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BP Question

I think he looks pretty and the set up should serve him well. The only issue is aspen. That really needs to go. It just stays far to dry and can be an irritant.

You may want to mist him a bit and that will raise the humidity and make he shed go a bit easier.
 
Would Repti Bark be alright? I have some on hand. If not I'll look into coco fiber dirt or anything else that you suggest. And I still have plenty of newspaper and paper towels stored away that could serve as substrate in a pinch. Does aspen irritate corns as well?

I've covered the tank with a blanket and am going to leave him in peace a couple days and then check back, and mist if needed. Since it's summer and since Sterilite containers aren't quite as well ventilated as a screen-topped aquarium, the humidity tends to stay well above 70%.
 
Repti bark is not bad, crypress is ideal, and the coco husk is pretty darn good as well. Paper towel and newspaper are both good options for now. Paper towels don't really let them burrow, but they can keep the humidity up for you.

Aspen is perfect for corn snakes! It's by far the most favored bedding for them. It just does not work very well for BPs.

If the tank is stay above 70% that's good. Aspen just tends to mold faster in higher humidity. Maybe wait till after your little guy sheds, then change the substrate. A misting here and there will help the shed go well.
 
Yep and some bp have sensitive bellys and the aspen can irritate and make them red. I had a milk snake that was allergic to aspen. Poor things belly turned bright red. Took him to the vet and changed his substrate.

Our bp love the coconut husk. Harley will dig under her hide and make a hole under it. He is a nut tho lol. We use it for all our ball pythons, our hog island boa and for our spotted python.
 
The technique in the video works for corns also. I'd imagine you could adapt it for most any snake, it's just redirection. Being comfortable/confident while handling them makes a big difference also, as any animal will feed of it's keeper's nervousness or hesitation...

Did not know that about aspen and bp's, thanks for the tip ladies :)
 
chris68 said:
The technique in the video works for corns also. I'd imagine you could adapt it for most any snake, it's just redirection. Being comfortable/confident while handling them makes a big difference also, as any animal will feed of it's keeper's nervousness or hesitation...

Did not know that about aspen and bp's, thanks for the tip ladies :)
Click to expand...

I finally went out and bought a good pair of gloves, which makes me feel much more confident now when I'm handling him. I realize that getting bitten is part of having reptiles--shoot, it's part of having most any kind of pet: my elderly female chihuahua is quite moody and can be a nipper, and I've been attacked by some less-than-friendly cats over the years. Still, I want to avoid being bitten if possible.

No shed yet today, held him briefly and he was well-behaved except for a couple nips. No shed as of yet.
 
Just wanted to thank everyone for their advice a while back. Part of the problem was I was way too busy through the summer to handle my bp much. I've been handling more regularly, and following the method in this video for handling snappy balls...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7DQssbM0uk

It's really working for me, and I'm seeing gradual improvement. When my ball gets aggressive and tries to bite I cup my free hand over it, rub its head and show it I'm not backing off, and that I'm not going to hurt it. The last few times I've handled the snake the strikes have been fewer, and I'd just hold and pet it, cupping it in my hand as I watched TV and letting it calm down. The last two days I've handled my bp WITHOUT being struck at. That's a big deal for me. I'm starting to have some hope, and I actually enjoy handling my little rascal now. It's growing too, going on 2 feet long and gaining girth. Thanks again! I recommend this video for anyone with a problem snake.

He's also graduated from fuzzies to small adult mice. Maybe he wasn't getting enough food to keep him happy. Eats very well.
 
Glad you got a good eater! Also glad to hear that he didn't strike at you the last two handlings! Hopefully he continues to improve!

And since I didn't see the post a few months back..
I keep Ramesses on aspen... no bad sheds, no wheezing.. which he had a lot of when on the cypress, he also got the flakey red belly while on that. I think it is interesting to hear all the different experiences everyone has with bedding/ball issues. Are substrate allergies common with balls?
 
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