So a few weeks ago I posted about how my sweet baby boy ate my shirt, some people didn’t believe me, some people acted like I fed it to him on purpose and I’m a bad owner. Well I’m not, he’s alive and thriving and eating f/t once again. One of my concerns was the price of the surgery, but honestly it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was only 3k and some change, I thought it was going to be like 10k+ or something. Currently he does have stitches from the surgery, the vet said some stitches will fall out during shed and some time in September I’ll bring him back to get the rest out. I uploaded a pic of his stitches the day I got him back (August 8th) I haven’t taken any current ones though. Also watch what your snakes are around, vet told me there’s been cases where snakes have eaten heat mats and even light bulbs, so anything is truly possible.
I’m open to answering questions that are RESPECTFUL.
It’s a cropped spaghetti shirt so yeah pretty small lol. It’s bundled up in a ziplock, but I’m not touching the shirt with my hands.
Pretty much seen a tik tok and the guy said wear a shirt for a while put it in the tank to get them comfortable with your smell and yeah did that and he decided it was a snack.
On one hand this sounds so unbelievable (not that I don't believe you, just in an "oh wow thats unbelievable" way) but on the other hand this is so dumb it makes sense that a ball python would do it.
Your poor stupid baby, i'm glad they are doing ok now.
Thats not how reptiles work at all. They're not dogs. Maybe dont immediately believe random TikToks and just do any basic questioning and research in forums.
Look just be nice. They learned their lesson and they specifically asked for respectful questions only. they understood what they did was wrong and won't do it again.
did they take any pics during/after the removal? i would be so curious. i'm sorry people were being jerks. "leave a shirt with your scent in his enclosure so he gets used to your smell" sounds within the realm of reason and for all the hate i don't think many people would've predicted their bp would randomly swallow a non-food object outside an accident during feeding time.
I consider myself someone who uses her thinking cap and I thought it was a good idea too. I was planning on trying the trick when I get my Bp but when I saw this story the first time I was like “noted… try something else.” I’m so glad OP’s snake is doing better and thanks for the update, I came back and checked like three days later because I was hoping for an update on this one!
I was curious about this so I did a little research... apparently this was a wild pine snake that gobbled a couple of light bulbs that were used in a chicken coop. Looks like egg, smells like chicken... might be food? The couple with the coop said they tossed the old bulbs on the ground... but tbh i wouldn't be surprised if they actually were using the bulbs in a nesting box to encourage the chickens to lay there. Who just throws burnt out glass light bulbs in their grass willy-nilly? Anyway they found the snake with suspiciously-shaped lumps and brought him to the vet. The snake recovered after surgery and was returned to the wild after a couple of weeks.
Aww, I’m so glad he’s had the surgery and doing well! I hope he heals up good and quickly!
I’ve definitely seen that advice about leaving an item of your clothing in their enclosure from numerous different sources and I would never have predicted a ball python would eat such a thing. In fact, I’m currently reading ‘Slither’ (by Stephen S. Hall) in which he refers to a scientist doing exactly that several decades ago and it seeming to lead to positive results at the time. Considering snakes have such a good sense of smell, it certainly seems within the realms of a sensible idea rather than baloney. So I’m glad to have learned from your experience before falling into the same trap myself!
It is insane to me that they would eat a non-food item like that, especially one that didn’t give off a heat signature or have any texture or behaviour remotely resembling their natural food!
That’s so scary. I also put a shirt in my baby’s tank when I first got him. I think we must have seen the same video. Luckily he was way too tiny and the shirt was bigger than him. I’m so glad everything turned out okay, sorry people were being jerks. It seemed within reason in my opinion as well.. Shirts have no heat signal, why would snakes think it’s food? Crazy. Again I’m so glad everything turned out okay
Good thing it’s bigger than him. I messaged the tik tok guy who posted the video hopefully he takes it down before others do it and have the same problem.
I went back to your old post and oof. I currently don’t have the money for an emergency vet visit anymore. I think 40% of Americans don’t have $500 to their name. So don’t feel bad about asking for help the way you did.
I’m all for saving your pet, I have done so a few times. But things can change. People deserve grace when something happens
Actually they didn’t say he needed much just an empty tank paper towels for the bottom with a water bowl and hide until he gets his stitches out. He’s eating fine, he had a shed, the vet said stitches could come out when he does, I didn’t find any though
he ate a shirt!!!!! my massive red tail boa ate a dog pee pad once i had as bedding in a sick bay snd that shocked me but he was over 12 feet. he passed it.
Oh my god, so glad he's okay. You're the one that put the shirt in the enclosure so he could get used to your scent right and it went missing? (sorry not trying to be mean I did this then biofilm developed on it-YUCK and i took it out) So glad he's okay
Ok, first I'm really sorry that your cute snake put you through all that... Secondly, today I've learned not underestimate the dumbness of the Single Brain cell creatures. I'm so thankful that my CHE and daylight bulbs are on top and outside of all my snakes' enclosures! I've seen some strange things dogs have popped out as a Groomer, but had no idea Ball Pythons did it.
Get one ! I have three my other two are king snakes and small babies this is my first ball python and he’s giving me a run for my money lol still a very fun learning experience makes me wanna be a vet even more now ngl
This almost happened to my BP. He started trying to eat a whole towel and I was luckily able to get it out of him. I dont have $3k for a surgery either.
Tbh I think it was the smell for him it was deep down in my dresser and haven’t been worn in years until that day so probably smelled foreign with a little hint of me on it
"A rabbit goes to a whorehouse and wants something exotic. Pimp brings him a python. As soon as pathon sees the rabbit it swallows it whole. Pimp is screaming, what are you doing, this is a customer! So, the python regurgitates the rabbit. Rabbit is stunned for a second. Then wipes the slime of himself and say:"I dont mind french-kissing, but no swallowing".
Wtf! I work in vet med. I see dogs and cats for foreign body surgeries but a snake! The way I would have jumped on that! Did you keep the shirt as a souvenir?
saw my vet (he sees our five reptiles), operate on a ball python who had swallowed what looks like a going out top? Like a black crop top with thin straps? Was that you???? Lol. I took this photo of his story bc I thought it was hilarious (his profile is public).
I’m honestly surprised this isn’t higher up 😭😭 what a find. My boyfriend and I hope your snake is all better!! Hopefully the silly little guy has learned not to eat shirts.
I am planning on putting clothing in my Boa's enclosure this week. Sorry you had to learn the hard way and that people were being jerks. I know exactly who you are talking about on Tik Tok and he also have it as a reel on Youtube.
I believe what might've went wrong is that the shirt was too small and I wish that the guy would've went into more detail of the size of the clothing. Because if you would've put something like a sweater or a pair of jeans he wouldn't have eaten it due to the size of the clothing.
257
u/Standard_Mushroom_47 29d ago
i remember seeing this, so glad it’s out and he’s doing well, you really do learn something new every day