5 Unexpected Things I Discovered after Adopting a Ball Python

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Here are 5 things that took me completely by surprise when first adopted my ball python (aka royal python aka python regius). No amount of care guides, forums and RU-vid videos prepared me for these aspects of python ownership - so if you also have one, I would be very curious to hear if you have made similar observations or if my snake is just a total weirdo. Also you might notice that her terrarium changes from a small glass terrarium to a much bigger OSB terrarium in some of the footage. If you are interested in seeing how I upgraded her into this larger terrarium, stay tuned because I will be posting a video on it soon.
The 5 categories in this video are (if you want to spoil it for yourself):
1. Squishiness ( I assume not everyone's snake is this squishy )
2. Ability to make themselves really flat
3. Obsession with the Outside World
4. Spatial Memory
5. High Activity Level (I assume there is variation in activity level between different individuals)
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Links to Studies to improve your snake keeping:
Spatial considerations for captive snakes aka why you shouldn't keep your snake in a tiny tub:
www.researchgate.net/publicat...
UVB guide (both my corn snake and my python get UVB lighting):
www.amphibianark.org/wp-conte...
The spatial learning studies:
www.researchgate.net/publicat...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10053...
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Music used (in order of appearance):
Electric Love by Marina (go follow her on soundcloud!):
soundcloud.app.goo.gl/qoFjk
Sailing - Delicate Steve
Hulu Ukulele - Chris Haugen
Bonfire - An Joe
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Social Media Links:
Twitter:
/ catharticoutlet
Instagram (I barely use it, awful website):
/ cathartic.o. .
Redbubble (you can buy my art here):
www.redbubble.com/people/cath...

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Опубликовано:

25 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 146

@CatharticOutlet 2 года назад

Apologies to all French speakers for misspelling moelleuse! By the way, the ball python terrarium upgrade video is out, if anyone is interested you can watch it here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TnbTi2KNnq0.html (can I even link to a video in a comment?)

@MrIzzy11B Год назад

You have no idea how great it is to see your snake have an actual enclosure that is more than a shoebox thank you for doing your research the hobby sickens me anymore with how people treat these snakes

@CatharticOutlet Год назад

Thanks! I am also at odds with the hobby. The standards are so low, and they are so normalized - it's shocking...

@briangusak6445 10 месяцев назад

Refrigerators emit heat while cooling their contents. The space underneath attracts most snakes because they can sense the temperature difference.

@amyluvs3021 2 года назад

"let the snoot boop you" my favorite! Love how she sits at the open window. What a lucky snake to have such space to wander. You are a loving mama.

@sielsm3743 2 года назад

I love this video so much, i just got my first ball python today and i showed this video to my dad who doesn’t know much about snakes and he was so fascinated.

@CatharticOutlet 2 года назад

Happy to hear he found it interesting! Best of luck with your new snake :)

@gerald4055 2 года назад

When given the opportunity, most if not all my royals love to explore. They’re not pet rocks! Great video, thank you🙂

@CatharticOutlet 2 года назад

Thank you, glad you liked it!

@nicf8407 2 года назад

Love how you have observed your snakes behaviour and letting him explore, we have 2 young ball pythons and both are very active in the evening and I’ve noticed more so in winter now the nights are longer. They are to small to really let the wonder about the house much, I’m worried I’d loose them to a hiding place I never knew existed

@CatharticOutlet 2 года назад

Nice! If you want to let your small snakes roam around safely you can use a portable animal play pen - like the kind they use for kittens or puppies. They are quite cheap but spacious and are made of mesh that is snake proof. You can put hides and things to explore inside. I use it for my corn snake because she is too small to roam my apartment.

@nicf8407 2 года назад

@@CatharticOutlet I’d spotted another channel that does this, thank you it’s a great idea

@hurlrules1 11 месяцев назад

@CatharticOutlet I'm curious about how big of prey that you feed your ball python also what does she weigh if you have weighed her that is the guy on green room pythons says that he feeds every 2 weeks and its a small rat @ 40 to 60 grams online it says that at 900 grams ball python weight and 3 years of age it should be 1 medium rat or 2 90 to 150 gram at 14 to 21 day feeding cycle you mentioned every 3 weeks but thats probably because of her being overweight as you mentioned in one of your videos anyways looking forward to your reply

@jantje155 10 месяцев назад

@@hurlrules1 have you watched Green Room Pythons' video that is specifically about feeding? He has one that is quite detailed and gives good guidelines on how much at what size. Of course it also really depends on your snake. Basically if your snake is still very small (hatchling) feed once a week at 10% of your snake's body weight, after a couple months you can switch to a prey item that's about as thick as your snake and possibly once every 2 weeks. Still, I'd recommend watching his feeding video.

@emexdizzy 2 года назад

The flattening because of the nature of the ribs makes an enormous amount of sense. As an artist, having studied snake skeletons for the fantastic monsters I draw, that doesn't surprise me whatsoever given how their bones and muscles connect.

@CatharticOutlet 2 года назад

oh that sounds like a fun subject matter! Studying real animal anatomy can really elevate fantasy creature designs imo I'd really like to try drawing snakes and snake like things at some point as well!

@xwonderxnotesxx 5 дней назад

I love that she gazes out at the world. It’s majestic. Like she’s taking in the beauty.

@williamwilcox794 Год назад

My snake looks into my eyes. I think he is saying "wow isn't that cool!" I tell him yes caution it is cool. It's called para scoping when he stands up. It's to look around better. I'm fascinated by becoming aware how intelligent he is. All you described is normal behavior

@kylebieth3678 6 месяцев назад

My mom recently visited and i introduced her her to my 2 male BPs. She said the thing that surprised her the most was how soft they were. I'm going to update this as i progress through. Your commentary about the socioeconomic climate has me dead😂. I wished mine were that interested in outside, that's so cool!

@barracudauk7933 2 года назад

Thank you. RU-vid is full of videos from people who keep BP's in a tiny box and think they have something to tell people. Lovely snake and fantastic owner.

@CatharticOutlet 2 года назад

Thanks! I agree, the prevalence of rack keeping in the hobby really bothers me, especially when people attempt to justify keeping snakes that way with pseudoscientific husbandry myths while ignoring actual scientific evidence.

@izchildress Год назад

This is the first time I’ve ever found myself savoring every word spoken in a video. Your commentary is incredibly enjoyable and your knowledge and sly jokes make me smile :)

@CatharticOutlet Год назад

Aw, thank you so much for your kind comment! Very happy to hear you enjoyed my commentary :)

@koiffeedraws2431 9 месяцев назад

Just wanted to come in here and say that I watched your videos on repeat for MONTHS while preparing to get my ball python; it's so nice to see how well you care for your snakes, and so entertaining and interesting to have your insight on their behaviour and care while I continued to do my research on them

@CatharticOutlet 9 месяцев назад

Thanks so much for such a lovely comment! I love when people share their own observations and experiences with their snakes with me, it’s one of my favorite types of feedback. I’m also happy to hear you enjoy my content. Sounds like you and your python are off to a great start! Just goes to show how taking your time to research and prepare for a pet can really pay off! Wishing you and your snake all the best :)

@sauros1 7 месяцев назад

I had a ball python about 15 years ago and regrettably I did not do enough to ensure that his temperature and humidity requirements were being met and he was very much a pet rock. I felt very conscious about this and ultimately gave him away to a better home as I wasn't able to give him the attention he needed. Fast forward to today and I wanted to give it another try. I'm doing a much better job this time around meeting the needs of my new ball python and his behavior shows it. He's very active and curious and loves leaving his enclosure and being held. Some people say that snakes don't get bored, but I must strongly disagree.

@eisangel Год назад

I'm so glad I found your channel. This is a great video. Some of my royals are also very active and curious. Love to explore,roam, climb and investigate. A couple of mine like to hang out beside me and watch TV or watch me play games. Most will look for me, as in checking where I am, and coming towards me when they find me. I have a large kitchen counter and a large kitchen island. I will often let them (one at a time) roam either the counter or island when I'm doing dishes, making food or unpacking groceries. That way I can get stuff done but still keep am eye on them. So as they explore and I move around for kitchen, I've noticed they will periodically look for me and stay still until they locate me, and either come closer or resume exploring I also noticed that they will return to a favorite place all the time, and can be stubborn when you try to redirect. They are smart and learn fast. I was surprised at my first one, who I kept in my bedroom at my parents house. I would let him come out of his enclosure and onto my bed. He was too small to let roam freely, so when he got to the edge of the bed and attempted to climb down, I would gently Tapp his body twice and the pick hi up and move him back from the edge. It didn't take long for him to move away from the edge by himself as soon as I tapped him. They are fascinating, beautiful, gentle creatures. And each come with a very unique and individual personality. I love seeing their personalities come out as soon as they feel secure and confident that you won't harm them. It's the best feeling in the world when my snakes show by their behavior that they trust me and that I am a safe spot for them

@CatharticOutlet Год назад

That is amazing! Your snakes are lucky to have such a caring owner :) What I have noticed based on other people's comments is that some people, like you, have snakes that actively interact with them, while others, like me, have snakes that are indifferent to their presence and merely tolerate them. This indifference might be because I adopted my snake as an adult and she didn't have the best care beforehand, or it may just be her natural personality. Also very interesting to read how you were able to train your snake through tapping. I am currently trying to target train my ball python but the progress has been quite slow so far.

@triggerhappynumskull 6 месяцев назад

Can't attest to spacial memory since I live in a shared home in which my housemates may not appreciate a free roaming snake. But I've always noticed my BP has always been far more inquisitive and active during handling and supervised roaming then any online forums or reputation has given the species credit for. I has some friends over for D&D yesterday and had her out for a handling session she was happy as Larry scooting around from person to person over the table, using people as a climbing frame and scoping out the living room. This is an excellent video and I will in future be referring people to it who are interested in owning BPs going forward 😊

@VioletteDream 2 года назад

I've only had my juvenile ball python for a few weeks, but I have noticed that he likes to explore and seldom stays stationary during handling. I wasn't sure if he would mellow out as he got older or not, but so far I'm really surprised with how active he is!

@CatharticOutlet 2 года назад

That's the cool thing about juveniles - you get to follow their development! Maybe he will mellow out a bit but I think if the animal is regularly provided the opportunity to roam around it will keep doing so even in adulthood. Mine also rarely stays stationary during handling.

@goldenhate6649 Год назад

@@CatharticOutlet I know I am a little late to the party, but wanted to comment on the climbing behavior. Ball pythons historically were thought to be purely terrestrial and fossorial, but thats not actually true. During the wet season in africa it is extremely common to see ball pythons high in the trees. As for the night time behavior, unlike lizards that are active all day, many species snakes are very active at dawn and dusk.

@BrayanR918 2 года назад

Many of the behaviors you noted i’ve also found in my 1.5 year old female ball python: Dufresne. Having had her in my college dorm she loved going straight to my rooms window and looking outside. She seemed to enjoy scenting the air and i also thought perhaps the smells are more stimulating. I was also impressed by their spatial awareness and memory. While wandering around she managed to squeeze under my wardrobe once. An incredible feat by itself since the space is much smaller than the size of her body. Since then she knew the exact path to get to that space. And often i would find her under the wardrobe afterwards. The first time she did this i was so worried because I couldn’t find her anywhere. I frantically searched my whole room turning everything inside out. After making so much noise and vibration she finally poked her head out from under the wardrobe to see what all the commotion was. She also enjoyed extending her body out fully on top of the rooms heater and often would climb up to it if given the chance. Another thing i found interesting was her interest in climbing up things and hanging out at a higher level. I had heard for the most part they were terrestrial snakes and sometimes were semi arboreal. But i found that if given the opportunity, Dufresne actually preferred being high up off the ground. She was perfectly adept at climbing up almost anything and did so with ease. Being able to accurately gauge the distance she could stretch her body and securely latch on to something. Which was impressive given she was rapidly growing and would progressively climb higher and more difficult obstacles. Lastly, the most unexpected thing I found about Dufresne was her interest in my self. When left to wander she preferred reaching a place where she could have a steady line of sight with myself. I think given that I was the only other animal in the room, she showed some general interest in observing what it was that I was doing. If i made a barrier between her and I, such as piling up blankets. She would quickly stand her body up tall vertically so she could see what it was I doing. I often would play video games at my desk and turn around just to see Dufresne standing up very tall on the bed to get a good look at what I was up to. After hearing so much about ball pythons being living rocks or being one of the dumbest reptiles in the animal kingdom. I was surprised by their ‘personality’ as snakes. They are curious, adventurous, explorers, that often exhibit a stubborn nature. They have excellent short term spatial memory. If Dufresne wanted to go somewhere there was almost no way of discouraging her from doing so. Turning her around, picking her up and moving myself around, or even creating a large blanket nest. She could always get out and find her bearings and begin moving to where she initially wanted. All these things surprised me so much as a first time reptile owner. Caring for Dufresne has been a stimulating and rewarding experience. They have such gentle demeanors and the thought they could be aggressive is out of the question. Balls appearing to be aggressive must either be very stressed or scared. I had often wandered if the traits my Dufresne exhibited were unique or if other BP owners never gave their snake the chance to be stimulated enough to display their curious and exploratory characteristics. Easily one of the best pets someone can have given the proper care and stimulation. I really enjoyed your video and love your slithery friend. :)

@CatharticOutlet 2 года назад

Thank you for your lovely comment! It's great to know that there are others with similar experiences, and you seem to have a great relationship with your snake :) I agree, letting a snake roam around can be quite eventful. Apart from getting under the fridge, mine also found her way into the machinery of my washing machine once (I didn't know it was open at the base so I didn't supervise her as closely as I should have), which was super scary! All I could do was wait until she decided she was done and come back out, which she did after an hour or so. I agree that people in the hobby don't really mention just how well ball pythons can climb. There is actually evidence from studies on wild pythons showing that in some cases, the majority of their prey items were birds they caught through arboreal hunting. And yes, I can confirm that the stubbornness is real! When she would reach a place she wasn't supposed to be at, such as the fridge or the edge of the balcony, I would pick her up and put her somewhere else, just for her to make her way back to where she originally wanted to go. This could go on for hours, and even if I put her in a different room she would still find her way back. It's very fascinating to read about your snake's interest in you! Mine does not seem to care much for me. She tolerates me and doesn't mind being handled, but I never noticed her observing what I was doing. I am wondering if that may be because I adopted her as a four-year-old adult snake who had not been cared for appropriately for most of her life and had been passed from one owner to another. I recently listened to a podcast about reptile learning that mentioned how younger animals are very adaptable, and how many animals end up developmentally and behaviourally stunted when kept in sub-par conditions with no stimulation their entire life. Perhaps building a positive relationship with one's snake and providing them with enrichment from early on allows them to "bond" with their owner and display a wider range of behaviours. I think this may still be possible for adults but it probably takes a lot longer... Also, your snake has a really interesting name. Did you name her after the French director? Mine actually has a French name as well lol (I adopted her in France)

@BrayanR918 2 года назад

@@CatharticOutlet Thank you for the kinds words! I would definitely freak out if Dufresne got into the washing machine too. It's really interesting to hear wild pythons eat birds so often. No wonder my BP loves heights. It's also hilarious to hear your snake is as stubborn as mine, haha. I was starting to think only Dufresne did that. And yes! They really can keep attempting to go to the same spot for hours on end. Also, it sucks to hear your snake wasn't receiving the proper care prior to your ownership :( . It always boggles my mind how quickly people are willing to own a snake without the proper knowledge of their needs and life span. But at least she's in good hands now. I got Dufresne when she was only a couple weeks old. My bonding time would usually be taking a daily nap with her in college. After so many naps I think she just associated nap time as being a nice warm hiding spot. I think that may be why she watches me often, she thinks of me as being a hiding spot. And as we both know, they love going to their hiding spots. It did take weeks before she didn't slide out of the blankets after I had actually fallen asleep though. And that podcast sounds fascinating, you should share the title of it. And yes her name is French but I did not name her after the French director. I named her after the main character in Stephen King's Shawshank Redemption: Andy Dufresne. As I thought it was kind of funny seeing as how they're both kept in captivity. And that they both seem to have escape on their minds. Also I am just a big fan of the novel and Stephen King. What is your python's name by the way? I don't think I caught that in the video.

@CatharticOutlet 2 года назад

@@BrayanR918 Yes, as I am fairly new to the reptile hobby I was really surprised at how low the standards are. Not only regarding what kind of care many breeders and pet stores promote as "acceptable" (which is often insufficient or the bare minimum in my option), but also how many private snake owners keep their animals, which is often even worse. The podcast I can recommend is called "Animals at Home". They are also on RU-vid. The episode I was referring to is called "Do Reptiles have Emotional Intelligence?", and a more concise video on the subject called "Do reptiles have emotions?" can be found on the HerpHQ channel. I also recommend checking out Lori Torrini's channel if you're interested in how you can train snakes. I've been trying to target train mine (with mixed success) and it's quite entertaining. It's great that you were able to bond so successfully with Dufresne! I didn't even make the connection to the Shawshank Redemption! It's been a few years since I last watched the film... and never read the book... but that definitely makes more sense and seems like a fitting name for an active python. I didn't state my python's name in the video, but her original name was Bobette (French feminine version of Bob). I gave her a second name based on one of my research organisms (which I won't disclose because I like to keep my professional life out of RU-vid) but now she has a "fancy" double name. Interestingly, a few months after I upgraded her to her current terrarium she actually calmed down substantially. She will still go on a rampage around my apartment occasionally, but it seems like giving her a terrarium with ample space and multiple hiding spots to choose from reduced her desire to get out constantly. When she does go roaming it seems to be when she is ready for her next meal and wants to go "hunting".

@christiancroom3386 2 года назад

Really depends on comfort level and individual. My little pascal loves snoot boops and give boops by bumping his snout against me. He is rather adorable

@CatharticOutlet 2 года назад

That does sound adorable!

@skullboy6981 Год назад

My ball python learnt my room after his first adveture in it and goes to the same hiding place aswell

@jredmane 7 месяцев назад

Yes, my Henry boy (sub adult male bp) has a super squishy head! Also, yes, he can flatten and squeeze through surprisingly small spaces. My Henry is not at all interested in outside windows tho. He loves to be inside small spaces. I also can't let him free-roam because of this, so I don't know if he has good spatial memory. Henry is definitely a pet rock tho. Or maybe just a cuddler. He loves to sit on a human while said human is chilling, reading, or napping.

@technocheese1102 8 месяцев назад

My male ball python, Saffron, is incredibly active and spends a good chunk of his time climbing. He's currently in a 4 x 2 x 2 ft, but even that isn't big enough for his activity level and I'm building him a 6 x 2 x 3.5 or 5 x 2 x 4 (Still working out logistics) as soon as I finish this semester of college in a few weeks. He is quite the escape artist, and almost every time he gets out (Way less frequent since he was moved to his new enclosure but I have a crazy cat that loves to rip the door from the enclosure when she's demanding to be fed), I find him in the highest level of my hall closet. If I were blind, I might think he were a carpet python with how he acts. He's incredibly bold and never acts stressed when faced with new surroundings, which I always find incredibly surprising. He even took the first rat I offered him only 1 - 3 days after He arrived 4-5 years ago, and he's only missed a handful of meals (After striking the rat as usual), probably just because he wasn't hungry enough. I call him my little outlier, but more and more people report this to be their norm as of late, which is great. Great video!

@CatharticOutlet 7 месяцев назад

Saffron is an awesome name for a snake! There is actually a fairly obscure but interesting study on over 1000 wild ball pythons that showed that it is actually quite common for males and juveniles to climb. They even found pythons in trees as high up as 7 meters (like 23 feet). My snake also loves climbing to the top of closets and shelving units. It's so funny to see her little head staring down at me from up there! Anyway, thanks for your comment and I'm glad you liked the video :)

@technocheese1102 7 месяцев назад

@@CatharticOutlet Awesome, and no problem!

@v-vettavetta 10 месяцев назад

I love how she sits up to look outside that’s just so beautiful to see ❤ I’m getting my first ball and I just can’t wait to see his personality bloom

@ClevelandTaylor-bh4hz 9 месяцев назад

When are u getting urs i might get one next week

@v-vettavetta 7 месяцев назад

@@ClevelandTaylor-bh4hz sorry I just saw this, I got mine about a week after this post. He’s such a little trooper. He’s still a baby and puts up with handling and is actually pretty bold. Did you end up getting one?

@prismagaming6016 Год назад

My oldest ball python at a year old likes to randomly explore from midnight to 3 am. And every time I open the door he's like, for me?

@CatharticOutlet Год назад

Interesting, mine is most active from like 7PM (when her lilghts turn off) to around 1 AM. According to scientific studies, wild ball python peak activity is actually earlier in the evening, but I think my snake's rhythm might be shifted because I have the lights on in my apartment at night.

@breadvidz8542 Год назад

I also have noticed that if i give my ball python the opportunity to climb or explore he will do so. Mine so far has been very explorey.

@snakesandpsychology Год назад

Wow that's a lovely vivarium :)

@hmgrossman3287 Год назад

I’ve kept ball pythons for a long time. I’ve seen all of this. The squishy is a direct thing with weight. Just like people. Typically they will get muscular but the skin stays loose. It’s kind of a cool feeling too. I wish I could remember the paper but there is some research supporting a lot of this but most interestingly the enrichment and space to lead to a “smarter” and more active animal. Mine have always periodically basked with UV and reptile eyes see uv light so things will look different in natural sunlight than in the house. It tends to make my little lady more nervous but she does bask a couple hours a week in her enclose. Also under the fridge is the most common found location for “I lost my ball python”. She is perfectly normal. Thanks for sharing your experience with these commonly overlooked but amazing pets.

@rickcates4614 Год назад

I have a rescued ball python as well. He looks just like her and literally acts the same way. My girl and I was wondering if all ball pythons act like this. Funny thing is we were told he was surrendered over due to be aggressive. My girl was the first to hold him. He immediately wrapped up on her arm and peed all over the counter. The place we got him from told us yep that's our snake. Never once has he been aggressive.

@CatharticOutlet Год назад

Glad that you were able to give your snake a good new home!

@majinzor Год назад

My BP is hyper then i take her out but only if i keep her in my apartment. If i take her outdoor she becomes very shy and seeks comforts, like sticking her head inside my hand! Kinda cute then she does that.

@CatharticOutlet Год назад

Interesting, maybe she feels too exposed out in the open? What I sometimes do if I let my python out on the balcony is put some plastic hides, boxes or upside-down flower pots in her space so she can hide in them if she wants.

@linda3482 Год назад

Welkome to the world of ball python keepers. To know them is to love them. If you ever decide to get a second one you will notice that they all have their own personality. I have two who think they are tree pythons, climbing the whole night up and down till daybreak. I have ball pythons that even in a big terrarium don't get further than from the warm hide to the cold hide. Some love to come out and explore and are wating for you to give them so freedom , some prefere to be left alone. Almost al like to observe the world and stick their head out of their hide in the evening, but others want to see all the action. But all are way better pets and deserve more love and respect than they usually get. Because no matter what character your ball python has, they are all great creatures .

@CatharticOutlet Год назад

Well, said! I totally agree with you on the last part, ball pythons deserve so much more!

@shadedamarion Год назад

I'm a new keeper to a beating purple passion and I let her out as often as possible I just love watching her move around but my place isn't very snake proof (yet) but she does have a puppy pen full of enrichment that I can secure her in while I care for her cage. Watching yours move around has given me a bit more comfort on letting mine free roam more! Ty!

@CatharticOutlet Год назад

Nice, best of luck with your new python! I use a similar set up for my corn snake, as she is too small to safely roam around in my apartment.

@LuciBriggsMusic Год назад

I take my ball pythons for walks when I walk my dog.

@CatharticOutlet Год назад

nice!

@annaseno Год назад

Great video! I have observed many of the same behaviors in my one year-old ball python. He is one year old and he seems to become more active by the day. I initially thought he was stressed, but just like you said, he eats well and sheds well. I just have an active climber/explorer, I guess.

@SEXgoddess. Год назад

This is one of the cutest things ever

@avaogara Год назад

yes got to supervise her.she probley feels heat from refrigerator I love watching Bobette.im starting to gather my snake sply.deco..looking for a 2nd hand enclosure front opening keep up the snake videos good job

@DarkWidget 2 года назад

I've had ball python for about 15 years and researched them extensively during these years. The activity level seems to be hugely attributed to their care. Ie, people who care poorly for their animals will generally have a "stone frog" while people who take care of them well have more active, curious and less stressed snakes. And by "poor care" I mean things like bad heating, small tubs, no interaction, an empty enclosure and even UVB light because yes, alot of people have noticed that their animals seem to thrive more with UVB despite them surviving without it. Enrichment is huge for them and goes along with your points about spatial memory, try moving some stuff around in her terrarium or even put something random in there like a dog toy (just make sure she doesn't get stuck) and you'll see her go ham untill she's done discovering it :D Which brings me to why your snake might be interested in the outdoors, because the outdoors provide both UVB and the healthy IR-A and B. With that being said, I'm not at all claiming you're taking poor care of her, quite the opposite she seems to thrive more than most snakes! Also all snakes are individuals, believe it or not. So even with the proper care there will be differences in activity level. Also I saw you attributing her activity to her being hungry, that's interestingly enough alot less likely. Pretty much all snakes that eat live food are ambush hunters, they lie still and wait for their pray to approach them. Sometimes, ofc, they move and try to new huntinggrounds but.. Do you notice how slow they are moving? Trust me, they are not chasing mice and rats moving like that! 😂 But hopefully that brings some clarity to your questions :D

@CatharticOutlet 2 года назад

Thanks for another insightful comment! I agree that enrichment is super important and will continue to provide new things for her (currently trying to install more branches for climbing, unfortunately she is a bit too chunky for most dog toys). As this video is a few months old at this point, my observations have changed slightly since then. For one, the snake has calmed down quite substantially, to the point where she goes on rampages around once a month or so as opposed to almost every day. I interpret this as a good sign because that means she is satisfied with her set up. Looking back, one theory for her high level of activity was disatisfaction with her enclosure similar to what you are suggesting- the thermal gradient/spatial requirements were not ideal for the first few months that I had her as I was unable to upgrade her terrarium because I had not officially adopted her at that point. The old terrarium was way too small and the main source of heat was a small heat mat. She was also quite active for the first few weeks after getting upgraded into her larger enclosure, probably because it was new for her and it took me a while to get the heating right. I do think hunger was also playing a role in her activity level, as she refused to eat for the first three months I had her due to stress, so I ended up waiting longer and longer before trying to feed her again. At one point I was feeding a mouse to the corn snake while the python was out and about and I saw the way she reacted and moved towards the scent, so I tried giving her a rat, which she took. After she had finally eaten she was calm for two weeks (which had never happened before until then), and she hasn't missed a meal since. Nowadays, when she is hungry she will go into an ambush position in her terrarium, but I'm fairly certain she would go roaming around again if the hunger is strong enough (not that I am planning to let her get to that stage).

@DarkWidget 2 года назад

@@CatharticOutlet No worries! :D Regarding enrichment and dogtoys, yes she's abit too thicc for that but honestly, I placed a saucepan (cleaned ofc) with abit of damp substrate in it, and it might have been his discovery of a century! XD He spent an amusing amount of time researching that pan, checking it out, being curious and all of that. As you pointed out, the spatial memory seem amazing, try just switching a few branches around when she's asleep and hiding and see what she does, pretty much anything seems to spark curiosity which to me looks like a healthy sign. I mean, no stressed reptile would suddenly start investigating things right? Interesting point yes, she might have been looking for "a new place to call home"! However mistreated snakes rarely do this, they just seem to grow contempt rather than active. 🤔 But yes, if it's just the heating (different IR gradients or UV) then that might be possible I suppose.. Interesting 🤔🤔 Yes, I mean hunger usually does play some role in everything I suppose I mean, that's what their life is about in the wild. But you mentioned she hiding under the fridge, that might be a good example of "looking for new hunting grounds". In the wild, if the old place seems dead regarding food then yes, of course they will try to find a new spot. However I do think I see alot of curiosity comming from them. I realize I might just be anthropomorphizing but to me it doesn't make sense that they would headbutt and slither around on something that might potentially be dangerous when they discover something new, unless it had to do with curiosity rather than just survival instinct, am I making sense?

@CatharticOutlet 2 года назад

@@DarkWidget Sorry for the late response, things go a bit busy recently... I actually observed something similar with my snake! I use a plasic bowl to mix coconut fibre substrate with water to make it damp, and when I left that bowl out in front of her enclosure with a bit of substrate still inside, she became very interested in it and kept "sniffing around" it! Maybe I should leave that bowl out for her again. What you say makes sense. Now that I think about it, in the case of my snake her activitiy level may be a mix of curiosity (like when I open a window she likes sticking her head out to smell the outside world) and comfort. Because I let her out so often, I think she sees my appartment as her "habitat" with a selection of hiding spots to choose from. Sometimes it seems she will decide she wants to spend time in one of the places she remembers, such as my bookshelf, so she will want me to let her out of her enclosure, so she can access the preferred hiding spot and continue chilling there. Often she will remain stationary for a few hours once she arrived at her destination.

@DarkWidget 2 года назад

@@CatharticOutlet Haha all is fine! Exactly! Probably doesn't have to be a substrate bowl, I'm pretty sure they'll be curious about literally anything just make sure it's safe in all aspects! Yea i recently got a hatchling and he's way more cocky, curious and comfortable than I ever expected him to be, truly wounderous to just observe and ponder why they do things haha

@CatharticOutlet 2 года назад

@@DarkWidget that sounds nice! I always wonder what kind of behavior my snakes would be displaying if I had kept them since they were hatchlings and not adopted them as adults coming from not-so-great environments. I feel like they would probably be more outgoing if they had been exposed to an enriching environment from the start, as young snakes are more adaptable and allegedly learn faster than adults.

@shawnastambaugh3827 Год назад

both of my pythons are active at night, my three year old more so then my one year old. We take them outside often and they love it! My three year old is kind of squishy also.

@CatharticOutlet Год назад

lovely, finally someone else with a squishy snake!

@insaneprepper2832 9 месяцев назад

I can attest to most of these habits. I have a male normal ball python. I got him as a rescue, because his owner could no longer take care of him. His former owner must’ve handled him quite a lot because the snake knows absolutely no fear and the first day I got him I was arranging his tank and he crawled right up my arm and around my neck. he eats well and is friendly with every single person I’ve introduced him to. And he climbs quite a lot! I think you’re correct when you said that the reputation for ball pythons as being pet rocks are unfounded. I am awaiting the arrival of a 4’ x 2’ x 2’ PVC enclosure so that he can utilize all that space.

@JasonJBrunet Год назад

This is the most heartwarming and adorable video I've seen this year. Very endearing snake behaviors.

@CatharticOutlet Год назад

thanks, glad you liked it :)

@v.e2035 Год назад

This was very informative, Thank you so much for sharing

@fireinateacup89 Год назад

I can't say how much I LOVE this video and share your experiences! My male BP is just like your girl in his obsession with exploring and extremely curious and outgoing personality! It makes me so happy that you care so much about giving your girl the ability to get out and exercise and explore! She is sooo lucky to have ended up with you! ❤️ I wish I could let mine explore my whole apartment but we have 4 cats, so I'm trying to come up with ways to modify his room to block off hazardous areas and maximize the exploration potential. I get him out a lot and sometimes I take him on very brief walks, but obviously he's not free crawling and getting exercise that way.

@CatharticOutlet Год назад

Thanks! Happy to hear you liked my video :) Best of luck with your ball python, sounds like you care a lot about him! Hopefully you will find a way to let him explore more in the future 👍

@NamoAryachana63736 Год назад

Wooow! Thank you so much for this video! You just changed my view on ball Pythons within 10 minutes😅 I am right now at the point where I have to decide on a species. Mex. Black kingsnake, Californian kingsnake, hognose, Honduras milksnake. .. and know ball Python also in the race😅 I'll need some weeks till I figured it out. But thanxxx👍

@CatharticOutlet Год назад

Thanks, glad the video was helpful! That is a nice selection of species. A milksnake is one of the animals I would love to have as well, they are so gorgeous! I do love my python, but compared to my corn snake (who is like the easiest pet ever) she is more high maintenence - she needs a bigger enclosure, more time to roam around and it's much harder to motivate her to eat. On the other hand, due to her size and temprament, she is much more interactive and handleable than the corn snake, who is less chill. Pythons also live a lot longer than colubrid species, so that's another aspect to consider. Either way, best of luck with your new pets!

@piratenpyrooo Год назад

Good info! Keep it comming!

@CatharticOutlet Год назад

Thank you!

@abbyk9025 Год назад

Yes! All of mine love to roam and get into things but my S'mores (that's her pic actually) is my climber, tangler-upper, squisher-betweener. .. you name it she tries it😅 All supervised of course.

@CatharticOutlet Год назад

Love that description! S'mores looks adorable :)

@rubenrivera2751 Год назад

I keep my ball pythons in tubs and they love to roam

@avaogara Год назад

wat hing bobette again ❤ her looking fwd to new video soon

@mobydickii8407 Год назад

Thank you for the link!

@monah4107 2 года назад

Really interesting video, I loved getting to know your snake! When do you think you’ll make a video on her terrarium?😊

@CatharticOutlet 2 года назад

Hi, glad you like the video! I have all the footage of the terrarium construction process but I am currently about to defend my PhD so I have no time at the moment... X _ X Hopefully in a month or so I will be free and then I can get around to editing & uploading the video!

@boop_n_snoots_reptiles9391 Год назад

As a breeder I can say.. yes some are squishy, not all are head shy each have different personality quirks. They are way more intelligent than people think and love exploring and new stimulants I have that will hyper focus on the TV if it is on and sit in your lap like they watching with you. Also they are nocturnal so they are more active at night (with lights out) hence most people don't realize how active they are

@CatharticOutlet Год назад

well said! (also I love your username)

@mlblue5355 2 года назад

Fantastic video, very unique compared to most of the dull videos on ball pythons. I don’t like videos that show people that keep snakes in trays, and ones that just show people talking without a snake in sight. I would love to see a similar video of your corn snake.

@CatharticOutlet 2 года назад

Thank you, I'm happy to hear you like it! I also dislike videos promoting large collections of snakes kept in racks... I am planning to make a more in-depth video about my corn snake as well, although that one will focus more her development and behavioural changes in response to things like target training and enrichment. Unlike the ball python, adopting the corn snake was a lot more straightforward.

@mlblue5355 2 года назад

@@CatharticOutlet can’t wait for your video on the corn snake. Thanks for your reply.

@avaogara Год назад

I would assume I would need a heat mat as front opening enclosure overhead lamp would not work . I love all your videos n learn alot

@CatharticOutlet Год назад

Thanks!

@ruthlesslistener Год назад

My python is also quite active! She's my first snake, so I was quite stressed out by her activity levels at first (since nobody seems to talk about that sort of thing), but after observing her for a bit, I can confirm that she follows the same activity patterns that yours does. Most likely people simply don't realize how active these snakes are because they're nocturnal, so they'll go to bed before the snake is fully awake. I'm naturally a night owl, so whenever Juniper gets active (around 10pm), I'm capable of letting her out and wandering around before I get too tired to watch her

@CatharticOutlet Год назад

Juniper is a lovely name for a snake!

@ooopsyyep3215 4 месяца назад

Ma boi is almost the same. Except that he would only remember the places where he can do mischief, like my cable management net, power outlets, that hole on my subwoofer 🥲 He used up all the space in his lil noggin to memorize these places that he once spent almost 10 minutes poking around trying to find the entrance of his sky hide 😂 I always take him out for a short walk in my building and he seems to enjoy that. I once stopped for too long to talk to one of my neighbors and he became increasingly wiggly overtime. Once I started walking again, he plopped down in my cuddle and casually sniffed around as if he was roaming. He’d get very excited from time to time and seem to be attracted by something, and sometimes would reach out to boop and tongue flick on my chin/nose like “Did you sense that!?”

@maskedmonster 2 года назад

For the number 5, my ball python also does that a lot, sometimes she can be very active as yours do and sometimes not really

@CatharticOutlet 2 года назад

interesting, nice to know mine isn't the only one! What I noticed more recently is that her activity levels often correlated with her hunger. The hungrier she is the more she will be moving around and "hunting", and then when I give her a meal she usually calms down for a bit (but not always)

@JoshBowren Год назад

Outstanding video. You got a subscribe out of me. My Male Mojave BP exhibits the exact same 5 observations you have made on this video. Mine is also showing signs of spatial awareness and obsession with the outside world. He's a completely different snake outside. Not stressed, just go go go go and check out everything. Periscopes a lot outside as well. Mine sleeps a lot, but also explores a lot too.

@CatharticOutlet Год назад

Thank you! It's awesome that you were able to make similar observations and look at your snake's outside behaviour! I'd love to let mine out more often but for now I only have my balcony which is not ideal. Someday I'd like to build her a little outside encolosure though.

@JoeSaidReptiles 2 года назад

I enjoyed your video. I am also a biologist and went straight for literature on snakes before getting one. I think when people say ball pythons aren't active, they may be comparing them to corn snakes or possibly boas which are more active in comparison.

@CatharticOutlet 2 года назад

Oh, nice! That's the right approach. I agree, they are comparing them to very different animals. At the same time, activity levels can also very between individuals of the same species. Looking at observations by other keepers, I think my corn snake is relatively calm compared to other corns, so in my case, my ball python and corn snake feature very similar activity levels.

@JoeSaidReptiles 2 года назад

@@CatharticOutlet Yes, they all certainly have their unique personalities. I have one ball python that contradicts the docile stereotype and hisses at me.

@CatharticOutlet Год назад

@@JoeSaidReptiles There really is a lot of variation! I met someone with a ball python that had such a strong prey drive it could not be handled at night as it would strike at everything.

@JoeSaidReptiles Год назад

@@CatharticOutlet Was the ball python you're describing a wild-type or normal one? I think the aggressive behavior is usually not selected for with the morphs for a breeding line. It's been my experience with various species that the morphs are usually more tame. I am sure there are exceptions to this though, as some color morphs may be initially too rare to bother to select for temperament and the breeder just wants the pattern/color.

@CatharticOutlet Год назад

@@JoeSaidReptiles Interesting, I didn't know people in the hobby actually bred for temprament and not just aesthetics (I may be a bit biased). I didn't ask but I believe the indiviudal was a wild-type - definitely looked like one.

@avaogara Год назад

by the way what sz. that glass terrium up o n counter ?

@avaogara Год назад

aww I'm s glad snake getting free roam exercise .n how often you feed her ? I like you been wanting a ball python for years .hope soon to be getting one .hope he be sweetheart like yous ..

@CatharticOutlet Год назад

Mine is a full grown adult female so I feed her a frozen-thawed adult rat every 2-3 weeks depending on how active she is. I sometimes give her small mice as snacks in between feedings. However, how you feed a python depends on its size and age.

@avaogara Год назад

yes ty I realize it by their girth/size aww she a sweetie n deserves mice snacks ..I watch n rewatch this video so relaxi,relaxing, n she so 😍 🐍

@TopFurret 2 года назад

BPs are surprisingly intelligent! I accidentally trained my baby boy to come out ready for food when I turn on the heat gun. He learned this in only 3 meals

@CatharticOutlet 2 года назад

that's really cool! did he learn to follow the heat gun laser? I'm trying to target train mine but it's taking a bit longer than three meals for her to understand that she should follow the target for food...

@TopFurret 2 года назад

@@CatharticOutlet mine doesn't have a laser, my boy just pokes his body out of his hide ready to strike when he hears it turn on. Ironically I was using the heat gun to make a target to target train him. Hopefully he picks that up just as fast as he did the audio cue of heat gun = food time

@carollane8694 2 года назад

I have 4 royal pythons and they are adorable, sensitive little creatures. They also love to knock things off shelves etc on purpose just like a cat PS your snek will gravitate to the underside of the fridge as it gives off heat there and that's what will be attracting her to lots of places you mention like the top of the corns Viv.

@CatharticOutlet 2 года назад

Sensitive is a great way to describe them. And yes, I agree they really love knocking things over. Unfortunetaly, I have a lot of decorative items on my shelves so mine has managed to knock over picture frames, lamps, miniature replicas of greek statues and a fish fossil... The snake was always unharmed, which is obviously the most important thing. Makes sense that she would like the underside of the fridge if it's warm and snug down there, but I'm quite proud that I have successfully prevented her from getting under it for over three months at this point.

@carollane8694 2 года назад

@@CatharticOutlet I would also add that female royals are supposed to be rather stout and chunky compared to their male counterparts . It's fairly difficult to overfeed them as a rule, they often go on hunger strikes so don't worry about her getting chunky/squishy this is quite normal. If she's having approx 1 small rat or large weaner a week that's fine. Hope this helps.

@CatharticOutlet 2 года назад

@@carollane8694 Mine is around 5 years old and a full grown adult female so she gets a large rat every 2-3 weeks with a mouse thrown in as treat between feedings every so often. I'm okay with the her current figure (a bit pudgy and squishy) but when I first got her she weighed 2.4 kg and had very prominent fat deposits on her hips and along her back, which is an indicator for an unhealthy level of obesity. After refusing to eat for the first four months after her adoption, she hasn't missed a major meal since (she sometimes turns down her mouse snacks but luckily they are small enough to be fed to the corn snake so they don't go to waste).

@avaogara 2 года назад

I loved this idea so cute.lookigoutte window.wish more people would view this n change their minds on snakes I love ball pythons. I wan one soon bad likeu been escaping for a yr love this video .

@CatharticOutlet 2 года назад

Thank You! I hope you will be able to get one soon :)

@avaogara 2 года назад

@@CatharticOutlet me too.i had a Lil set back wrist surgery .may-june so now bot ready to focus on enclosure n deco etcetc..by the way what your snake name just so cute .curious bot windows love love ❤

@CatharticOutlet 2 года назад

@@avaogara Her name is Bobette (I didn't name her, her previous owner did)

@avaogara 2 года назад

@@CatharticOutlet aww bobette.so she was a rescue.so glad she got a good home now

@CatharticOutlet 2 года назад

@@avaogara she was more of an adoption than a rescue. The previous owner didn't have time for her anymore and was looking to rehome her.

@terrypittman4392 2 года назад

That's a huge ball python

@CatharticOutlet 2 года назад

you think so? I knew she was on the bigger side but she's my only ball python so I don't have any others to compare her to...

@cityvibegirl Год назад

Another RU-vidr I'd highly recommend is Green Room Python - Bob knows 99% of the ball python. Both him and Em/Ed are breeders. RESPONSIBLE RESPECTABLE breeders.

@charleneabney6520 6 месяцев назад

❤

@ClevelandTaylor-bh4hz 9 месяцев назад

How long is she ? She looks really big

@CatharticOutlet 9 месяцев назад

She‘s almost 150cm (5 feet)!

@justinkendollrozinek Год назад

Do you have any frogs?

@CatharticOutlet Год назад

Nope! Though I‘d like to at some point.

@justinkendollrozinek Год назад

@@CatharticOutlet hell yeah. Frogs.

@dwightyost1606 Год назад

The absolute FOREST GUMP of snakes

@WhiteBoogeyman Год назад

Looks really long for a ball python. Yeah it's looking outside because of global warming 😂🤦🏼‍♂️

@shalinaedge9928 Год назад

I found the same about the climbing, spatial learning and activity level. I was completely taken aback with how very active they are. I have one and am babysitting another right now. Both are active and want out to explore all the time. I had to get a 5X5 tent to put enrichment and climbing objects in so that they can climb around unsupervised on days that I cannot devote a few hours to being in the reptile room with them. I was completely taken by surprise by this level of activity in a "pet rock". I'm sure you've come across these studies already, but if you haven't they are interesting. Hoehfurtner, T., Wilkinson, A., Nagabaskaran, G., & Burman, O. H. (2021). Does the provision of environmental enrichment affect the behaviour and welfare of captive snakes? Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 239, 105324. Hollandt, T., Baur, M., & Wöhr, A. C. (2021). Animal-appropriate housing of ball pythons (Python regius)-Behavior-based evaluation of two types of housing systems. Plos one, 16(5), e0247082. and the one I find the most interesting Nagabaskaran, G., Burman, O. H., Hoehfurtner, T., & Wilkinson, A. (2021). Environmental enrichment impacts discrimination between familiar and unfamiliar human odours in snakes (Pantherophis guttata). Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 237, 105278. (PS - I am the one that will definitely read the study linked!)

@shalinaedge9928 Год назад

also - with specific references, sort of a run up www.reptifiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Busting-Royal-Python-Myths-by-Francis-Cosquieri.pdf

@CatharticOutlet Год назад

The tent souds like a great idea for letting the snakes explore unsupervised! I have a little puppy play pen thing that I use for the corn snake but it's too small for the python. Thank you so much for the study recommendations! I don't think I've read these specific ones yet, but they seem very relevant.

@cityvibegirl Год назад

HIGHLY RECOMMEND SNAKE DISCOVERY! EMILY AND ED ARE AMAZING WITH THEIR KNOWLEDGE! CC @snakediscovery