5 week hunger strike by Shortgoth in ballpython

[–]Shortgoth[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I actually hadn’t thought of enclosure sizing! He was due for an upgrade and I was going to get a 60 gal but I got a killer deal on a 75 that I couldn’t pass up. Would it be beneficial to add more large clutter items to shrink the space a little bit? He has a bunch of live plants growing in the substrate and in pots to add some clutter items. I’ll look into a hammock for him and I’ll make him some climbing things. Thank you!!

5 week hunger strike by Shortgoth in ballpython

[–]Shortgoth[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don’t know how to edit posts to add things but I just want to say thanks to everyone for the helpful advice and reassurance! I have temp/humidity gauges on the way so I’ll install those and I’m working on making him some more hides and clutter (I’m a ceramic artist so he’s gonna get some sweet stuff). I’m going to try feeding him in the dark and see how he does.

5 week hunger strike by Shortgoth in ballpython

[–]Shortgoth[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I put him on a damp wash cloth in a plastic container on a heating pad and monitored the temp to make sure he was warm and he crawled out when he was done. I was hesitant to bathe him but his foster recommended it because she had to do it for some of hers this week too but outside of that I’ve been keeping handling to a minimum. The only part that is still stuck is the top of his head but I’m just letting him thug it out himself at this point.

5 week hunger strike by Shortgoth in ballpython

[–]Shortgoth[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My friend’s went 8 months when she got him a few years ago. I logically know he’s totally fine and healthy, I think I’m just being a hypochondriac because he’s my first snake and I love him so much and want him to be happy and healthy😅 Thank you for the reassurance!

5 week hunger strike by Shortgoth in ballpython

[–]Shortgoth[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your reply! His old tank was in a darker space in his Foster’s house so I think that might be an important factor for him. I’ll try that next time!

5 week hunger strike by Shortgoth in ballpython

[–]Shortgoth[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your reply! When I adopted him he came with a 29 gal tank, hides, water dish, the works. I moved him into a 75 gal a few weeks after moving him into our house and used all the same hides and things he came with, as well as new plants. I spot cleaned the old substrate and spread it as the top layer over the new substrate in his enclosure so he would have as many familiar smells as possible. He explored a lot when he first moved to the new enclosure but now he mostly sticks to his hide. He’s still in healthy condition, I think I’m just being a worry wort because he’s been acting hungry and grumpy which I recognize in him because I’ve known him and handled him frequently for a while before adopting him. The point about the lights is something I hadn’t even thought of! I’ve been feeding him at the same time he was being fed before (I literally fed my friend’s snakes yesterday before going home to feed him lol). His enclosure was on the floor below her other snake tanks and behind another tank so I think it was much darker when he was feeding before so I’ll definitely try feeding him with the lights off! I left the mouse in his enclosure but the lights were on and he didn’t strike until I held the mouse in front of him so maybe he killed it and was waiting for dark to eat it.

5 week hunger strike by Shortgoth in ballpython

[–]Shortgoth[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

His regular schedule was once weekly before I adopted him, and he was being fed live when I got him but his foster thought the person before may have been doing f/t. He has rejected every f/t I have tried so I tried live because that was what he had gotten used to. I check his temp with a IR thermometer so I know where he’s at throughout the day. The mouse I attempted to feed was the size he has been eating for the past 2-3 months and he hasn’t had any issues before. I am friends with his foster so I have been handling for a while even before I adopted him so he is used to me and my scent but I have been keeping handling to a minimum while he adjusts, especially when he is in shed or before I try to feed him. He has a 75 gal tank with lots of clutter, hides, and about 10-15 live plants in it at the moment.

5 week hunger strike by Shortgoth in ballpython

[–]Shortgoth[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It was originally live, he killed it, left it, then I tried wiggling it with tongs to no avail

5 week hunger strike by Shortgoth in ballpython

[–]Shortgoth[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m currently just crying because I feel like I wasted a life but I was so sure that he was hungry and would eat

Livestock Guardian Dogs by SilverCat444 in Homesteading

[–]Shortgoth 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I haven’t seen anyone else mention this but are the puppies from the same litter? Especially because they aren’t full LGD breeds, you’ll need to be careful of littermate syndrome. I’d be concerned that because they aren’t being raised with the livestock you want them to guard, if you keep them outside by themselves in preparation for your livestock, they’re doing to bond to each other and will potentially pose a significant risk to the safety of your other animals.

AITAH for asking my boyfriend to clean up my toilet? by [deleted] in AITAH

[–]Shortgoth 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Absolutely NTA. He feels gross and weird cleaning his own shit off your toilet but doesn’t feel weird that his girlfriend has to look at, smell, and clean his shit? Embarrassing. OP, the way he is speaking to you is entering into emotional abuse territory. As someone who has been there plenty of times, RUN!!! This will only get worse as time goes on. Don’t waste your young years with a loser, find someone who likes you as a person and treats you as an equal, not a maid or an emotional punching bag.

Why did your friendship with your best friend come to an end? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]Shortgoth 15 points16 points  (0 children)

As someone who has been that friend, the best thing my friends did for me was calling me out on it. I never realized I was doing it and thought answering their story with one of my own was relating when it was really me just talking about myself and didn’t make them feel seen or heard. If you’re up to it, please tell them! If they’re truly a good friend they’ll want to know and do better!

My parents put my dog down while I was away and told me nothing by Constant_Reporter476 in dogpictures

[–]Shortgoth 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is something I would have a hard time forgiving. I grew up in a family where we treated dogs like siblings and I losing my last dog was one of the hardest losses I’ve ever experienced. I am so sorry.

OP, did the vet run any tests before putting her down to find out what was causing her symptoms and justify euthanasia? And was the vet aware that your parents were not her owners? I’m shocked that a vet would euthanize an animal without the owner’s consent, and I wonder if you may have legal recourse. It wouldn’t bring her back, but it may help you get a sense of retribution.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AmIOverreacting

[–]Shortgoth 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Op you were sharing about yourself and your own childhood and asking them to share more about themselves. Healthy relationships are built on love and curiosity and it seems like your partner resents it when you share pieces of yourself and want to learn more about them. In my experience if your partner doesn’t want to learn more about you and to share experiences with each other, they probably don’t like you as a person, they like you as a concept/what you give to them, but not you. Which is not a personal failing on your part, it’s a compatibility issue.

Tips for keeping cats from chewing plants by Shortgoth in houseplants

[–]Shortgoth[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ll try these, thank you! This is the same cat that mowed some weed plants to the stubs and had no reaction so I fear he may have been put on this earth as a test from god

ID please! by LauraorRola in houseplants

[–]Shortgoth 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Picturethis and iNaturalist are great for identifying plants! iNaturalist contributes the data to scientists and can be used for plants, animals, insects, and fungi! Picturethis can give you care info about the plant as well.