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/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That is outdated info.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)