Owning animals continues to fascinate me.

I've been a python owner now for maybe just over 6 months. Both my serpents shed nice and regular, and I usually catch the signs within the fortnight. But I've never actually seen the process. Usually, in the morning, there's a sparkly snake and a lovely shed waiting for me to remove. Just now, Armie, my #StimsonsPython gave me a viewing, which I had no sign off! I totally missed it, only just the last few days thinking maybe he was going to and I'd missed the key indicator. Their eyes stop sparkling and go an opache, milky blue colour as secretion is released from the skin under the dead skin to facilitate the shed. Took him only a few minutes. So quick! Very smooth and easy, the shed itself is perfectly intact.

Seems like nothing, but after such a short time, I feel encouraged in terms of how I'm doing as a reptile owner. It shows me he is healthy and that he has everything he needs in his environment. Trouble with simple, regular things like shedding is one of the few times you get an idea that something is wrong, since reptiles don't emote very much, and are remarkably robust in many ways.

And now I've seen a snake shed in real life! Which is fucking cool.

#Snakes #ReptileHusbandry #AustralianReptiles #Antaresia #Pythons

So, just if anyone happens on this post & is interested. Generally, most commonly, in Sydney, you get mostly Top End tropicals or desert dwellers in the hobby. Besides your Eastern Blueys (of which my Lola is one). So heating is the main concern. My other four are all of the first kind; two Central beardies, diurnal, who will cope well into 40s (but I honestly do not believe that is with pleasure) & two Antaresia, who are nocturnal, they've evolved to avoid the heat of central & Top End Oz.

During the three consecutive La Niña events it was the humidity that started to become an issue for me & I first began to research this. But the temperature now these events have passed is going to be of increasing concern. Even when there is the smallest heat source or none, enclosure temps are all in the 30s in this room. I came across this video from Coop's Reptiles: https://youtu.be/HBp0bxn-ldI

Just another thing on my list of things I want to do in my constantly upgrading enclosures.

#AustralianReptiles #Antaresia #PagonaVitticeps #Dragons #Pythons #Enclosures

This is just Ares showing off. She sees your #GreenTreePython and raises you #Antaresia attitude. I put that mouse on her rocks, she got up over it to strike, constrict and eat it. You might be able to see its back feet between her coils.

Meanwhile, Armie, the dessert dweller, got down and around his. Because everyone has their style.

#NoHands #SemiAborial #ChildrensPython #AntaresiaChildreni #Australianpythons #AustralianSnakes #Australianreptiles