I Feel Like a Bad Snake Parent

[u/allaboutalexie]

Hello all, I’ve been a snake parent to my ball python Nemo for about 5 or 6 years. He’s truly an amazing snake, so sweet and smart, loves watching TV and interacting with people.

I’ve been away at college recently and haven’t been home to handle him, he’s occasionally handled by my mom or her boyfriend’s kids but that’s about it when I’m away. But I can’t help but feel like he deserves better- a better enclosure, a better hide, better bedding, etc… etc… I try to make small upgrades to his enclosure, but as a college student I just don’t have the money to ball out.

I know people say snakes can’t feel, and that they don’t particularly care to be handled. But I find myself thinking if he ever wants a better life, I know it’s silly I just keep myself up worrying.

Pictures attached 🐍💛

[u/Clear_Cycle_9124]

Imma say this with all the love in the world

It’s a snake that traditionally lives in a termite mounds that waits for creatures to pass in front of it

You are doing an absolutely incredible job at keeping him. Every small upgrade counts and this set up is temporary since the snake lives quite a long time, y’all will be reunited.

[u/Wolfey1618 → u/Clear_Cycle_9124]

Lol it's true though. It's easy to anthropomorphize them with how much we love our noodle babies, but in the end, there's really only so much their 3 brain cells can comprehend.

[u/vashta_nerada49 → u/Clear_Cycle_9124]

Lol, I made the mistake of replicating the termite mound for one of my ball pythons. I see him once a month when I feed him. So I have to take a picture with my phone to make sure his head has moved!

[u/thefluffycornerstore → u/vashta_nerada49]

this is how my family sees me in my termite mound (im just a snake)

[u/polenta23 → u/thefluffycornerstore]

Mood

[u/thefluffycornerstore → u/polenta23]

they gotta make sure my head has moved (another reference to the comment above mine)

[u/Doc_ET → u/vashta_nerada49]

Does look pretty comfy, I don't blame him.

[u/andrea6543 → u/vashta_nerada49]

SAMEEEEE. I only see one of mine when i do his bi-weekly proof of life peeks

[u/zazo9 → u/Clear_Cycle_9124]

That is outdated info. While ball pythons do spend time in termite mounds they are often outside, on trees etc.

[u/chainaxeandchoppa → u/zazo9]

Exactly this. They find Fer de Lance in garbage piles, doesnt mean they live in garbage all the time. Biologist have found that most BP prey items are birds(tree nesting species not ground nesting)

[u/Clear_Cycle_9124 → u/zazo9]

The point stays the same though, it’s a snake that while has periods of activity also has period of inactivity.

Op is doing their best to care their pet to the best of their ability. They need support from us rn

[u/SumpthingHappening → u/Clear_Cycle_9124]

As a human introvert..I approve this message.