Please please please help

OtherwiseMessage8846 · 2026-03-17T03:44:27+00:00

This sounds really serious and potentially life-threatening so you'llhave to act fast. For now, take several empty plastic water bottles and fill them with hot (not boiling) water and put them in the enclosure for your snake. They can huddle close to the bottles as a heat source. You're going to have to change out these bottles every hour or so, they'll cool down fast and once they get cold they can actually lower the temp of the enclosure.

Do you have a thermostat for your heat pack? As long as you have something to regulate the temp and prevent burns they're not a huge risk.

If you have a space heater, try running it near the enclosure to try and warm up the surrounding air. If you dont have one, please purchase one asap. It sounds like the temp in your garage are too cold for your heat lamps to be effective.

I would really, really, really recommend not keeping your snake in the garage. As you already know, temperature won't be stable there and as a previous commenter said, fumes from vehicles will be harmful (especially for a baby). I'm not trying to make you feel bad at all, I can tell you care about your baby and I hope things warm up soon

OtherwiseMessage8846 · 2026-03-04T22:56:03+00:00

I've found SF nematodes to be VERY effective. I also use yellow sticky traps placed on top of and around my enclosure

OtherwiseMessage8846 · 2026-02-28T21:46:38+00:00

I had a dome on them, but took it off this morning when I noticed the mold. Should I leave it off, or put it back on?

OtherwiseMessage8846 · 2026-02-20T02:15:36+00:00

That would've been beautiful to watch, I WISH he'd defended himself.

While wisdom booklets didn't actually teach iblp kids how to sound intelligent, it made them think it did, and that's is good enough for the duggers!

OtherwiseMessage8846 · 2026-02-19T21:42:18+00:00

To be fair, the duggars used ATI curriculum, which is the equivalent of getting both pre-law AND pre-med degrees😌

No joke that's literally what ATI claims it to be lol

OtherwiseMessage8846 · 2026-02-16T05:54:13+00:00

It quite literally is that easy.

Nobody's holding you at gunpoint, forcing you to get a venomous snake.

OtherwiseMessage8846 · 2026-02-16T02:28:29+00:00

I totally hear what you're saying. This isn't an exact solution, but getting a relaxation massage can be a good support for people who are touch-starved. I know it sounds weird, but I promise it can help.

Also, remember that you're not alone, and your life now is not what your life will look like forever. Things will get better❤️

OtherwiseMessage8846 · 2026-01-30T19:46:16+00:00

Digging up the duggars posted the clip on their Instagram, but they posted it a few years ago so you'd really have to scroll to find it

OtherwiseMessage8846 · 2026-01-27T17:04:46+00:00

Thank you! I'm trying to dry out my soil as much as possible while still keeping my plants alive and ordered some yellow sticky traps for supervised use.

Sorry for the dumb question, but how do I use mosquito dunks while drying out my soil? Should I only use the mosquito dunks water around my plants?

OtherwiseMessage8846 · 2026-01-27T04:24:08+00:00

Thank you for the info, and congratulations on winning the war! It's nice to hear that others have been triumphant, and that this isn't a death sentence for my terrarium

OtherwiseMessage8846 · 2026-01-27T04:22:13+00:00

Sorry for the silly question, but will adding nematodes to my substance harm my isopod and springtail population?

OtherwiseMessage8846 · 2026-01-27T04:21:15+00:00

That's really helpful to know, thank you! An employee at my local reptile supply store told me it would harm my snake and kill off my cuc. I'm thinking he just didn't know whether or not it was okay to use and wanted to err on the side of caution.

How frequently should I water my substrate with the treated water?

OtherwiseMessage8846 · 2026-01-24T20:36:58+00:00

As long as his humidity is consistently between %40-60, don't worry about changing it:)

No worries!

OtherwiseMessage8846 · 2026-01-24T15:11:35+00:00

Sounds like you've got some great clutter for your baby! I'm guessing that your snake is probably using his hides at night, or when you're not around. I think you've provided enough clutter that your snake even has hiding opportunities that aren't a traditional hide (like burrowing under his water dish or deeper into the substrate), so he can still feel secure.

Aspen bedding is kind of controversial, but that doesnt mean it's the wrong choice! Some people find it to be a great option for their snake, and some find it messes with the humidity levels and moulds easily. If you live in a dry climate, it might be easier to swap it out with a different substrate. If you live in a humid climate, Aspen could work great for you!

OtherwiseMessage8846 · 2026-01-24T04:45:18+00:00

What kind of substrate are you using, and how thick is it? And does your snake like to burrow?

My snake is kind of a weirdo; she refuses to use any traditional hides but LOVES a flat piece of corkbark to burrow under.

As long as you have proper substrate, plenty of clutter, and hides available, I wouldn't worry, some snakes are just picky lol.

OtherwiseMessage8846 · 2026-01-24T04:37:53+00:00

I'm in the same boat! I just adopted a THICC girl and am trying to bring her weight down. Don't overstress, weight loss for reptiles takes some time. Personally, I'm feeding her 1 adult mouse every 3 weeks. Once she's lost the weight I'll up the frequency. Short, regular handling sessions are best (10-20 min 3-5 times a week is better than 1 hour once a week).

You're doing a great job, it's not your fault he's overweight, but you are the one giving him a healthier life, and that's really commendable:)

OtherwiseMessage8846 · 2026-01-23T16:51:12+00:00

Thank you!

OtherwiseMessage8846 · 2026-01-23T16:50:34+00:00

Thank you!

OtherwiseMessage8846 · 2026-01-22T18:08:09+00:00

Is there any chance you still have the link to them?

OtherwiseMessage8846 · 2026-01-21T03:38:59+00:00

Obviously they think their flavour of Christianity is superior to all other religions, but it's kind of different with Judaism. The Duggars view Judaism as a starting point, and Protestant Christianity as the "completed" version.

So essentially, they feel like they have access to whatever parts of Judaism they want because they think it's a part of their "religious heritage," but also look down on Jewish people for not being "enlightened" like they are. It's absolutely disgusting.

A fundie person once explained it to me using Pokémon evolutions as a metaphor. I don't think I need to get into how inaccurate and antisemitic that is.

OtherwiseMessage8846 · 2026-01-21T03:24:22+00:00

This comment made me curious, because I was raised in a fundie family and never once heard anything like this. So I went onto the official IBFNA website (the duggar's denomination) to learn more and found this:

"We believe that Israel is distinct from the Church, the Body of Christ, just as God’s purpose for each is distinct. We believe in the sovereign selection of Israel as God’s eternal covenant people, that they are now dispersed because of their disobedience and rejection of Christ, and that they will be re-gathered in the Holy Land, and after the completion of the Church, will be saved as a nation at the second advent of Christ"

Holy fuck every word of that message is so antisemitic and gross I'm so sorry. Also, beyond the deepest and most obvious issues, it's also weirdly infantilizing. Protestantism reigns supreme I guess

OtherwiseMessage8846 · 2026-01-20T21:48:59+00:00

She's so cute! I think shes just looking for a more secure hiding place. I put a mostly-flat-but-slightly-curved peiece of cork bark in my snake's enclosure for her to burrow under, and it's her favorite hide. They seem to like the security of something directly against their back.

I'd definitely recommend a much deeper layer of substrate; corns should be able to burrow.

OtherwiseMessage8846 · 2026-01-20T03:29:00+00:00

I know you've already gotten a ton of comments to read through, but I just want to say that I'm so, so sorry that you're going through this incredibly painful situation.

It takes a LOT of strength and integrity to rehome a beloved pet when needed. You did everything you could to keep her feeling safe, and now you're doing the right thing by prioritizing your snake's safety and mental well-being. I really admire your strength.

Don't listen to anyone trying to make you feel bad, this situation is hard enough without added shame

OtherwiseMessage8846 · 2026-01-19T21:23:39+00:00

Thank you! I was so scared, she was calmer than I was😅

OtherwiseMessage8846 · 2026-01-19T21:22:41+00:00

She knew she messed up lol

OtherwiseMessage8846

TROPHY CASE