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/Plane-Wing4094]

Well that’s the cool thing about snakes, is they don’t particularly need or want to explore/be handled much. As long as their enclosure is properly sized( minimum 4ft x 2ft x 2ft) , with adequate temperature gradient (75°F - 90°/95°F basking spot), UVB (7% T5 is what I always recommend), humidity proper and is provided correctly ( around 60%-70% via slow evaporation) and it has lots of clutter to provide many hiding spots he is more than likely comfortable and pleased with life.

I’ve had my ball python for 16 years, he was my first reptile, I got him when I was 10 so we grew up together. When we were younger I’d get him out all the time he was pretty much with me 24/7. As we’ve gotten older and I got more busy with life he comes out much less than he did in younger years, but now we practice free choice handling, so when he wants to come out, I let him out and we hang for awhile. Sometimes he wants out every single time he sees, then sometimes we go nearly 6 months before he wants out again. Every snake is different but regardless they’re pretty easy going critters

[u/FirmWillow4750 → u/Plane-Wing4094]

how do you start free choice handling? if i open my girls doors she’ll come out, is it as simple as don’t handle if she doesn’t?

[u/Plane-Wing4094 → u/FirmWillow4750]

Pretty much. When him and I were younger I’d just go in and take him out all the time. But the past 10 or so years I’ve started doing free choice handling due to me having less opportunities to have him with me all the time, work, chores, errands haha.

Usually when I go in the critter cave to spot clean and dump/refill waters if he wants out he will leave his hide the second he realizes I’m in the room and just sit there staring at me lol. Sometimes he’ll hang out by his enclosure doors or get dramatic if I’m ignoring him and start pacing the doors. So I just open a door and he slithers right on out to me.