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Photography / Animal related (non-anthro)
Species Snake / Serpent
Size 960 x 1280
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So the sand boa I had before sadly died suddenly about a month ago. Necropsy at CSU showed hemorrhaging around the heart but that was it. Otherwise she was perfectly healthy and no pathogens were found in the following tests. The vet decided that it must've been a congenital defect that finally caught up to her.
I was really upset since she was finally starting to gain some good size after refusing food for nearly 10 months and I really loved how doofy she was.
So fast forward to tonight and I saw this cutie at the store. They just got her in, previous owner didn't want her anymore. Gorgeous adult female and the lady had been feeding this thing small RATS, when they should only be eating small mice. She's sweet as pie and is just gorgeous so I decided to get her. She was housed with a male so she could be gravid and that could be adding to her chunky appearance. But she's still going to go on a bit of a diet. She's not obese, but she's certainly a little overweight. [you can tell by how her skin folds at the curves]
I think I'm gonna name her Pumpkin or Bratwurst her name is Plumpkin
LEARNING TIME
Despite their name, sand boas should not be kept on sand in captivity. Sand, especially the super fine shit they sell at pet stores, is very bad for their respiratory systems. They can ingest it accidentally and it can become impacted in their gut, it can get into the cloaca and cause an infection, and can cause rapid dehydration and shedding issues. ASPEN should be used with this species as it holds tunnels well and doesn't have nearly as much dust. Still, caution should be taken while feeding. Feeding should not be done on ANY substrate.
"but my snake has been fine on it for x years blah blah blah talkin' out my ass" just because your snake looks fine doesn't mean that the substrate is safe to use. People can smoke for years and they can die of old age before the cigarettes can kill them. It's not worth the risk to your animals life and I'm sure the hefty vet bills of impaction surgery won't make you happy either.
Don't even suggest crushed walnut shells that shit tears them up on the inside and is even worse than sand don't waste your money on it.
"but its what they are on in the wild!" I hate to tell you this, but your animal isn't in the wild. Snakes in the wild have lower life expectancy than ones in captivity for a REASON you dingus.
* The more you know *
I was really upset since she was finally starting to gain some good size after refusing food for nearly 10 months and I really loved how doofy she was.
So fast forward to tonight and I saw this cutie at the store. They just got her in, previous owner didn't want her anymore. Gorgeous adult female and the lady had been feeding this thing small RATS, when they should only be eating small mice. She's sweet as pie and is just gorgeous so I decided to get her. She was housed with a male so she could be gravid and that could be adding to her chunky appearance. But she's still going to go on a bit of a diet. She's not obese, but she's certainly a little overweight. [you can tell by how her skin folds at the curves]
LEARNING TIME
Despite their name, sand boas should not be kept on sand in captivity. Sand, especially the super fine shit they sell at pet stores, is very bad for their respiratory systems. They can ingest it accidentally and it can become impacted in their gut, it can get into the cloaca and cause an infection, and can cause rapid dehydration and shedding issues. ASPEN should be used with this species as it holds tunnels well and doesn't have nearly as much dust. Still, caution should be taken while feeding. Feeding should not be done on ANY substrate.
"but my snake has been fine on it for x years blah blah blah talkin' out my ass" just because your snake looks fine doesn't mean that the substrate is safe to use. People can smoke for years and they can die of old age before the cigarettes can kill them. It's not worth the risk to your animals life and I'm sure the hefty vet bills of impaction surgery won't make you happy either.
Don't even suggest crushed walnut shells that shit tears them up on the inside and is even worse than sand don't waste your money on it.
"but its what they are on in the wild!" I hate to tell you this, but your animal isn't in the wild. Snakes in the wild have lower life expectancy than ones in captivity for a REASON you dingus.
* The more you know *
Category Photography / Animal related (non-anthro)
Species Snake / Serpent
Size 960 x 1280px
File Size 280.4 kB
Listed in Folders
Phew small rats?
You may have to feed her two small mice if she's too used to having a big meal. (My friend's STP always got rabbits and when he switched to rats, he had to give her more at first because she was so used to a bigger meal, she'd get all hissy if she only got one rat)
I can't wait til I get my own. I had a normal female before but my gma accidentally unplugged her heating pad without knowing
You may have to feed her two small mice if she's too used to having a big meal. (My friend's STP always got rabbits and when he switched to rats, he had to give her more at first because she was so used to a bigger meal, she'd get all hissy if she only got one rat)
I can't wait til I get my own. I had a normal female before but my gma accidentally unplugged her heating pad without knowing
Now i know what a sand boa looks like.
Now I have an interesting question to ask. Working at PetSmart we sometimes have snakes which refuse to eat outside their habitat, what would we do then, though we feed them using tongs and thawed pinkies and fuzzies depending if the snake is python or milk snake, if that makes a difference for feeding.
Now I have an interesting question to ask. Working at PetSmart we sometimes have snakes which refuse to eat outside their habitat, what would we do then, though we feed them using tongs and thawed pinkies and fuzzies depending if the snake is python or milk snake, if that makes a difference for feeding.
I don't mean to butt in, but I own several snakes so I can offer you some solid advice on feeding :]
It sounds like your store advocates feeding outside of their enclosures. It's actually better to feed inside their enclosures, as they are often more comfortable there. Snakes like ball pythons can be very shy about feeding, so feeling secure is very important for them. Cage aggression due to feeding in the enclosure is a myth, so there's nothing to worry about there :] Tongs don't make much of a difference, though some snakes prefer their meal to just be left in front of their hide overnight. A couple of my ball pythons prefer eating this way, while some of them will strike when having the prey dangled in front of their face. Every snake is a little bit different and has their own preferences!
It sounds like your store advocates feeding outside of their enclosures. It's actually better to feed inside their enclosures, as they are often more comfortable there. Snakes like ball pythons can be very shy about feeding, so feeling secure is very important for them. Cage aggression due to feeding in the enclosure is a myth, so there's nothing to worry about there :] Tongs don't make much of a difference, though some snakes prefer their meal to just be left in front of their hide overnight. A couple of my ball pythons prefer eating this way, while some of them will strike when having the prey dangled in front of their face. Every snake is a little bit different and has their own preferences!
Yeah, that is what we have had to do most of the time, and I appreciate the info because while it is store policy they do give us some leeway so I will have to try leaving there for a while as the feeding instructions doesn't specify if it to be tangled or left there.
Also I noticed that there are a lot of different pieces of information that people have on it, and while there is definitely wrong ways, I don't think there is one single right way.
Also, thank you very much.
Also I noticed that there are a lot of different pieces of information that people have on it, and while there is definitely wrong ways, I don't think there is one single right way.
Also, thank you very much.
Hopefully your store allows you guys to fix some of the issues a lot of big chain stores have! I have a couple of petsmart ball pythons I ended up with that, unfortunately, were in pretty bad condition :c It's refreshing to see someone who cares about the animals though!
There is a lot of different info out there, but most experienced keepers can agree on a few bits of it haha :] You are right though, often there is no one correct way.
You're very welcome!
There is a lot of different info out there, but most experienced keepers can agree on a few bits of it haha :] You are right though, often there is no one correct way.
You're very welcome!
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