LeopardShade
Spotted Shadow
- Messages
- 1,001
- Location
- Western Montana
I am caring for a friend's Ball Python over the summer. He has had this snake for 15+ years and estimates that it is about 17 years old, quite an old snake! He is a Biology teacher, and has kept the snake in his classroom, so it is used to some pretty wild things. During the summer, though, being away from school and all, he cannot care for it as he usually would, and asked if I would watch it over the summer.
Well, I was kind of surprised when I saw the snake's enclosure. The snake alone looked healthy, nice and thick, but there was no hide box! Well, once he left, I made a makeshift hide box out of an old shoebox and placed it in the enclosure and the snake went right in. Also, he did not have a heat source for the python. I am planning on getting it an undertank heater tomorrow, but until then, I am using all I have, a 60w red reptile bulb. I also refilled the water bowl with some water treated with Reptisafe for some nice electrolytes for the new arrival.
He/she (do not know the gender) is the sweetest snake. From having lots of experience with kids handling him/her at school, the snake is very docile and tame. I am told he/she (eh, I'll go with 'he' for now) has never bitten anyone. I handled him for about five minutes while I was making the hide box and he just slithered around slowly, flicking his tongue and investigating his new surroundings.
I would like to think that, by bringing him to a much quieter place, apposed to a classroom where 30 students clamber in 6 times a day, this is sort of a vacation for him. I guess I just have some acclimating questions.
1. The red reptile bulb. Can the snake be hurt by the infrared rays?
2. How long should I wait for the snake to get settled in before I begin offering food?
Thanks for anyone who took the time to read this.
Well, I was kind of surprised when I saw the snake's enclosure. The snake alone looked healthy, nice and thick, but there was no hide box! Well, once he left, I made a makeshift hide box out of an old shoebox and placed it in the enclosure and the snake went right in. Also, he did not have a heat source for the python. I am planning on getting it an undertank heater tomorrow, but until then, I am using all I have, a 60w red reptile bulb. I also refilled the water bowl with some water treated with Reptisafe for some nice electrolytes for the new arrival.
He/she (do not know the gender) is the sweetest snake. From having lots of experience with kids handling him/her at school, the snake is very docile and tame. I am told he/she (eh, I'll go with 'he' for now) has never bitten anyone. I handled him for about five minutes while I was making the hide box and he just slithered around slowly, flicking his tongue and investigating his new surroundings.
I would like to think that, by bringing him to a much quieter place, apposed to a classroom where 30 students clamber in 6 times a day, this is sort of a vacation for him. I guess I just have some acclimating questions.
1. The red reptile bulb. Can the snake be hurt by the infrared rays?
2. How long should I wait for the snake to get settled in before I begin offering food?
Thanks for anyone who took the time to read this.