BFMracing

General Category => General Board => Topic started by: BFM_JANE on October 24, 2012, 03:05:19 AM

Title: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on October 24, 2012, 03:05:19 AM: I've been wanting to get a pet for a while. A cat would be my first choice if it weren't for my allergies, and instead I've been looking at small pets and doing lots of research on them over the last few months. I'm pretty much an expert on small pets now.

I've looked into rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, rats, gerbils and birds (may still get a budgie/parakeet later in the year) and finally settled on a ssssnake.

Any current/former reptile owners out there? While I now know everything there is to know about corn snakes, I haven't actually seen or touched a snake since I was six years old. Also, the cage setup is quite a bit more complex than anything you'd have for a mammal or bird.

But I have committed to it now, ordered a thermostat online since I couldn't find one I liked locally. Will get the whole cage done this week and make sure I can maintain the proper environment. Will get the snake sometime in the next month or so.

There is a reptile expo in a few weeks here, I may get a snake there if there is one I want. Even if I don't get a snake there, I will be aquiring many other small pets at that location, in the form of packed frozen mice. Their enclosure is much easier, as long as they don't mind hanging out with my pet chicken breasts and pet quesadillas. They're super docile, shouldn't be a problem.

If not the reptile expo, I'll be ordering a snake from a place called BHB Reptiles (if anyone has any experience with them). I want the reddest corn snake I can get and will hopefully get a "bloodred" (http://iansvivarium.com/morphs/thumbs/large/elaphe_guttata/bloodred/bloodred-a.jpg), "hypo diffused" (http://iansvivarium.com/morphs/thumbs/large/elaphe_guttata/hypo_diffused/hypodiffused-a.jpg), or "fire" (http://iansvivarium.com/morphs/thumbs/large/elaphe_guttata/fire/fire-a.jpg). The titles are just a description of the color pattern, they're all the same snake.

So anyway, looking forward to that. Will update after I'm officially a creepy snake lady. I lived near one of those when I was younger, she always stood outside with a big python or boa draped over her shoulders, yelling at us to stop tormenting her evil dog.

(http://www.thewatersnake.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/snake.gif)
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: ËQINÖX on October 25, 2012, 06:30:50 AM: My dad used to have snakes and there acualy a good pet to have tho they do need alot of care when maintaining there tank like the temprature / humidity level / how to heat it be it heat mat or heat bulb (personaly heat bulb i think is better) and many other things but all that info is online. Just dont make the mistake he made when he was first starting and that was to underestimate the size they can grow to 4 to 6' and buying a tank that was to small only to then have to buy a bigger tank and make sure the lid is secured down or you may have a great escape :siren:. On the plus side and if i remmber corectly corn snakes dont need a UV light so there is less cost and less problems there but one thing i would say is make sure you have a spare heat bulbs incase they fail.

As for budgie/parakeet they make alot of noise O.O
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_Kiwi on November 03, 2012, 01:10:50 PM: JANE, didn't your mother used to keep snakes?

(http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcnigwfhpv1qak860o1_500.png)
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_Kiwi on November 03, 2012, 01:11:40 PM: Googles "BFM_JANE corn snake" and came up with this. Love the hair.

(http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mc25l5vcKQ1r8wworo1_500.jpg)
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on November 04, 2012, 02:55:44 AM: I've told a few people I'm getting one, and from their reactions I think this is what they picture:

(http://c3039282.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/homepage/spassisrael.jpg) (http://desicolours.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/snakesbite03.jpg)
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: InSanity on November 05, 2012, 10:02:15 AM: ... every 1 i know hates spider not me oh no 4 me it's snakes

idc what kind it is i c it im bashing it's face in with what ever i can find stick,rock,my boot,my trucks tires, idc it's going to get it <_<
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on November 11, 2012, 11:35:57 AM: So I went to the reptile show this morning (and only got lost 2.5 times along the way -- not bad! :P)

I didn't find the exact snake I wanted there, so I'm ordering one online, assuming one of these breeders ever replies to my messages. Grr.

I got some baby mouses while at the show, which was packed and stinky. It looks like I don't have enough tattoos, piercings, or black clothes to be a serious reptile owner. Not yet anyway.

So! Maybe order some snake this week or the next. I've got the cage set up, the pinkies taste all right, I'm ready to go!
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on November 15, 2012, 02:42:05 PM: So I got the snake today, after FedEx "missed" me and I had to go pick it up.

I gotta tell ya, I've watched a lot of videos over the last month of people handling snakes large and small, looks easy. But when it came time to take this little guy out of his container, I didn't want it to touch me! :LOL: And he was waiting for me to take the lid off too, ready to poke his head through the first opening.

But I lifted him out and... How cool! He's about a foot long and really skinny, a little bigger around than a pencil. Very soft and he's just one long, strong muscle, the entire body moves. He was born/hatched in July.

He didn't want anything to do with my hands, kept his head and as much of his upper body off them as he could. I was going to take a few (bad) pictures with some old camera phone I have, but I was already awkward enough trying to hold him with two hands, didn't want an escape while I attempted a photo shoot. I'll try again tomorrow.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_Kiwi on November 16, 2012, 02:29:27 PM: Shogun says you should call him Anamanda.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on November 16, 2012, 05:44:14 PM: Anamandaconda, just call him Amanda for short :LOL:
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_Crimson on November 16, 2012, 07:02:28 PM: How is he meant to eat mice if he's only pencil-thin?

And, love the name :P
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on November 16, 2012, 09:36:43 PM: They're really small mice (one day old "pinkies"), plus the whole hinged jaw thing and snakes are supposed to bulge a little until their meal is digested.

I took a picture of a little frozen mousie, probably shouldn't post it, but it's here for the viewing if anyone wants to see my other little pets :P
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on November 17, 2012, 03:54:36 AM: With only a little provocation, I managed to get him to come out of his toilet paper tube, and this time he didn't immediately dive under the bedding. I did see him this morning lounging out in the open almost fully stretched out, but didn't have the camera nearby. We'll have to make do with these expert shots for now:

Click for larger images -
(http://i.imgur.com/pctjos.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/pctjo.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/ptnlis.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/ptnli.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/wsMHrs.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/wsMHr.jpg)

His "cage" is just a plastic tub and is temporary, will move him to his mansion of a 10-gallon tank in a few months. It's quite ugly but does the job, which includes 1) prevent escape and 2) make him feel more secure and less stressed.

In addition to the fabulous photos, he allowed me to touch him. I didn't hold him since he panicked last time, but I did get a finger on him. We made great strides today, especially considering half of us don't have legs. ;)

I'm determined to get better pictures.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_Crimson on November 17, 2012, 06:19:13 AM: He's adorable!
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: MrMxyzptlk on November 18, 2012, 08:44:14 AM: Kids....

They never smile for the camera when you want them to! :doh:

FYI: I had a snake once, when I was a pre-teen. Got "it" a nice glass terrarium and all. Kept it in the laundry room.

About three months passed all peachy between us both. (Although, being wild, it never really took to be handled all that time....)

Woke up to find the terrarium empty one day.

Found it months later dead and dessicated in the garage. (It got stuck in some kreasote.... :'( )

A few months later I got another snake from the wild: A diamondback rattler in California! :o

(Long story, but some guy shot it with a pellet gun where we were camping, and my dad dissected and skinned it. Coincidentally: Though we lived in Michigan at the time, the snake was in a place in California just a few miles from where I later lived in California! Talk about a small world....)

I just found the snakeskin in a box of stuff when we moved a last month. Hence this timely story.

So be careful JD! Them snakes are crafty escape artists!
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on November 18, 2012, 04:19:57 PM: I've heard they're crafty, and have placed cans of diced tomatoes on the lid. All's safe until I need to make some chicken and veggies :P
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on November 18, 2012, 10:30:12 PM: Speaking of escape... Walked in to find him on the humidity gauge poking at the lid. Busted!

(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z234/JaneDeaux_47/Untitled.jpg)

(what shameful quality! this is through the plastic with no flash, be kind)
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_Tails on November 19, 2012, 01:02:40 AM: So how big will he get in the end?
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on November 19, 2012, 01:16:32 AM: The end will be about as big as the front.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: jim360 on November 19, 2012, 02:29:58 AM: Only thinner.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on November 19, 2012, 10:08:30 AM: A bit thinner in the end.

It should be about 4-5 feet long, and maybe as big around as a golf ball at its widest point.

Will hopefully look like this as an adult, but the pattern may end up being more orange and visible:

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4VXrkZe4WmU/Syy-MKyPNCI/AAAAAAAABBc/715w2y8h8r8/s400/Blood+Red+Corn+Snake.jpg)
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on November 21, 2012, 12:00:36 AM: Omgosh, I'm so nervous! Fed him for the first time, just now.

I guess babies sometimes don't get started eating well. He's about four months old and so has eaten several times for the breeder, but stress can make them not eat, or the wrong temperature. I gave him five days after shipping to chill and get used to things, as recommended. I've been so worried about it! What if he doesn't eat? What if he throws it up later?

But I wrangled him into a small container, let him sit awhile, then dropped a thawed pinkie in with him... and he attacked it! I left him on his own (as recommended), but he was working his way to the head when I left.

One hurdle down! What a relief. Hope the rest of it goes well *nom nom nom*
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on November 26, 2012, 02:01:29 AM: My baby! He ate again, this mousy morsel a bit bigger than the last one. I was afraid it was too big, but he downed it with gusto. I'm still afraid he's going to throw it up and die. I feel just like Shirley MacLaine at the beginning of Terms of Endearment -- I'm a baby pincher. :P

He may shed soon, can't wait for that. Also, my daily search for poop has been unsuccessful. Snake poop, I mean.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on December 01, 2012, 02:59:26 AM: The snake poop eludes me no longer! Unfortunately, I had rubbed it between my fingers for several seconds before I realized what it was :mike:

It wasn't what I expected. I knew it was supposed to be like bird poop, but I still missed it. It looked different than the aspen bedding and was kind of hard and I thought it was just a burnt piece of aspen. As soon as I thought "why would the aspen be burnt", I noticed the white powdery part... "This is poop." I'll probably die of salmonella poisoning soon.

I tried to get a better picture of him in his smaller feeding container before dropping in the tasty treat (third one and went well! It's hardly worth mentioning anymore haha). He's feisty and kept trying to get out so I had to make it quick. I took my picture, dropped the camera, dropped in a mouse, and got the lid on the container. I managed to get a fine shot of the container lid next to the container, not a single portion of the snake in it. :doh:

I've found that some baby snakes are a little wild and mine isn't defective. Apparently you're supposed to hold them until they calm down before putting them back in their cage, 15-30 minutes at a time. I thought I was doing well to wrestle this thing for a minute or two before needing a break. It's stressful for both us! I accidentally squeezed his head last week.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on December 01, 2012, 02:15:44 PM: In a single moment, all my questions and concerns about snake poop were assuaged.

I pulled up a seat, woke up the snake and held it. He did calm down after a minute and, while he was moving continuously, wasn't trying to dart away. He did get a little zippy the further away he got from my hands, but nothing I couldn't handle.

After about five minutes, he stopped moving with his head under one of the wrinkles in my sweatshirt. "Aww, he's resting! So sweet." That warm feeling was soon followed by a warm trickling in my palm. He pooped on me.

Most of it got on my sweatshirt, and there was quite a lot of it. I guess I should have known... Anytime a baby creature stops for a moment, it's probably going to the bathroom.

So that was our first extended handling session. Note to self: Wear an old T-shirt next time. And a gas mask. (http://i.imgur.com/qWzh0.gif)
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_Tails on December 01, 2012, 08:25:09 PM: this thread is going down the toilet
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on December 01, 2012, 08:50:29 PM: Or all over my shirt. Either way, my snake poo fascination is way, way over :P

A few hours after The Incident, I went in to pick him up again (not heeding my own note and wearing a clean shirt), and he was calm! I barely had to hold him to keep him from getting away. Another day or two like this and I should be able to spare a hand to get a good picture of him.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: MrMxyzptlk on December 01, 2012, 10:11:51 PM: Quote from: BFM_JANE on December 01, 2012, 08:50:29 PM

Or all over my shirt. Either way, my snake poo fascination is way, way over :P

A few hours after The Incident, I went in to pick him up again (not heeding my own note and wearing a clean shirt), and he was calm! I barely had to hold him to keep him from getting away. Another day or two like this and I should be able to spare a hand to get a good picture of him.

You're going to feed him YOUR HAND?!?!

:o :o :o
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on December 01, 2012, 10:56:51 PM: Anything to distract him into sitting for a good portrait ;D
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: Grillman on December 05, 2012, 12:44:43 PM: Just wait till he gets even bigger it will get cooler. I had a gopher snake 25 years ago and have been thinking about another one the one I had I was able to hand feed him also if you want him to be out in the open get a heat stone and place in the cage also he Will love to curl up on it and rest and that will keep him out were you can see alot more of him . Also some different food varieties you can try. Is to have a small glass bowl of water and put a couple small gold fish in there really cool to watch them them fish !
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_Ben1 on December 05, 2012, 03:03:10 PM: This is a good read, keep updating! Ive always wondered how having a snake really worked!
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on December 06, 2012, 04:24:17 AM: Well, he's getting ready to shed in a few days. His eyes are a milky blue and his color is dark and dull, from the layer of "skin" he's going to be shedding soon. Since he's practically blind right now, he's been hiding for a few days and is even flightier than usually... Not that that stopped me trying to get another picture! Trying to do it one-handed, I missed this one too. He's a squirmy one.

I guess they're supposed to clear up a bit (eyes and skin) a day or two before the actual shed, and I'm going to try to get a picture of him then. He should be much brighter after the shed, so hopefully a good before and after. I had him slithering around on the bed and he didn't move too fast, so I'm going to try to get a shot with no hands, since holding him with one hand isn't working.

But shedding: It'll happen about once a month and he'll be moody and reclusive for several days. No comparisons please ;)
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: jim360 on December 06, 2012, 08:27:16 AM: Well there's no comparison to be made. You're always moody and reclusive JANE. :P
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on December 07, 2012, 09:57:24 PM: I'm complex.

Was holding the snake again tonight! Time does fly while I do. I broke my rule to always know where his head is by letting him crawl around in my hair.

My hair was in a loose ponytail and he started by just going over my shoulder and to the back of my head. It tickled and was cute when he burrowed in and made his way to the top of my head... And settled there on top of my head, woven into my hair. And I couldn't see his head, so didn't know if he was about to jump out, or slide out, or invade my cranium through my ear, or what.

Had to take my hair down and shake him to the ends and I still had a hard time getting out. He'd wrap around some hair and was trying to get away from my hands.

Lesson learned!

His eyes have cleared, so any day now we'll have an empty snake suit.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on December 10, 2012, 04:03:58 AM: Finally! After almost two weeks of him lying around and making me think he was going to die, he has shed, is moving around and lively, and his colors are brighter. It had been so long, I guess I started to think the brownish red was his regular color :P

Found it all in one piece, which is good. Nothing should be left behind on the snake and it shouldn't come off in pieces. The empty snake skin is much easier to catch than the snake itself, so here (http://i.imgur.com/4YNxf.jpg), for anyone interested. Turns out my estimate of "about a foot" long was off, and he's actually 19 inches. Still pretty skinny though.

And while getting a picture of the easier to manage snake skin, I figured out why all my other pictures have been fails... I haven't been holding the camera in place long enough. No wonder I keep getting things off to the side! :doh:

So little snakey-poo hasn't eaten since Nov 29 (shouldn't eat while in the shedding phase) and I'll feed him tomorrow night. Will try once again to get a picture of him, now new and improved.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on December 16, 2012, 07:10:12 PM: This is from a few days ago after he shed, looking straight down at him. Still a brownish red with yellow spots. Image not to scale (pun intended):

(http://i.imgur.com/PoRHV.png)

You're not supposed to disturb them while they're in the shedding phase (called the "blue" phase, or "in blue", because their eyes cloud over and turn blue), but I held him daily during that time. They're nervous because they can't see and they just don't feel good overall.

So I handled him 30-60 min a day during the week he was "in blue" and he was calm, didn't seem to mind. It was only after he shed that I saw how he normally is (moves nonstop and pretty quickly) that I realized I shouldn't have been messing with him. Poor little guy! I'm such a monster. I know better now :P
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on December 27, 2012, 06:12:31 PM: Maybe I should call him Steve McQueen because I just got him settled in after his great escape!

I decided to move him to a 10 gallon tank since he seems more comfortable now, give him room to stretch his legs (so to speak ;)). His old -- and now current -- cage is about half the size of a 10 gal, which is fine until he gets to two feet long. Got another few inches to go.

Anyway, less than 12 hours later, and he found a way out of it. I got off work early and didn't see him right away so took the lid off and started removing his hiding places. They like to hide most of the time, no big deal. I only got half the stuff out when I started thinking "he's not in here". And I was right!

My jungle of a bedroom never looked so cramped and full while I was expanding the search radius from his table and beyond. There's a laundry basket with clothes to the right, and a closet with a pile of clothes and other junk in it to the left. Which one to search first? I figured he got out through the left corner, since there was a telltale spot of poo under it (I know it was a tight fit getting out, he needed to make room lol), so went left into the closet.

Looked in the easy places first (in shoes, behind a box) before diving into the pile of clothes. It's tricky searching for him in clothes. He could be under them, but more likely, he's IN them. I was picking up each shirt and whatever and carefully shaking it out and setting it aside when it didn't release any sneaky reptiles. After three shirts I uncovered the floor just in time to see a tail slithering away, and I grabbed it.

I didn't think he was so strong or fast... I was holding onto him as gently as I could, but I could feel his little bones popping! Without hands, he somehow had a really good grip on a piece of clothing, but he was no match for me and my dexterity -- I got him out. He was cold, but fine. Nothing broken.

So back to his smaller tub. No frills, just a few hides and a water dish. No food, one week. They're easily stressed out and I imagine this got him nice and wound up. Trying to feed him when he's stressed could mean he won't eat, or worse, he'll eat and regurgitate later, and that's life threatening for him.

Phew! Too much excitement for both of us!
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on January 01, 2013, 08:09:42 PM: More snake pics, with a quarter for size compari$on (click for huger image). This is 19 inches and 18 grams of pure snakey goodness:

(http://i.imgur.com/qoROCs.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/qoROC.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/e4rIqs.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/e4rIq.jpg.jpg)

I still can't get a good one of him outside his tub, he's always on the move. We have to settle for taking out all his furniture and getting him that way. He seems to be pretty comfortable with me now. I reached in to get my money back, which was right near his head, and he didn't jump away or react. We're buds.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on January 01, 2013, 10:42:35 PM: Fed him tonight. I feed him in a pretty small container since it's easy for them to not find or not go searching for their food. Put snake and food in a small container, can't miss it.

He tries to leave the container as soon as I take the top off (the top being "It" by Stephen King, his heaviest book) so I pass the little mousie over his (the snake, not Stephen King) head to get his attention, then drop it in. Did that tonight and he apparently missed the drop. Was clearly looking for and anticipating his meal, but was standing up higher and higher and looking like he was aiming for my hand. Thought it was the first time I was going to get bit!

But not today. I grabbed the mouse and waved it in front of him again and suddenly we were all on the same page.

I feel certain I dodged a bite tonight! It was exciting.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: Marty on January 03, 2013, 11:04:50 AM: Quote from: BFM_JANE on January 01, 2013, 08:09:42 PM

...with a quarter for size comparison...

Seeing as how you're hosting the images on imgur, shouldn't you be using a banana for scale?
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on January 15, 2013, 01:50:20 AM: I moved him to a larger tub last week, something about the size of a 10 gallon tank. I can use big binder clips to keep the lid on, so no adventures this time.

The tub's got lots of junk in it now (graduated from wadded up paper towels, still some toilet paper tubes), but snakeypoo mostly just hides in a corner under some fake foliage. A few times though I've found him at the top of his tree:

(Do click for larger image, don't mind the flash)
(http://i.imgur.com/xe7LTs.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/xe7LT.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/zi7fqs.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/zi7fq.jpg)

I don't know if he's more stimulated in his new environment, but he's definitely grumpier when I dig him out to "play".

Upped him to two small pinkies for food. He eats one, I wait for it to get to the stomach area, then give him another. He'll be pretty huge soon.

I think he's going to shed soon. He's sluggish and anti-social and seems dull (color, not personality :P). I'm telling myself he's going to shed soon, not die. One day I'll get used to the whole "shedding, not dying" thing and quit fussing over him. If he IS going to shed, I missed the point where his eyes turn a bluish color... He's shedding, not dying.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: Øụ†₭ąṧ‡ on January 15, 2013, 08:40:06 AM: Is there a name yet for Sneaky Snake?

Lyrics to a song on a childrens record that I grew up with in the late 70's:

Sneaky Snake Lyrics
by Tom T. Hall

Boys and girls take warning
If you go near the lake
Keep your eyes wide open
And look for sneaky snake

Now, maybe you won't see him
And maybe you won't hear
But he'll sneak up behind you
And drink all your root beer

And then sneak snake goes dancing
Wiggling and a-hissing
Sneaky snake goes dancing
A-giggling and a-kissing
I don't like old sneaky snake
He laughs too much you see
When he goes wiggling through the grass
It tickles his underneath

Well sneaky snake drinks root beer
And he just makes me sick
When he is not dancing
He looks just like stick

Now he doesn't have any arms or legs
You cannot see his ears
And while we are not looking
He's stealing all of our root beer

And then sneak snake goes dancing
Wiggling and a-hissing
Sneaky snake goes dancing
A-giggling and a-kissing
I don't like old sneaky snake
He laughs too much you see
When he goes wiggling through the grass
It tickles his underneath

:siderofl:
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on January 23, 2013, 11:52:39 PM: He shed today, and it's about time! I was going through snake withdrawal big time. He's a monstrous 24 grams and 21 in. (53 cm) long now.

I thought I'd missed the stage where his eyes turn blue, but one day after deciding I missed it, his eyes had turned really blue and his whole body had a pale look to it. And one week later, he's practically a new snake, shiny and bright.

He's perkier too finally and I'm glad for that. I found him climbing around in his tub and when I got him out, he was moving quicker and was more alert. Makes my day to see him back to normal.

And he pooped on me yesterday, the little jerk. Hadn't eaten in two weeks, but still got me. That's what I get for thinking I was safe. :P
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_Enoch on January 24, 2013, 04:00:50 PM: Aside from all the profanity, I very much enjoyed what I have read. Beautiful snake! Some time when I am in your area, I will stop by and do a photo shoot for you. We can try to plan it for after the next time he sheds. I would much rather take pics of a snake then some bratty kid.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: Øụ†₭ąṧ‡ on January 27, 2013, 01:35:08 AM: Isn't the Snake with No Name going to turn bright red or something? and When. Is the Snake gonna get big enough to feed him rabbits :haw:
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on February 03, 2013, 01:04:53 AM: He remains unnamed and will be a darkish red/orange-red with little or no visible pattern in about 2-3 years. I'll never feed him rabbits or the neighborhood kids, he'll only get big enough to eat jumbo mice.

He just ate his biggest meal yet on Thursday night, one medium pinky¹ and a small one (it's been two smalls until now) and had his two days of digestion. I was in the mood to get pooped on, so woke him up to play. One can clearly see he could go at any moment (it's obvious down by the tail), but I did not ruin another sweatshirt tonight. Another day then!

When I got him out, he sat for quite a while in my hand without moving². I thought this was my chance to get a pic of him like that, all nice and sweet and curled up in my hand, but by the time I got to the other room, he was going up my arm. I tried to get him back in my hand, but 1) he gets a good grip on the sleeves, and 2) he doesn't want to sit in my hand. This bad shot is the best of the ones I tried to get -- pathetic, I know:

(http://i.imgur.com/pFkEMmf.png)

¹ It took a long time to get the medium pinky down, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time!

² It takes him a few minutes to wake up, and until then he sits still, groggy and offended that I've disturbed him. If I grab him when he's already awake, he's still offended and takes a moment to compose himself, but quite alert and gets moving soon enough.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_LËÕ on February 03, 2013, 02:41:50 AM: Im going to call him Steve and it i think its creepy that you sit and watch him eat
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: Øụ†₭ąṧ‡ on February 06, 2013, 04:17:13 PM: Steve is a great name for a serpent... I had a childhood friend who's name was Steve and he was a real Snake in the grass. :siderofl:
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on February 18, 2013, 04:11:08 AM: It's been two days since he last ate and he should be plenty well digested by now. No poo to be found, so to hold him now would be playing Russian Roulette with his digestive system. I enjoy the thrill of gambling as much as the next person and was ready to haul him out to "play", risking the stinky and permanent-stain consequences, but he was having none of it.

I made him a rudimentary (the best I can manage :P) hammock and he occasionally makes use of it. He did not want to be held tonight and to try to pry him off/away from the hammock would have been more effort than it's worth.

I decided to make use of his stillness, visibility, and elevated position to take more bad pictures. You'll be pleased to know these are just as too bright and slightly out of focus as all the others. If you're ready...

Here he is from straight above, the trusty quarter there to show how big he isn't:

(http://i.imgur.com/1KBN3sM.png)

I tried to get a picture of his underside while he was in the air. This was very difficult:

(http://i.imgur.com/6DpWLZD.png)

A little further away and even harder to get. His underhead (to the right) is all white and his undertail (at the center) is all orangey-red. The first white splotch is where his tail ends and body begins, and where his bum is located. You can't really see it from this angle, but there is a bulge there and that's the only sign of his impending attack:

(http://i.imgur.com/uLiSwPy.png)

And finally, I kind of got a face shot of him. I scaled it down, but if you want the EXTREME CLOSE-UP, click here (http://i.imgur.com/Y8t5hMk.jpg) and you can really see his scales, color, and bald head (no color or pattern). Not that you can't see it here:

(http://i.imgur.com/mAXDxVW.png)

It should be getting close to that time of the month, where he gets lethargic for a few weeks before he sheds. I wondered if that's why he wasn't interested in what was going on. Usually he'll vacate the area if I fuss around him long enough, but not tonight. We'll see!
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: jim360 on February 18, 2013, 06:03:44 AM: Haha, the picture is "scaled" like the snake. Clever one, JANE.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: Øụ†₭ąṧ‡ on February 18, 2013, 11:30:00 AM: Steve the Snake has a very glossy underbelly is that normal; I know squat bout snakes and Iv'e never seen one with a glossy gut :interesting:
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on March 05, 2013, 04:16:10 AM: His bottom scales are really glossy and a little iridescent in the right light.

Had his third shed (with me) tonight! He's shiny and squeaky clean now. His old snake suit got stuck in itself when he relieved himself in it while shedding, so couldn't measure it this time. He's pretty huge though. Will have to weigh him tomorrow.

More red is coming through on his gray head, not that you can really see it in the pictures. Here they are!

(http://i.imgur.com/ahffY3y.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/tVfqIMk.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/49aECpd.png)

Still looks the same :P
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: Øụ†₭ąṧ‡ on March 05, 2013, 08:10:35 PM: Steve the Snake rules :Woop:
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on March 29, 2013, 09:04:29 PM: Sleeping on the tube (it's different for people (http://i.imgur.com/22peH0K.jpg) in London :P):

(http://i.imgur.com/2lWme1b.jpg)

He's been there several hours, just repositions every once in a while, which is understandable because it doesn't look very comfortable.

Caught him sleeping the other day, and his eye was all wonky and pointing up. It was weird. I immediately thought "oh dear, I hope he's not dead", but I didn't try to wake him up. I'm growing as a snake owner. I did worry about it all day though. By the time I got home, I had already accepted his death and was sad to see him go, but he wasn't gone. Don't ever let me babysit for you. :zombie:

I assumed he was a really light sleeper since he doesn't have eyelids. Surely the light coming on and the big freak examining him from two inches away would rouse him, but apparently not.

He shed a few weeks ago (see above!). He's up to 40 grams (one pound is 453 grams) and is 22 inches long.

Turns out I've been feeding him half as much as I should. I haven't been weighing his meals, just eyeballing them, and thought they were okay. He was starting to look a little skinny, so when I weighed his pinkies, they weighed about 3-4 grams. He should be eating 6-8 grams for his size. Oopsie! He's not starving or anything, just an inappropriate diet.

So that's the snake update!
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on April 10, 2013, 11:26:44 PM: He's no good at hiding. Sometimes.

Little snakies need hiding spots to feel secure, so there are lots of them in the tub.

Here he is using his salsa bowl incorrectly:

(http://i.imgur.com/7P6lqNW.jpg)

And here he is using his paper towel tube incorrectly:

(http://i.imgur.com/KrsSE7m.jpg)

But who am I to say it's incorrect? :P
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on April 19, 2013, 02:27:56 PM: He Who Shall Not Be Named, Probably Ever is getting ready to shed again, which means he's being very reclusive and hidey. I haven't seen him in almost a week, and it'll be another week before he sheds. Lame!

I think I'm going to start another pet project while I wait. I've already decided I will get another snake (something bigger as an adult), but I'm waiting until it's warmer and I've (hopefully) moved from here. Snakes are extraordinarily low maintenance and as cute and cool as they are, my little snakey hasn't quite satisfied my pet wishes.

I've got the allergies, but I'm going to take my chances with a small rodent, probably gerbils, maybe rats. My freezer mice and I get along well, so looking to make the move to live animals. It will be a new adventure and I look forward to it! I'll be sure to keep mah thread updated so you can continue to mostly ignore it :winkgrin:
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_Crimson on April 19, 2013, 06:55:30 PM: If you got a cat you could take photos and attach humorous captions to them!
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on April 19, 2013, 07:01:27 PM: What a great idea! The internet would love me!
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on April 20, 2013, 11:49:21 PM: I did it! Got two gerbils, and they are just the cutest things ever. One is all black and one is tan with a white belly.

The black one is pretty friendly, barely knows me and already getting in my hand. The tan one didn't warm up to me in the hour that I watched and fidgeted with them. They're both pretty active and curious about everything.

I got them in the evening and after poking around the cage, they started shredding paper towels for their "bed". Well, the tan one did, the black one didn't help much. Every once in a while though, he would stuff a big piece of paper towel in his mouth and drag it into the nesting box (where they'll sleep). It was adorable. I aww'd out loud at least once.

Will take some pictures sometime soon, I'm sure you can't wait! :P
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: HogZlla on April 21, 2013, 08:32:12 PM: Quote from: BFM_JANE on April 19, 2013, 02:27:56 PM
I'll be sure to keep mah thread updated so you can continue to mostly ignore it :winkgrin:

(Read 1296 times)

Girls!

:hug:
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_Ben1 on April 21, 2013, 11:15:51 PM: I feel like I didn't know what a snake was before reading this thread! ::)
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on April 21, 2013, 11:54:37 PM: Attention! I've been craving it! :P

Had a scare tonight. I hope he doesn't die :( I always say that, but I really mean it this time!

The snake shed today, he's bright and shiny and very clean. I decided to feed him tonight since he hasn't eaten in two weeks.

I've been feeding him in his regular tub (rather than take him out and feed him in a feeding tub, then put him back in his regular one). I dropped the first one in and he grabbed it and ate it.

When I put the second one in, he missed it and grabbed the washcloth* right next to it, started eating it and working it down. I grabbed him right away, but one has to be careful when trying to get something out of a snake's mouth. They have very thin teeth (mainly used for gripping) and if you pull something out of their mouth (usually a finger), you could pull out a tooth with it. Or fang, whatever they have. Anyway, if a tooth comes out, the hole could get infected and they get sick, and so on.

I wasn't pulling much at all, mostly just taking up the slack, but he wasn't letting go. I brought him to the sink and ran some cold water over his head. He hated it and eventually released the cloth, but it snagged a little on the bottom jaw.

So this is the kind of stress that can make a snake regurgitate. A "regurg" is bad for them, considered to be an emergency situation. It messes up their stomach and it takes a while to get back to normal. If they regurg their next meal, it's really bad.

I'm worried for the little thing, I feel terrible. So far he hasn't thrown up the first mouse (didn't give him the second, even though he really wanted it**) and he's coiled up on the warm side, which is where he should be when he's digesting.

* I put a washcloth in as something in can hide under/in that I can wash if it gets dirty. Not the most aesthetic of snake furniture, but he seems to like it. Maybe too much...

** He was in feeding mode, so when I picked him while tugging on the washcloth he was eating, he started constricting. The upper half of his body around the cloth, the lower half around my thumb and wrist. Even after I got the washcloth out, he was clamped around my thumb and looking for food. He wasn't trying to bite the hand he was wrapped around, but when I used my left hand to try to unwrap him, he opened his mouth and went for me. I was sure this was the day he'd bite me! It was close.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on April 23, 2013, 10:48:07 AM: These little devil rats are startin' to bug me!

They're supposed to nibble on you as they get to know you. I've read that. I've also read that if they bite, you're not supposed to pull your hand away because they figure out that's how to get you to leave them alone.

So I'm letting them nibble on me as long as I can take it (about an eighth of a second), then moving my hand/fingers around to their backs. They turn around to get me again, but eventually give up. But they do intentionally go after my fingers, I can see it. Devils!

Well the brown one bit my finger knuckle and when I pulled my hand away, he didn't let go! There was a little blood. Very little, but still :P

They're constantly moving, unless they're eating or hiding, and only one of those presents an ideal photo opportunity.

(http://i.imgur.com/8FEpwb7.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/t2doy3o.jpg)
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on May 01, 2013, 11:35:34 PM: He bit me!

Not the devil rats, they've gotten past that phase, mostly just casually nibble my fingertips now.

But the snake, he got me and he got me good. It nearly scared me to death. I didn't die, but I made a noise like "erp!" and I jumped big time.

I had just finished feeding him (in his small feeding container) and was putting the hand sanitizer gel on my hands (not to sanitize them, but so they have a strong, repulsive odor that lets little snakes know I'm not a mouse). Moving my hands got his attention and he started coming out of the container to investigate. I didn't want him to fall out or tip the container, but my hands were still really wet from the sanitizer. I put my forearm out for him to lean on, trying to keep my hands as far as I could from him, and before I knew it, he struck and bit me.

Naturally, I took a picture for those with a very morbid curiosity. Fair warning, it's a horrible wound and an awful reminder of what fragile creatures we are. Hug your loved ones tonight.

Click to enlarge IF YOU DARE!

(http://i.imgur.com/YAzWJzW.png) (http://i.imgur.com/mfN8eIm.jpg)

It's disgusting! And I'm not talking about my sparse arm hair, though that's pretty gross too.

Of course I've been waiting for him to bite me, practically daring him to do it. What a thrill!

I have a freckle further down on my arm, but cropped it out, so no visual size comparison. It might be hard to tell how big my injury is in the huge image, but the ~~teeth~~ fang marks are approximately half a centimeter across. I'm lucky to be alive.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: Zeek on May 02, 2013, 07:06:50 PM: well that does look like a major bite. hope it heals fast.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_Crimson on May 02, 2013, 07:23:30 PM: It was nice knowing you.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: MrMxyzptlk on May 03, 2013, 09:31:27 AM: I say that you should bite him back!
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on May 10, 2013, 09:54:28 PM: Nom!

He hasn't killed me yet, and I haven't killed him, so took some pictures:

(http://i.imgur.com/ycsPQV8.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/oPgjyZC.jpg)

And the gerbils are doing well too. The brown one isn't very sociable, but is friendly enough, doesn't like to be handled. I only had to get peed on once to figure that out. :P The black one is pretty awesome and funny. They're both very fast and remind me squirrels.

The brown one's boring, but the black one will hop in my hand and either wait to be lifted or will climb up my arm if I take too long. He'll run around on my legs and up to my shoulders where he'll sit and check things out for a second before running to another perch.

It seems their personal mission is to pee in the exercise wheel as soon as I clean it. :mike:
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: Øụ†₭ąṧ‡ on May 13, 2013, 02:55:49 PM: Are you fattening the gerbs up for the Steve's Thanksgiving Dinner? :siderofl:
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on June 11, 2013, 01:49:59 AM: Since I'm pretty well hooked on snakes, I got two more (ordered online from a breeder, being received later today). I was only going to get one, but the shipping ended up being more than the snake itself, so I got another one to make the shipping worthwhile. That's reasonable, isn't it? :smly_a_wink:

One is a "High White Ultramel Okeetee Corn", otherwise known as a "snake". Babies don't look like much, but the ultramel will look something like this (http://i.imgur.com/L6qSJ2i.jpg) as an adult. Here's the breeder's pic of it:

(http://www.wscornsnakes.com/uploads/5/8/4/2/5842831/5445717_orig.jpg)

The other one is the one I really wanted. It's a miami corn snake, and the perfect adult miami looks like this (http://i.imgur.com/O1nQSSa.jpg). Love those colors, looks like a sunset! It's the silvery background that makes them "perfect" (since usually the background is more tan or orange -- how undesirable), and that's what I'm hoping for in this one:

(http://www.wscornsnakes.com/uploads/5/8/4/2/5842831/9423467_orig.jpg)

They're both female, but I hate calling animals "she", so they'll both either be "it" or "he". Probably "it". :haw:
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on June 11, 2013, 09:53:58 AM: Got the snakes and they are settled in now. And they are so tiny and cute! Maybe a foot long and skinnier than a pencil, with little heads. The pics above make them look huge, but no. Tiny.

The ultramel is definitely the prettier baby with its lighter colors, but they're both really nice looking. Will take some pics next week once they've had a chance to get used to things.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_Ben1 on June 11, 2013, 09:56:23 AM: Jane would you say that snakes require "a lot of work" overall?

Judging from the thread is say yes if course but in a random argument Witt some FreeBSD they said a snake just lies around and feeds it self ;D :winkgrin:
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on June 11, 2013, 10:35:00 AM: They're barely any work at all, once you get everything set up. Get the heat source in and the temperature right, put all the furniture in their enclosure, then dump in a snake. They really do just lie around all the time. Take out their poo twice a week, feed them once a week, hold them for a little while a couple times a week.

I think I said earlier in the thread (if you were READING! ;) ) that they're really low maintenance. Too low, I had to get more, lol.

Also, Witt and FreeBSD? Are you on a phone? :P
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_Ben1 on June 11, 2013, 11:42:23 AM: Quote from: BFM_JANE on June 11, 2013, 10:35:00 AM

They're barely any work at all, once you get everything set up. Get the heat source in and the temperature right, put all the furniture in their enclosure, then dump in a snake. They really do just lie around all the time. Take out their poo twice a week, feed them once a week, hold them for a little while a couple times a week.

I think I said earlier in the thread (if you were READING! ;) ) that they're really low maintenance. Too low, I had to get more, lol.

Also, Witt and FreeBSD? Are you on a phone? :P

Almost tempting me to get one, but i dont really do animals :/

And yea i was on my phone :XD:(edited now!
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on June 12, 2013, 10:57:28 AM: Snakes don't like people, so it'd be perfect! But you're at that age where you could be moving away from home soon, and might not be able to take a long-lived reptile with you. Do continue to enjoy snake ownership vicariously through me :P

I got an order from the mouse company today, bigger food items for the red snake. They have fur on them, poor little mousies. Of course, the best part of the shipment was the dry ice, and I stood over the sink watching it bubble for several minutes until it was all gone. It will be the highlight of my day, I'm sure.

The babies are still hiding, but the miami comes out when it's been dark for a while. Goes back to hiding when I turn on the light. They're so tiny! I'm going to be cutting pinkies in half for a few weeks... gag.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on June 14, 2013, 04:57:46 PM: I held the babies today, they're just so small and pretty! I can't get over it. It's the contrast between the white on them and the color, very striking (snake pun?). The ultramel ran away from me as soon as I took the lid off, but the miami actually investigated my hand until I tried to grab it, then got outta there. Rattled its little tail too, so sweet. Still caught 'em. :evil:

The first feeding day (with me, they've eaten twice before) will be Sunday, where I'll cut a pinky in half lengthwise and let them have one half. That's going to be a mess. They should eat a few small meals at first with me, but surely the breeder doesn't cut mice in half for 1000 baby snakes. I wonder if I can find some really small pinkies in my bag of goodies...

Got a new camera (charging now!) and the pics will still be bad, just easier to take. I've had it with touchscreens, hmpf. Will see if I can get any decent pictures in a few hours.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on June 19, 2013, 11:03:12 PM: Just fed the babies their second meal with me. The ultramel is a good eater, goes right for Mr Mouse and swallows it down. The miami makes me nervous. Stares at it, ignores it for a while, just doesn't seem enthusiastic about it. But after some time alone, the pinky portion is gone, so it's all good in the end.

I tried to take some quick pics while holding them, and that failed. They're really fast and really jumpy. I tried to take some pics of them on their own, and that didn't really work either. The miami was all over the place, couldn't get one. The ultramel sat still for one brief moment and I managed to get a blurry pic. Quarter in there for size, she's so small!

(http://i.imgur.com/3IF1rbv.png)
This was lightened in GIMP because I can't figure out the camera settings yet. Doesn't look too over processed... to me :P
But the snake color is pretty close.

The red snake is "in blue" now, or getting close to shedding. I never really realized how big he was until I held the babies. They're very small, they barely weigh anything, and they're really twitchy, like spiders. The red snake is a bit over two feet, practically weighs a ton, and is nice and calm. He seems enormous to me now, it's funny.

I shouldn't be messing with him when he's like this, but did it anyway. I wanted to get some pictures of him before and after a shed to see how the colors change. He's got the zombie eyes and the overall color is lighter and dusty. He should clear up in a few days before the shed and I'll get more shots then, and get some after the shed when he's really bright. But for now, here's some quickly grabbed ones, just plopped him on the table and got him.

These are with flash, so don't look great. Click for supersized images, in case you wanted to count the scales:

(http://i.imgur.com/zcUJRWt.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/zcUJRWt.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/ijW3As0.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/ijW3As0.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/n3ygH9K.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/n3ygH9K.jpg)

(lol - the camera finds some random focus areas, and it's obvious in the last one)

PS- And the camera = Coolpix S6300 :P
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on June 27, 2013, 10:40:19 PM: The red snake looks the same before and after a shed. Oh well, worth a shot trying the comparisons. Moved him up on food size, to fuzzies. Hopefully put some meat on his bones now.

The ultramel is already getting ready to shed, so no food tonight (or this week). She's a burrower, so I gave her some bedding. I think I like the snakes better on just paper towels, but she likes to stay hidden and buried. Here are a few typical sightings, definitely not a show snake:

(http://i.imgur.com/63YWz2J.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/NhHPGco.jpg)
(Caught her sleeping in this one, you can see her eye rolled up in her head)

The miami is the complete opposite in personality. Always out and about, and she hisses and strikes at me, rattles her tail, and a few times she's crawled right into my hand to investigate, which is not normal.

(http://i.imgur.com/rwqe1X2.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/gshdfNF.png)
(Still a little camera shy)

Had to dig through my bag of pinkies to find and separate the smaller runty ones from the bigger plump ones. Got tired of cutting them in half REALLY fast. That is one unsavory task. Miami's eating as I post, she does not like to be watched while eating. Lame.

/snake update
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on August 31, 2013, 06:03:10 AM: The little miami is 11 grams (up from 8 grams). Still nervous and twitchy, but pretty adventurous. I reached in to get her the other day, and she struck at me, then crawled right into my hand a few seconds later. Silly thing. And she is a poop machine! She goes every 24 hours, where the other two only go once or twice a week.
(http://i.imgur.com/OdaVrDp.png)

_________________

The ultramel is up to 17 grams, from the previous 11 grams. Definitely the prettier snake IMO.
(http://i.imgur.com/zkjIyd9.png)
_________________

The bloodred just shed a week ago, caught him in the act. I'd never touched the shed skin so soon after it's come off, and it was moist. *gag*

I upped his food to fuzzies, and will move to hoppers in a month or two. He grew pretty quickly a since his last shed. He's been going every six weeks since I've had him, but shed in four weeks this time. I don't have his current weight or picture since he most recent shed, but he was 77 grams last time I weighed him. He still looks like this though, this is from a month ago, nice and on display:
(http://i.imgur.com/dTnMa4w.jpg)
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on August 31, 2013, 06:12:54 AM: And while I'm here...

It's feeding day for the ultramel. Much to her displeasure, we watched a movie together earlier and she had to hang around with me for almost an hour. It's good for her. I put her back and went in to feed her a few hours later, and found this. What a mess! I'm sure she did it in protest. No idea how she got the little plastic hide flipped over, and no idea what she was doing in one place for so long.

This is one day after I had to replace the bedding when it all got soaked from the water dish. The downside of using a paper bedding. And having a naughty snake.

(http://i.imgur.com/B8o90jo.jpg)

Order restored:

(http://i.imgur.com/OhyVdxQ.jpg)
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_Crimson on August 31, 2013, 08:25:43 AM: She did make a mess! There's wood shavings everywhere!
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on October 11, 2013, 04:39:55 AM: Look at these babies, how cute:

(http://i.imgur.com/wsxApmL.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/e2b0vZ6.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/MsWCfiV.png)

And do you see that ruler? Got it for a quarter at Walmart after the Back to School sale was over. Do you know how often I use a ruler? Never. I never use rulers. But it was a quarter, how could I pass it up. I have like 15 extension cords for the same reason. "Whoa, only two dollars? Score!"

PS- I'm getting another corn snake. Last one for a while, I swear! Will be here next weekish.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_Kiwi on October 25, 2013, 12:16:08 PM: And it's shatter resistant!
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on October 25, 2013, 04:29:14 PM: It really is! I've been smacking people with it every chance I get. Very sturdy.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on October 27, 2013, 10:22:19 PM: I got that other snake I was talking about. It's a seven year old adult, called an okeetee, and it's enormous. It's female. ;)

She's been mostly hiding since I got her on Tuesday. I took her out to feed her a small meal (she hissed at me a little) and to remind myself what she looked like, which is huge and dark.

I can just barely reach my fingers all the way around her fat body and she feels like she weighs at least two or three pounds. She's a dark brownish red with black outlines around the dark spots on her back. These are the previous owner's pictures and they're flattering -- she's not this red:

(http://i.imgur.com/s4tkX2a.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/r4Ix6Fg.png)

Picking her up is weird and a little awkward. I'm used to the tiny young corns, with their small and smooth scales. This big one, it feels like I'm going to pop the scales off if I move the wrong way.

She only eats every two weeks.

Looking forward to actually handling her, instead of just transporting her from this enclosure to that one and back again. It'll be another week.

So there's that! I have a funny story about her, maybe I'll type it up another day.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_Tails on October 28, 2013, 02:42:50 AM: Wow jane how many snakes do you have?
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_Kiwi on October 30, 2013, 12:53:44 AM: She seems to have a new snake every couple of posts. And there are 86 posts in this thread. So conservatively I'd say she has at least 30 snakes. Gosh, that's a lot of snakes JANE. That puts you in eccentric territory.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on November 01, 2013, 12:10:05 AM: Actually, I got this new one from a lady whose husband "put his foot down" and she ended up having to get rid of half her collection of 61 snakes. Yikes, that's a lot of snakes! I only want one more... Just one more... I think that leaves me in the quirky and only slightly off-putting range. ;)

But I held that big girl today, and she's a BIG snake. I'd say she's close to five feet long and I think my estimate of 2-3 pounds might be low.

She does the same thing as the little ones, trying to burrow into my armpit or under my leg, except she's a lot stronger and can actually fight me pretty well. She got a few inches under my leg and started to use her body to push my leg up. Was succeeding until I rearranged myself.

She's big and pretty awesome. Will take some pictures next time maybe. There's a program online that will give you a length measurement if you take an overhead shot with a ruler in the picture. So gonna do that.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_Exodus on November 15, 2013, 04:26:50 PM: At least the big snake is strong enough to fend off all those terrifying spiders. :)
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on December 05, 2013, 02:11:55 AM: The big one shed today. I figured she would soon, but I was in a picture taking mood yesterday, so these pics show her slightly darker than she is now.

I used a thing online to measure a snake's length. I don't know how accurate it is but I wasn't very good about keeping the measuring line on her spine. I did it once on the full size pic and it said she was 4'6", but when I scaled the image down and did it, it says she's 4'9". I had her stretched out next to me while I was lying down once and she goes from my foot to my shoulder. So if I'm 5'7" and have a normal sized head/neck combo, she's about 4.5 feet long. That's a lot of snake.

(http://i.imgur.com/71ykcaj.jpg)

From this, go on and click it for a full body shot--> (http://i.imgur.com/jqQe2La.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/jqQe2La.jpg)

Snakes are supposed to breathe through their nose, but when they're about to shed, the skin can stuff things up and they sometimes breathe through their mouth. I took a close-up and if you look closely, you can see her vicious fangs. If you look even more closerly (and use your imagination), you can see me lying on the floor taking the picture.

(http://i.imgur.com/HnVo3NV.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/HnVo3NV.jpg)
(I'm sure this pic gets bigger, click it)

I'll add the others another day, they're getting huge. Not five-feet-long huge, but pretty big.

Well, here's a cute little comparison of the miami. She's getting too big for the hides that used to be too big for her. Both of these were taken right after lifting the round hide off her.

(http://i.imgur.com/lZHfdcv.png)
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on December 05, 2013, 02:21:55 AM: Oh, and when the big one poops, it's horrific.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: Goalie on December 20, 2013, 11:47:45 AM: Do you have any ball pythons? I have a few. I'll post pics later if you don't mind.

Hope you're keeping up with SnakeBytes.tv. We saw BHB Reptiles when they were in Chicago for a reptile show. Someone had a big alligator in the lobby!

The biggest problem is that mine aren't shedding properly. I think I need to get a better scratching post for them.
The next biggest problem is that I lose them all the time. I need to put bells on them so I can find them wherever they are in the house. Lost one overnight only to find him a foot away from where I left him. :doh:
Otherwise, I love these ball pythons. They are so full of energy and have such a cute face. Ball pythons would rather curl up into a ball than bite you (hence the name), so they're perfect pets except they are picky eaters. Though for some reason our big guy, Mr. Nibbles :smly_a_wink:, doesn't like my glasses. He's snapped at them three times now, causing me to bleed above my left eye once.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on December 20, 2013, 12:20:22 PM: Hey, would love to see pics! I just have the four corn snakes now.

I've thought a lot about getting a ball python, reading up on their care and stuff, and always decide against it. They need highish steady humidity, they can stop eating for weeks/months at a time, and (worst of all! ;)) even though they have the cutest faces, the rest of their body makes them look like a giant slug. It'd be nice to have something that would just sit with you (people call BPs "lap snakes" lol). These corns don't stop moving when they're out -- unless they're pooping, and then I start moving.

And I do follow Snakebytes, every Wednesday :)
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: Goalie on December 20, 2013, 12:30:18 PM: Mr. Nibbles went into hiding when you called them "giant slugs:"
(http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l357/Dude7581/WP_20131202_001.jpg)

Otherwise he's as happy as Indiana Snake:
(http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l357/Dude7581/WP_20131028_005.jpg)

Our other two, Haku and Rush, acting like a (BFM) Hydra:
(http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l357/Dude7581/WP_20131016_003.jpg)

Rush is my personal computer technician:
(http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l357/Dude7581/WP_20131027_010.jpg)

Mr. Nibbles is from PetSmart, so we don't exactly know what kind he is, but we suspect he's a cinnamon ball (might have some heterozygous genes too). Rush is a Lesser Pastel, and Haku is a Banana.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on December 20, 2013, 12:34:33 PM: Love 'em! I'm going to go research ball pythons again :P
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: Goalie on December 20, 2013, 12:48:18 PM: We've had so much fun with our snakes. We put them in the candy bowl on Halloween. Oddly enough, the princesses wanted to pet him, and the ninjas ran away. :XD:

Keeping the humidity up in the terrariums is hard. Usually an hour after I spray the humidity is gone. Could be our house's humidity is low as well. We're going to get them an automatic mister for Christmas and see how that works.

I've heard the record for a ball python starving is 13 months. Luckily ours only miss a week at most. They are really, really picky what and when they eat. Rush wasn't eating fuzzies, so my stupid self put a large mouse in front of him and he immediately struck it. :doh: I cut the mouse in half for fear of him choking on such a large mouse.
We've had to "assist" them in eating sometimes. Usually they chomp down once they realize there's food in their mouth.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on January 25, 2014, 04:42:01 AM: Some snake head shots. Haven't done the bloodred yet:

(http://i.imgur.com/xD0wo5q.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/phfdjaS.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/devjyCF.png)
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: Taipan™ on February 26, 2014, 02:04:14 AM: You should get a Taipan :P

Seriously though that is pretty cool
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: Āmurs Raganām on September 13, 2015, 10:54:08 PM: What did happen to those serpents of yours Jane; never did post pictures of the blood...
:victory: :bump: :scrim: :wookie:
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on September 15, 2015, 04:02:52 PM: Still snakin'! I haven't really taken any pictures of them in awhile, but they're looking all right and getting bigger. They pretty much look like this:

_

Only bigger and squigglier.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on July 31, 2016, 03:45:44 PM: Did somebody say "updated snake pics"?!

Bloodred: 4 years old, 604 grams
(http://i.imgur.com/VuVCIpZ.png)

Ultramel okeetee: 3 years old, 529 grams
(http://i.imgur.com/g66pG7W.png)

Miami: 3 years old, 493 grams
(http://i.imgur.com/4eH4Z7j.png)

Okeetee: 10 years old, 808 grams
(http://i.imgur.com/woEU1bi.png)
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_Crimson on August 01, 2016, 05:29:20 AM: 2.4 kg of snake!

Your snake photography skills sure have improved!

How long are they? Just ask them to stretch out next to a tape measure.
Title: Re: My pet project
Post by: BFM_JANE on August 02, 2016, 07:44:18 PM: They're three or four feet. One or the other, or somewhere in between. Or a little more or less. Except the big okeetee at the bottom, that one's close to five feet, or so.

Tape measures? Who needs 'em!