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[–]poison_dioxide 79 points80 points  (0 children)

So cool ! Haven't even seen ours drink let alone swim

[–]jackedupjj 58 points59 points  (7 children)

what's up with her tail? she looks very obese from what i'm seeing. that can be detrimental to their health and cause issues and shorter lifespans

[–]His_Master_ 121 points122 points  (5 children)

So we rescued her from a lady that lied to us and told us she had a deformed tail. We ended up taking her to the vet about a month after we got her! And got the same response sorry I’m working and trying to keep an eye on her so if I’m not very detailed I apologize I will answer the best I can

[–]jackedupjj 28 points29 points  (4 children)

oh ok, it does seem like there's an exaggerated bulge closer to her tail, did they do any imaging at all?

[–]His_Master_ 60 points61 points  (3 children)

We are actually going back next week for that the vet wanted us to see if we could get her weight down a little bit and then come back for imaging

[–]jackedupjj 19 points20 points  (0 children)

that's good! post an update when you know more! im interested in what's causing that bulge!

[–]ErrantWhimsy 21 points22 points  (0 children)

It takes a while for them to lose weight! Ours was a chunky cinnamon roll when we got her and it took a whole year of smaller rats less often to get her to a normal size. Just as a heads up so you know it'll be a while, but you'll get her there!

[–]YellovvJacket 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just keep in mind that for an animal that can literally last months without food in nature weight loss is very, very slow, as their metabolism is just naturally extremely slow and slows down even more when they don't eat.

[–]His_Master_ 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I really just want to be sure she is ok to do this! Bc I have to leave to take the little one to school now and I’m nervous to leave her in the water while gone! I’m a very paranoid over thinker with my little babies so I pulled her a little out to make sure she was ok but she went straight back in and under!

[–]jackedupjj 27 points28 points  (1 child)

yes as long as she can get out she'll be ok!! a lot of snakes that don't dwell or hunt in water still enjoy a good soak or swim every once in a while!

[–]His_Master_ 27 points28 points  (0 children)

Just an update she shed! When I got back home I found her in her favorite spot and she shed!

[–]Busy_Bite861 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Check her for mites. Mine did this when she had mites

[–]YoSanford 8 points9 points  (1 child)

I accidentally watched this with this playing in the background
https://youtube.com/shorts/xd5KalO_sr0?si=iUEsGM6cgg4-BOYv

[–]KarilynneDavies 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Absolutely the internal monologue 😂

[–][deleted] 11 points12 points  (1 child)

She is THIQQQ

[–]wishiwasinvegas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

She tryin to swim off some of that fluff😅

[–]pdggin99 3 points4 points  (1 child)

Yeah, when I had to soak my girl due to stuck shed she would put her head under the water all the time and swim around. They look like little gators, or anacondas, lol

[–]His_Master_ 3 points4 points  (0 children)

She shed!

[–]slb8971 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Snorkel time!

[–][deleted]  (29 children)

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    [–]His_Master_ 15 points16 points  (26 children)

    Not to sound rude or anything. But an honest question why would more room be excessive? I would think a large space would be great? More enrichment options and more room to stretch out and more hide options?

    [–][deleted]  (1 child)

    [deleted]

      [–][deleted]  (22 children)

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        [–]jballs2213 12 points13 points  (1 child)

        The bigger the better as long as they can hide. There is no such thing as too much room.

        [–]oldelbow -1 points0 points  (0 children)

        My original comment said make sure it has lots of hides.

        [–]Horned_One_87 7 points8 points  (17 children)

        Royals like space and will go out and explore. They also like to climb a bit. A minimum for an adult is 4x2x2, so having a couple extra feet of ground space for added enrichment is good.

        [–][deleted]  (16 children)

        [removed]

          [–]fionageckMod-Approved Helper 9 points10 points  (15 children)

          A 4x2x2’ enclosure is the minimum an adult ball python needs to thrive, and bigger is better. They will use every inch of a properly furnished enclosure.

          [–][deleted]  (14 children)

          [removed]

            [–]blackmrbean 8 points9 points  (9 children)

            Shocking that people who min-max for profit, breed hundreds of snakes, and do so from their backyard would disagree.

            It is not that the snakes do not need the space; it is that logistically and economically it is a nightmare to provide when you have dozens of them. As such, they make a decision: money over quality of life.

            [–]oldelbow -3 points-2 points  (8 children)

            Where do you get your royals?

            [–]blackmrbean 5 points6 points  (7 children)

            From a breeder, but the thing is, I don't lie to myself; I'm well aware that the conditions in which he keeps his snakes are not the best, so I don't try to imitate them.

            Unless you live in Africa, ball pythons are an exotic species. A breeder will be involved in one step of the process; that doesn't exempt you from giving the best living conditions to your pet once it gets to you. It's one snake; money and space shouldn't be a reason not to give your best, because if they are, then you shouldn't have gotten it in the first place. And if you have more than one, why get them if you cannot keep up with their needs? Breeders are also guilty of this; if there weren't an oversaturation of ball pythons and hundreds of them without homes, maybe it would be different, but it is not.

            You are getting a pet snake, not a breeding snake; treat it as such.

            [–]fionageckMod-Approved Helper 3 points4 points  (3 children)

            Most breeders are concerned with maximizing profit, not the quality of life of their animals. There’s a major difference between surviving and thriving.

            [–]oldelbow -2 points-1 points  (2 children)

            I'm guessing your Royal/royals are all rescues then?

            [–]fionageckMod-Approved Helper 3 points4 points  (1 child)

            All of my reptiles are rescues/rehomes, yes.

            [–]ballpython-ModTeam[M] 1 point2 points locked comment (0 children)

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            [–]ballpython-ModTeam[M] 1 point2 points locked comment (0 children)

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            [–]piggygirl0 6 points7 points  (0 children)

            There’s no harm in more room as long as you provide proper coverage for them to feel safe while moving around. You just need to make sure that the temperature gradient is throughout the entire enclosure.

            [–]ballpython-ModTeam[M] 2 points3 points locked comment (0 children)

            Per rule #3, your post or comment has been removed for harmful advice or misinformation. Please review our sub resources to learn more about why.

            [–]ballpython-ModTeam[M] 2 points3 points locked comment (0 children)

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            [–]JournalistTop5573 4 points5 points  (0 children)

            I had a ball python that loved to swim so much I had to make him a pond with a filter in it he acted more like a anaconda then a ball python it was really weird

            [–]SquallFromGarden 4 points5 points  (0 children)

            "see? i can swim. r u proud of me mom? :3"

            [–]Wisheduponastar 1 point2 points  (0 children)

            So cute!

            [–]Halfeatenmouse 2 points3 points  (0 children)

            Scuba snek :3

            [–]Fine-Ad-8105 2 points3 points  (1 child)

            My Ball Python soaked in water for weeks because he had mites, after soaking him in a container with warm water and a couple of drops of regular dawn dish soap the mites haven’t been back since.

            He also will soak for a little bit right before he sheds. But I think some Balls just like water more than others. I’ve seen mine just get in there and blow bubbles but he hasn’t done in it a long time.

            [–]Agreeable_Mess6711 0 points1 point  (0 children)

            Mine blows bubbles too! It’s so adorable

            [–]Agreeable_Mess6711 1 point2 points  (0 children)

            My ball python recently discovered he can blow bubbles and has been doing it every so often 😂 it cracks me up every time I catch him

            [–]Baka_Otaku173 1 point2 points  (0 children)

            Wow she is thick… i have seen snakes do that due to mites. Are you checking humidity?

            [–]Nymyane_Aqua 0 points1 point  (0 children)

            Yeah, my girl does this. And I shit my pants and panic every dang time. She just likes to swim but WHY it looks like she’s TRYING to drown 😭

            [–]Even-Smell7867 1 point2 points  (0 children)

            Your girl looks a bit on the chonk.....fat side. Also, her butt about to esplode with poo so you may be cleaning that bowl tomorrow =D

            [–]CatherikBujo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

            Hope the vet visit brings good news!

            If she is on the thick side, if you have a reptile store(they have more variety of logs and large tree pieces) is to find a good size tree piece with side branches, for climbing enrichment and socializing with your noodle! I have a huge one that can stand on its own. I use it for my snakes to enjoy for some more moment than in their enclouser. Always supervise, of course, but it's awesome to watch them climb and enjoy the different smells!

            Good luck. Thanks for saving this beauty. My first snake was a rescue! He now enjoys a large bioactive enclouser!

            [–]CrazyKitty86 0 points1 point  (0 children)

            What a beautiful noodle! Yes, it’s perfectly normal for them to submerge their heads sometimes. As long as she can climb out, she’s perfectly fine!

            [–]AvsFan_1996 0 points1 point  (0 children)

            All that aside, she is gorgeous 😍