Ooooooookay...

[bladespark]

So on a certain ball python forum, I was told that ball pythons do not make good display snakes.

I have just now also been told that you should not handle them.

So I just have to ask... if they're not for looking at, and they're not for holding, what, exactly, are they for?

(And come on... yes I know that it's going to hide a lot. So? This does not make it a bad display snake. Ever been to the zoo? How many of the animals there do you catch a glimpse of the end of their tail poking out and that's all? Hiding does not invalidate its being on display. You just have to peek in and see its head in the little hole there, is all. Likewise on the handling. So I shouldn't have it out constantly, so? Holding it every now and then is fine! I haven't taken him out to hold him since I got him, I know better than to make him nervous and insecure by handling too much. Sheesh. I've pretty much given up on that forum. It's the place where one grown man called another "dingleberry" so I already knew it was immature, but if everybody just assumes any new person is a total idiot, it's really not my kind of place to go. They could at least give me the benefit of the doubt, rather than assuming I haven't done any reasearch and don't know what I'm doing.)

Comments

[svashtar.livejournal.com]

Yep. Hate to say I told you so.
I got a rash of crap for taking Pip to FurCon. Something about getting her stressed.

Yeah. While possible, I keep a hawk eye on her. She stresses in the same way bricks fly. Not at all.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Sheesh.

If Anthony turns out to be that mellow about things, I would love to take him to FC! Are you going to take Pip next year? They could hang together!

[svashtar.livejournal.com]

It may not be possible for Pip to go next FC. I'll have a number of roommates, and I don't know a couple of them well enough to trust them to leave her alone.

Plus I'll be suiting and CosPlaying for most of the con.

I may bring her in the first day since I have to run home that night anyway for a prior commitment. I'll have to play it by ear.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

*nods* All my suit stuff is what makes me wonder if I'll be able to take Anthony myself, even if he does prove amenable. I already cart a LOT of stuff to FC for my booth. Did you bring an actual tank along for Pip last time, or something else?

[svashtar.livejournal.com]

The first time I brought her, she was half the size she is now, and in a smaller tank. Therefore, I took the tank with me so she'd have a familiar place to chill out if I felt she was getting a bit on the stressy side.

And by stressy, I mean she tried too hard to crawl up people's sleeves instead of crawling outside their sleeves.

meh

[aazhie.livejournal.com]

wouldn't recommend bringing snakes on a trip, they can catch airborne things even if they are friendly enough to do it. I always wanted to bring my snakes out in public, but it really isn't that great because of possible infection, people who are TERRIFIED of snakes, and the possibility of stress/injury. but it would be badass to see you in a suit with a snake around your shoulders! :D

[beetlecat.livejournal.com]

I've jumped from pet forum to pet forum, trying to find one not filled with neurotic crazy people. But I got in shit for anything I said or did on there and, finally, I just gave up totally.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Heh. I hear you. I've found one forum for rainbow boa people where so far I haven't seen any bashing over husbandry issues, but on that one they bash for species ownership! The Brazilian people are always making fun of the Columbian people, and the Columbian people are arguing with the Brazilian people, and that's where I was told it was "guaranteed" I wouldn't want my ball once I got a rainbow, since balls are bland and boring.

I guess you just can't win.

[beetlecat.livejournal.com]

Even the Siamese Fighting Fish lovers are crazy. I kid you not. It's surprising how much there is to fight about over a fish in a jar :/

But the dog forums are absolutely the worst. I'd be wondering how to exercise my dog and be told I can't run him on pavement or concrete or go bike riding or roller-blading with him or take him to the dog park or play tug-a-war etc. And I was thinking.. so, what do I do then? Leave him locked in a closet all day?

*rolls eyes*

Who needs that? Anything you want to know is just a Google search away. Although not all the information is unbiased, at least it's not personal either.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, I've heard people argue about Betas. I'm sure most of them would be utterly horrified that I kept mine the way I did. (Single male in a 3/4 gallon display tank, no aeration or anything, just fresh water every couple of weeks. He lived something like five years. I have no idea how that compares to a normal beta lifespan, but being as how he was a fish I really can't work myself up too much even if he did die young.)

And dogs... I have heard things get to the point of warfare over training, especially when it comes to what kind of collar and leash to use and all that junk. *rolls eyes* Maybe it makes a difference, but the nature of the person doing the training makes more, and I'd hate to trust any animal of mine to most of those anal nimrods.

[harliquinnraver.livejournal.com]

bettas dont need aeration, they are surface breathers. ;) but the rule of thumb for them is usually 1 gallon per fish. the tiny bowls and jars result in all manner of problems including ammonia burns. ouch.

[svashtar.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Try being on the Shiba L-soft mailing list sometime. Those people are just plain vicious. There's one person, in particular, who just needs to shrivel up and blow away. I cannot stand her in email, and I hate her in person (we've met a few times). The best was when I took my little shiba boy to a fun match at the invitation of his breeder.

I was told repeatedly by the person that my dog was not show quality, and quite possibly the ugliest shiba she's ever seen, and she'd never admit to breeding such an abomination.

Uhm. What?

Seriously, she was just fucking retarded. My dog was the cutest dog in the world, and I have the photos to prove it.

Don't get me started on the persian cat people at cat shows. Holy cow, are they ever insane.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Well, Persian cats are insane, so that works. *grin*

[svashtar.livejournal.com]

I learned that one should never mention that one's persian cat reminds you of Orson Welles. Apparently that is Bad.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

*giggles* JJ's mother has a Persian. She is the most crotchety cat ever. And was apparently crotchety and old from the age of around 1. I don't quite think she looks like Orson Welles though.

[reiko-sazanami.livejournal.com]

Pet forums are ALWAYS crazy, no matter where you go.

And again, it all depends on the snake. Monty would hang out on our laps and shoulders to watch TV with us, and he was a ball python. That and he would also get into my knitting and make holes in it...

[svashtar.livejournal.com]

I've been told a lot that rainbow boas are testy, twitchy snakes. Tell that to Pip, who will lay on me and watch TV.

She was even like that as a neonate. About as mellow as Tommy Chong on weed. I can just hear the wheels in Pip's head making "Dave's not here, man!" noises.

[palshife-sakura.livejournal.com]

When I visited Thrack years back, his snake Nepyhlight was quite sociable and amiable enough to having a strange person hold him.

Saying that ball pythons are not handling snakes is complete rubbish.

[tieran.livejournal.com]

yeah, I'll agree with what most people here are saying. Most pet forums I've gone to are absolutely stir-crazy. I've only ever found *one* horse one that was sort of decent-ish, but there were always arguments about what training and discipline was better to follow and what breeds one should own for said disciplines and all.

[wolfmare.livejournal.com]

I used to snake-sit a ball python. Her name was Medusa. She ate two mice every Sunday and liked to go for 'walks' by cuddling around my neck and letting me do the actual walking. She was also allowed out time once a week, during which we'd keep the cats and ferret shut up in another room and let her stretch out.

Not handle them? Yeah right. Maybe at first, and may be if the snake doesn't trust you. Once you two are used to each other, it's actually more of a bonding experience then simply 'handling'. I don't claim to be an expert, but the woman for whom I watched Medusa had raised quite a few, and she knew what she was talking about.

I will warn you though, while in necklace-mode, ball pythons seem to think glasses are not necessary and will try to nudge them off. Other then that, there honestly isn't much trouble with handling them.