2019 Update

As we are now almost a month into the new year, I figure I'd post an update on Cheeto and Marbles.

Marbles

I have had Marbles my ball python for about 8 months now and she is doing great. At the end of December I upgraded her from a 20 gallon long enclosure to a 45 gallon enclosure which is is enjoying. She currently weighs 500 grams (about 1 lb.) and measures in at around 2'4" long.

She has been a great eater since the day I got her. Now that she is a bit bigger than when I first got her, I have switched her over to frozen thawed small rat which she seems to be enjoying. Her favorite activity is climbing up her rockwall background, squeezing herself in the two inch space at the top and looking around the room.

Cheeto

Cheeto joined the family a little over a month ago. She is a Kenyan Sand Boa and is absolutely adorable. She is in Marbles' old 20 gallon enclosure and is doing well. She likes to explore- just under her substrate by making tunnel systems to get around. Cheeto weighs 8 grams and is about 7" long. She is so tiny!

Cheeto has somehow learned to climb and wedge herself in the space right under where her enclosure's lid clips on, which is odd because she is a burrowing snake. She is super friendly and is very comfortable with being handled. She is currently eating live pinky mice (even though she can be super picky about her meals).

Going Forward

Goals and events in 2019 that I have to look forward to as far as reptiles go are:

• Getting Cheeto to eat more consistently
• Moving back home
• Possibly getting another Ball Python or venturing out to getting a different reptile

Hooked on a Feelin'

So a tool that I use for keeping Marbles is called a snake hook. The one in particular that I have is the ZooMed Deluxe Collapsible Snake Hook.

Why do I have it?
I feel that because I am a beginner reptile keeper the hook helps me and Marbles get used to handling as I hand-train her. I do not pick her up with it because I feel like the hook would not hold her weight and that Marbles would be uncomfortable having her entire body weight supported by a piece of metal. Additionally, I feel that using the hook more than my hand would hinder progress on hand-training her

How do I use it?
For my comfort:

• Extend the hook's shaft
• Locate Marbles' head
• Put the hook about 1/3 way down her body (to keep her head away from my hand)
• Use my hand to pick her up

Additionally, if I feel like Marbles is curled up too tight in her ball-shape, I will use the hook to kinda loosen up the ball so I can get a better grasp on her.

Also, it can be used for moving small things around in the enclosure. When I am moving a plant or am getting the water bowl, Marbles tends to get get a little curious sometimes so I just kinda move her away.

This one I bought was about $7 and I've used it numerous times and it seems to work well. Its been about two months since I have started using it and it has helped tremendously!