the train's eye feathers), and some forms of it also cause "frosting" on the feathers where the color is diluted like it is in cases of pale leucism, where the bird looks like a window with a layer of frost covering it.

Pied is the only supposed dominant, where one copy and two copies looks the same in the phenotype, and (USUALLY) looks different from the wild type buuuuuuut it can also be carried completely silently, even in homozygous form. What people think of as a "pied" bird (by phenotype) is genetically a white/pied het (white and pied are alleles, the pied phenotype results from a bird that has one white and one pied gene).

Neither white nor white eye (nor pied) appear to have any deleterious health effects on the birds, aside from the fact that white feathers break down faster in the sun than dark feathers, so birds with more white tend to look rattier faster. Socially, white birds are sometimes rejected by colored birds, to the point where some hens have been noted to refuse mating from a white male if they can see other, colored males (even if they cannot reach the other males).

There ARE a few mutations associated with health problems. The only one that matches what you are asking about would be charcoal- where het hens can lay eggs, but homo hens do not, and for both sexes het birds do not seem to experience the same feather quality or shortened lifespan issues as homozygous birds.

The other deleterious mutations are "progressive pied" aka vitiligo (which isn't a morph, just an autoimmune issue that shows in the phenotype) which presents with autoimmune issues, and cameo which is OFTEN found with vision problems (which may or may not be directly linked with cameo, but cameo originally presented with birds that went blind a few years after maturity, and this problem was NOT weeded out properly before distribution, so cameos face a LOT higher instance of blindness than any other mutation). Fawn, in Australia, has been noted to face some of the same health complications cameo originally had (and may be or be an allele to cameo, given the similarity in phenotype), which if the mutations end up being the same or alleles may point to it being a problem, but that has yet to be proven or disproven.

There is a new, unnamed mutation in Denmark that causes weak feathers to the point the entire train "wilts" and makes the bird look like it is sopping wet, and it's unknown if the breeder will decide to perpetuate this monstrosity or not, and I don't know if heterozygous birds share that particular complication. Many are hoping the breeder doesn't breed more, but there's nothing anyone can do if he decides to go forward with it, outside of just avoid the mutation. Avoidance of mutations CAN cause a mutation to die out, as it did with Steel in Australia, but it's hard to get the "every mutation is precious and must be preserved" people on board with "some things are better left dead if it's not good for the animal."

[amber-tortoiseshell]

MLPH - Melanophilin

The protein encoded by this gene is involved in melanosome transport and serves as link between melanosome-bound RAB27A and the motor protein MYO5A. Mutations here cause "standard" dilution.

Ball python

ghost

Inheritance: recessive.

image source

Chicken

lavender

five-gray

Inheritance: recessive to wild type, interaction unknown.

lavender, five-gray

Japanese quail

lavender

Inheritance: recessive.

wild type and lavender. image source

Canary

opal/mogno

onyx

Inheritance: recessive to the wild type, intermediate with each other.

opal, onyx, opal and onyx variations (mogno proved to be the same mutation as opal)

Mouse

leaden

Inheritance: recessive.

image source (mice have two blue genes with identical phenotypes - i can't tell it this is a leaden (aka "mock blue") or a "proper blue".)

Rabbit

dilute

Inheritance: recessive.

image source

Dog

dilute (three different mutations)

Inheritance: recessive.

image source

Domestic ferret

silver

Inheritance: intermediate.

Light silver, dark silver. I couldn't find trustworthy illustrations for these colors, however i tried to choose pictures according to the descriptions in paper identifying the mutation: "the homozygotes for the mutant type are almost completely white, and the heterozygotes have a weakened color and white spots in various parts of the skin".

American mink

silverblue (two mutations)

Inheritance: recessive.

image source

Domestic cat

dilute

Inheritance: recessive.

image source

Sheep

lilac

Inheritance: recessive.

image source

Cattle

cool gray/Larson blue

Inheritance: recessive.

image source

[orochihigh]

Snake School is Back in Snession!

Here’s the new and improved Orochi High snaracter lineup! A few things have changed (They’re sneniors! O-Hi is in Snokyo now! There’s a new guy!), but for the most part, they’re the same old snaracters you fell in love(?) with seven years ago. Enjoy, and keep those snoots astute. The best is yet to come!

Updated snaracter descriptions below:

Truffle Amaguchi

Species: Ball Python (Silver Bullet Morph)

Length: 0.7 meters

Age: 18

Truffle Amaguchi is an ordinary girl starting her final year at Orochi High. She was born in Osnaka and moved with her mom and little brother to Snokyo two years ago.

Truffle is a romantic with very little real-life experience. She loves reading shoujo snanga, and has somewhat unrealistic expectations as a result. Her hobbies are reading, collecting bones and natural hisstory items, and going to the museum. Truffle does well in school, but has been struggling recently, putting her university hopes in jeopardy.

Truffle’s favorite snekcessory is a cute red bow with a mouse skull in the middle. She has a tiny kink on the tip of her tail.

Mochi Shinda

Species: Western Hognose (Wild Type)

Length: 0.5 meters

Age: 17

Mochi Shinda is a short Western hognose who was Truffle’s first friend at Orochi High. A mischievous prankster, she comes off as a bit insensitive but cares more than she lets on. She has been known to play dead to get out of unpleasant situations (like gym class).

Mochi enjoys cooking for her five younger sniblings and inventing new dessert recipes.

Mochi always wears a cool spiked taillet.

Marzipan Ono

Species: Burmese Python (Hypomelanistic Morph)

Length: 4.5 meters

Age: 18

Marzipan Ono is a big girl with big headboobs and an even bigger heart. Soft-spoken and shy, she does her best to stay out of the way but inadvertently causes accidents and injuries because of her size. Marzipan loves animals and has a pet bunny named Minchi. She volunteers at the local zoo. Her favorite animal to work with is Meg the giant ground sloth, who is currently pregnant and expecting a calf soon!

She wears a tiny pink bow on her tail at all times.

Atheris Hispida

Species: Hairy Bush Viper (Wild Type)

Length: 1 meter

Age: 18

The mysterious, venomous Atheris Hispida has always counted on his “tough guy” status to keep sneople at tail’s length, but when Truffle stumbles (literally) upon his deepest secret, he fears his reputation is at stake!

He wears his tie loose because he thinks it makes him look cool (it does).

Nise Ashinashi

Species: “Kingsnake”

Length: 2 meters 

Age: 19

Not much is known about secretive new transfer snudent Nise Ashinashi. He moved to Snokyo from Nagasnaki and he comes from a wealthy kingsnake family, but that’s about it. Nise keeps his cards close to his…neck? Or is he more tail? He has a distrust bordering on prejudice towards venomous species, though he is warming up to Yakamashii. 

Whatever you do, don’t steal his beanie, no matter how tempting it is. Ever.

Yakamashii Ogoe

Species: Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Wild Type)

Length: 1.2 meters

Age: 18

Loud, outgoing, and sometimes annoying, Yakamashii Ogoe is nevertheless Atheris’s closest friend. They grew up together in the same neighborhood and bonded over shared experiences (and tastes in video games).

Despite carrying a nasty hemotoxin in his fangs, Yakamashii is mostly harmless. He excels at sports and hopes to become captain of Orochi High’s successful Koudo ( 絞道 - "Way of the Wrap") team this year.

The O-Hi tail band he wears shows off his school spirit!

Monoko Mori

Species: Monocled Cobra (Albino Morph)

Length: 1.5 meters

Age: 19

Regarded as the most beautiful girl at Orochi High, Monoko Mori has many admirers. Despite being confessed to on an almost daily basis, she has turned down every single suitor so far. Though she is not unkind, her quiet demeanor and disinterest in dating have earned her the reputation of being cold.

Her striking albino coloration, while attractive to many, makes her sensitive to light and susceptible to sunburn, so she is often forced to limit outdoor activities.

Her hood piercing stands in stark rebellion against her otherwise pristine appearance.

Hachi Mitsu

Species: Ball Python (Bumblebee Morph)

Length: 0.8 meters

Age: 18

Unlike most of his peers, Hachi Mitsu seems to have it together. He knows what he wants to be when he grows up (video game designer), and he knows what he’s got to do to do it (get good grades and make it into the prestigious Snokyo Institute of Technology). He and Marzipan become fast friends after he offers to tutor her in snath.

He has a neurological condition called “the wobble,” which he inherited from his dad’s side of the family. He’s pretty good with a power chair, though–just watch your tail!

Hatchi has contacts, but prefers to wear glasses at school because he thinks they make him look smart.

Jun Aoki

Species: Emerald Tree Boa

Length: 1.2 meters

Age: 18

Jun is a striking emerald tree boa that lives with their grandmother in an apartment building near the coast. At school, they usually keep to themselves, doodling in the margins of their homework or painting elaborate landscapes in Creative Club after class. Most snudents consider them unusual and intimidating, but few have taken the time to really get to know them.

They enjoy collecting shells with their grandma and keep their favorite, a beautiful textile cone, on a cord around their neck.

[nocturnal-halcyon]

Once in a blue moon, Aphrodite will grace me with a daytime appearance. Every time, it is glorious.

[ Aphrodite, Normal/wild type ball python, 0.1 ]

[kat-n-dog]

Need outside perspectives on this. I doubt anyone remembers, but I was a snake person before I was a dog person. I've missed having a snake. Recently I've had to get a second job and have been working at a big chain pet store. There's a ball python that I've become quite fond of. Hear me out.

I would normally NEVER buy an animal from a pet store, BUT, it's been here so long that it is discounted HEAVILY, and I would get an employee discount on top of that - so the company would not make any money off of the sale. However, it would still count as a sold animal and prompt them to get another one. This would happen eventually regardless, but I'm torn on whether /I/ want to participate in the cycle. Pet store animals are also notorious for having health issues.

My second hesitation comes from concerns about the quality of care I can provide. Currently, the snake is being kept in pretty sad low-quality conditions, being a pet store animal. I have pretty decent knowledge of the needs of these guys and often do reading to update my knowledge, so I'm confident that the quality of care I could provide would be a huge improvement for the animal's quality of life right away.

However, currently I'm not financially able to get all of the BEST equipment/what I think I really SHOULD have in order to properly keep a very happy ball python. I do have access to equipment/supplies that are just OK, and are about what your average person getting a snake because they think it's cool would have. Just the bare basics, a couple steps above the pet store. I just think the animal deserves better even though it would be healthy and decently comfortable. Then again, it would be a work in progress - I would be able to accumulate all the supplies & equipment that I prefer over time. I am financially comfortable enough for the upkeep cost of the animal (food, bedding, etc). It's just a couple of equipment things that I won't have right away (but would still have the essentials).

So...I am torn. On one hand, I like the lil guy and feel like I can not only provide better care than the store, but also probably better than who is likely to buy it from the store as a customer (incredibly unlikely that this normal/wild-type pet store python will go to a real hobbyist, instead will probably be bought by/for a kid who is content following the quite lacking pet store guide). And again, the corporation wouldn't make a profit on this particular animal. On the other hand, I don't know if I want to be any even small part of corporate pet sales, plus I don't know for CERTAIN that the animal wouldn't be bought by someone who can do better than me right away VS my setup that will evolve slowly into a great one but will definitely start out as pretty mid.

Hopefully this isn't an incoherent ramble. Just been tossing it around in my head for a while now. PLEASE feel free to reality check me if I shouldn't be considering this at all! Just needed to get this out of my head and ask some Actual Pet People who Care About Animals(tm). Feel free to comment, ask questions, etc.

TIA.

[idioticeliza]

I was about to add more fandoms to my bio but it’s getting to long so here’s a dedicated post

I know this list is pretty long lol so here’s a basic run down of interest I have if you don’t wanna read this whole thing lol

I like Sketch-Comedy (examples being SNL, Mr. Show, Loiter Squad, in living color, and all that), Late Night Comedy (examples being Last week tonight, The Daily Show, The Late show, etc. I FUCKING HATE BILL MAHER THOUGH as well as Jay Leno and James Corden.), British Comedy (Examples being A bit of fry and Laurie, Jeeves and Wooster, QI, Red Dwarf, and The Inbetweeners), Sci-Fi (examples being Star Trek, Doctor Who, Red Dwarf, Resident Alien, and The Orville), politics (this one is straight forward also should inform fuck Trump, fuck Elon, and fuck MAGA), and for some god forsaken reason the Epcot ball.

★ Movies ★

The Blues Brothers, Bottoms, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, Lisa Frankenstein, Totally Killer, Dead Poets Society, The Blackening, Terrifier (all of them), Bodies Bodies Bodies, GhostBusters (ALL of them), Fear Street (All), Nobody, US, Nope, Get Out, Animal House, Hell House LLC, Ted, Wayne’s World, 21 Jump Street, Easy A, Skeleton Twins, Hot Rod, The Hangover, Crazy stupid love, Oceans 11, Talladega Nights, Little Miss Sunshine, Bill and Ted, V for Vendetta, Sin City, The 40 year old virgin, Harold and Kumar, Team America World Police, Mean Girls, Kill Bill, The Ladies Man, Superstar, A night at the Roxbury, Wilde, Good will hunting, The Craft, Black Sheep, Tommy Boy, Bright young things, All of the View Askewniverse, Pulp Fiction, Coneheads, Dazed and Confused, The Sandlot, The mighty Ducks, The Truman show, Die Hard, Planes Trains and Automobiles, Stand by me, Labyrinth, Ferris Buellers day off, Pretty in pink, Clue, Forrest Gump, Back to the future, The goonies, The perks of being a wallflower, The Sixth Sense, The breakfast club, Spinal Tap, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Coraline, Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of foggy mountain, and Monty Python.

✩ Tv Shows ✩

Saturday Night live (All eras), Bojack Horseman, Rick and Morty, Solar Opposites, American Dad, Cleveland Show, Ted, Family guy, Harmonquest, Community, Happy Days, Star Trek, Doctor who, Battlestar Galactica, Abbot Elementary, Barry, It’s always sunny in Philadelphia, Space ghost coast to coast, The boondocks, Smiling Friends, Last Week Tonight (and most of the other late night host I am way to lazy to type all of them out), The Daily Show, A bit of fry and Laurie, The Eric Andre show, Jeeves and Wooster, King of the hill, Bobs Burgers, Dead boy Detectives, House MD, Robot Chicken, Kids in the hall, Mad Tv, Red Dwarf, The Simpsons, Takin over the Asylum, The Orville, All That, Whitest Kids U'Know, In living color, Mr. Show, Documentary Now!, Atlanta, and Portlandia.

✰ Books ✰

The Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy, Dead inside, Doom Patrol, The umbrella Academy, Paranoid Garden, Spiderman, Good Omens, Radio Silence, Heartstopper, Carrie, The Long Walk, Discworld, Still just a geek, None of this rocks, Live from New York, Lorne, Fan Fiction (Brent Spiner), A woman’s Trek, Bossypants, Yes Please, and Crank.

✮ Music ✮

Childish Gambino, Paul McCartney, The beables, Kendrick Lamar, Gym class hero’s, Fall out boy, Green Day, David Bowie, The lonely island, The paradox, Benson Boone, Jay-Z, SZA, Panic! At the disco, Two Door Cinema Club, Joy Division, Chappell Roan, Wallows, Elvis Costello, Linkin Park, The blues brothers, De La Soul, Rihanna, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Blink-182, Sum-41, Frank Ocean, Misfits, Modest Mouse, Fleetwood Mac, Voodoo Church, The Church, 45 graves, No Doubt, Todrick Hall, The Smiths, The Cure, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Daft Punk, Queen, Elton John, Limo Bizkit, Cobra Starship, Jay Reatard, Descendents, The Academy is…, The smashing pumpkins, Billy Joel, Slutever, Mommy Long legs, Weezer, The offspring, Sonic Youth, Bowling for Soup, The used, Blue Öyster Cult, The Killers, Kid Cudi, Bikini kill, Jack off Jill, Blur, Hole, Nirvana, 100 gecs, Black Veil Brides, The strokes, Destroy boys, MGMT, and Glass Animals.

[silverystormwing]

May I present: Mr. Edgar Allen Poe, the most stupid most perfect man ever to exist on this earth

He is forever hungry and would like to file protests against me only feeding him every other week </3

Normal/Wild type Ball Python / Python Regius | 7 & 3/4 yr old | ~approx 4ft

[sunfish-exotics]

So I haven't talked about this on tumblr yet. and I was KIND of mad about it lol but Benji the new bp has mites. These pics are from the "discovery" and a pic of him in his treatment deli cup- you can actually see a mite on him in the first pic. It's a pretty mild amount considering, and he's tolerating treatment very well. It's not a huge deal for ball pythons however if my more sensitive snakes were to get them it would be a larger problem. Thankfully he hasn't left the QT room besides getting a few pics on the deck. I haven't seen any live ones in about a week so hopefully we're starting to get over them.

In better news he's taken two f/t meals with me, he was on live at his last home and I'm sure he was on live with the breeder too. Personal opinion/ lukewarm take but I think a lot of bp breeders just do what's most convenient and requires the least amount of effort. It should not be the norm that ANY species of snake are sold not solidly on f/t feeders if they're not fresh wild caught individuals. He was super easy to feed too. A little wiggle and tease and he struck within a minute. Easy enough.

Gonna wait until he's clear of mites (I'll give it at least 2-3 months before calling it) before testing for nido so poor Benji is gonna be living in QT for quite a while ):

I am very excited to start planning his final cage though, probably a little over eager on my part tbh but cage planning is one of my favorite parts of reptile keeping. I'm slowly transitioning him to caging with more enrichment. I want him comfortable and on f/t, clear of mites and tested neg for nido before swapping him to overhead heat. I definitely think if you take a snake like a bp that was fed live and likely has never been out of a tub with heat tape and immediately throw them into a fully fledged "top of the line" type environment you might flood them and have issues with feeding and them shutting down. At the moment im planning on a 48x25x30" cage for him but if I think he's gonna go over 4' I'll move him to a 6 footer. No pet rocks in this household.

Anyway. Lots of rambling.

TLDR Benji has mites but is doing better, eating f/t and in general being a little cutie

[foxesofthestorm]

honestly? i dont like being polykin

i think so many parts of my therianthropy and my otherkin identity are beautiful and amazing and i love them but the fact im polykin just. isnt one

sometimes it is. usually its not.

if i have more than 3 fucking types im faking, im lying, im probably some kind of hybrid.

but if i dont list all of my types, im faking, im lying, im just trying to get attention.

if i tell someone that im a fox therian, im told im just an attention seeker for being such a common pretty animal

if i tell someone im a red, arctic, and bat-eared fox as well as gargoyle gecko? im faking and im probably just a red fox.

if i tell someone about my otherkin identities- yellow / cyan lizards, rivulet, hornet, i just like them a lot !!!!! im not actually something from a game thats younger than me !!!! bc i cant be im older than it !!!! i just like them a lot :3

if i tell someone all of my identities, im still a liar and a faker. if i dont tell people any of them, im still a liar and a faker.

im scared to tell people im questioning a python kin, specifically reticulated / ball (i was originally mostly considering ball but im starting to be a bit more convinced its reticulated?) because im scared itll just be seen as "every animal i like, i decide to be"

i dont choose this. a lot of the animals i love are BECAUSE of me being them. i didnt realize my attachment and love was because i was one, i didnt even know that was a thing.

some of my favorite animals are hyenas and african wild dogs- im not either, i know im not, im very confident in that

yes, i do like pythons quite a lot, but i like ball pythons because id love to keep one someday.

i do love gargoyle geckos, but that fascination came with the discovery i was one.

i do love bat-eared foxes, which again came with the discovery that i was one.

i know its apparently "faker" behavior to have your favorite animal and your kintype be the same creature, but my favorite animals often stem FROM me being them, even if i dont know it

in all honestly im not really that interested in reticulated pythons, i think theyre very fascinating but i just love snakes in general theyre on the same level as all reptiles for me !!!!!

[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.

[an-actual-attack-helicopter]

you seem like someone who would know a lot about snakes

what is your favorite type of snake and then infodump about it

BALL PYTHON BALL PYTHON BALL PYTHON BALL PYTHON

other favorites: dragon snake, titanoboa, baron’s racer

Okay so im really really reaaaally hyperfixated on ball pythons right now specifically because i really want one. i know like a lot about caring for them now and I��ve done so much research like i wanna get a young one that has been eating frozen thawed rats because live rats can be dangerous and their diets are hard to switch. also ive noticed some people dont give them something to climb in their enclosure which i would like to do because why not ive heard they like climbing sometimes but yeah i would love to design an enclosure that would appeal to the individual snake. i would also love to use it as artistic inspiration and maybe let it chill on my shoulders sometimes. but not too much because i wouldnt wanna stress it out. there seems to be a debate about reptile’s capacity to feel affection and i would really like to test that msyelf. just generally im really curious about reptile intelligence because idk i feel like they are smarter than people realize. i would probably name the snake crowley or sir pentious lol-

UPDATE UHHH MY FRIEND’S FAMILY JUST SAID THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR WESTERN HOGNOSE NOW SO IDK I MIGHT BE TAKING CARE OF IT TEMPORARILY AT SOME POINT LMFAO ANYWAYS TIME TO WATCH VIDEOS OF PEOPLE ALMOST GETTING BITTEN BY WILD VENOMOUS SNAKES

btw i know this was your ask @not-an-actual-attack-helicopter lmfao but for a second i was like WTF DO I HAVE A REALLY NICE STALKER??? ELSJENRPEKW

[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