First time Poster/Snake Owner

[kitling]

Hi.

I've been reading these forums for a few weeks, since I set about buying my first snake in fact. Its an interesting read and so I figure I should introduce myself and my snake.

We picked a lovely young olive python out about 4 weeks ago and got him home a week and a half ago, after the licensing came through.

Here is a photo
http://www.ecr.unimelb.edu.au/~hobbe...kebearhand.jpg

We've called him Twist.

Now we are wondering how to be good pet owners and wondering about useful tips, we've got all the practical stuff about enclosures and temps and feeding sorted.

He escaped the other day when someone left the enclosure door ajar, but we found him hiding underneath his enclosure after some panic. We are handling him daily and he seems quite placid, if a little shy of us, I'm assuming he will relax more as he gets older.

Its a bit hard to really tell what they are thinking, I'm still learning to read his actions.

I'm surprised the cats have totally failed to react to him, well, Skitch looked a bit surprised when Twist crawled onto him - but that was it, nothing agressive or defensive from the cats, only mild curiousity. Do others have experience with cats and snakes?

I'm loving the new addition to our household - every day is something new and wow, look what he is doing today.

Also - what sort of features do people like to put in their enclosures? I've been thinking of making a little cloth hammock hanging from the ceiling, because he likes to be up high, but am not sure.

Anyway - thats it for now

[ryonyanko]

wow thats such a cute snake! Sorry I can't help you with the questions however

[$NaKe PiMp]

they like to climb so lots of things to climb on
and make sure you lock that enclosure up real good they are escape experts

[pugsly]

I would let it settle in for a while before constant handling...

And keep the cats well away... too many horror stories..

[abbott75]

Originally Posted by pugsly

I would let it settle in for a while before constant handling...

And keep the cats well away... too many horror stories..

Yeah, the cats are never the same once you pull them out of a scrubbie's throat...

[mandie]

Hi Kitling,
Congrats on your Olive, I wouldn't let your cats near him at all, they can cause severe damage, and will kill a young python, I have a tonkinese, which has been part of the family for years, but he is always locked away when the pythons are out.
Have fun

[kitling]

I certainly wouldn't leave the cats and the snake unsupervised.

Our second cat finally noticed him last night, did a 'whats that' look, but continued to sit quite calmly - it was funny to watch. I've got very well trained cats. I have a friend what has a python and cat that curl up together. But yeah - both cat and snake are being held by different people while in the same room.

I need to build some kind of climbing frame for him. Someone tell me lego is a bad idea

[Hetty]

Well trained or not, they shouldn't be loose in the same room. You're asking for trouble.

[NinaPeas]

Looks like a very nice snake

I have to big hide rocks on my bredli tank, one under the heat lamp, and one in the cool end. Plus a few big branches for her to climb and exercise on, plus I have installed another hide at the top of the tank. Not sure about olives, but bredli's are semi-arboreal, so they like to climb and hide in crevises high up.

I try to keep my tanks as natural as possible, so lego is a bad idea hehe, just remember to provide lots of climbing, 2 hides, one in cold one in hot, and a bit water bowl incase they ever feel the ruge to soak

[dazza74]

welcome to APS but i would be careful with the cat and snake issue you never know the snake may strike at the cat and the cat may retaliate back

[kitling]

I've got a few nice big branches for the climbing and a hide and some smooth rocks under the heat lamp and a big water container. I'm going to buy a second hide on Saturday and we are trying to figure out how to make a third hide/comfortable ledge/hammock near the ceiling as he likes being up high. I'm also still learning all the jargon

Thanks everyone for your concern about the cats. Trust me, I am being very very careful, I'd be very upset if anything happened to any of our pets.

Reading through the forums there seems to be a lot of difference of opinion as to how much handling is acceptable. I'm working on using common sense right now - but its still a learning experience.

Also - is it better to move to a 'feeding tub' to feed, or is it okay to feed them in their enclosure, so far we've just been feeding him in the enclosure.

Also - how many other people have olives

[RevDaniel]

Welcome to APS. Olive pythons are a great snake. Can i ask who you bought it from?
What will you be feeding yours? Can i suggest quails as Olives are primarily bird eaters and quails are a great food source for them. I have an Olive python yearling female i purchased from Spuddy. I could not be happier with her as she is a great handler and feeder. I was supposed to have another pair of hatchling olives but i will not go into it. I will get more olives later on though.

[eladidare]

welcome
congrats on the beautiful olive!

all our animals (jungles not included) are great handlers and very placid, and we handle all of our snakes frequently. But other people think the world ends if you handle a snake for more than 10mins once a week.

[reptilegirl_jordan]

hey,sweet olive!
just put some braches in there for him to climb on,also u can buy fake vines for him to climb on too,they look really kool,u can get them from one of the reptile sponsors on this site! also try and get some greenry,alol my snake love playing hide and seek in there fake plants!
WELCOME!!

[reptilegirl_jordan]

try and handle every second day or 3 day! i just fed my snakes in there cages and never had a problem with it