I am also curious, I don't understand how...

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Posted by Jim Demirjian on August 09, 2001 at 15:06:08:

In Reply to: Re: Bajas puking, any sugestions? posted by Adam Block on August 08, 2001 at 20:47:37:

Adam,
after reading your post I am left wondering about several of your rermarks.
First, I can't understand why you would think an animal that has regurgitated several times is ready for the freezer? My own Bajas have regurgitated several times I can think of offhand, and as I said in previous post, I give them alot of time and never have pushed them. Nobody is perfect when it comes to keeping any of these animals, but it would seem to me that asking questions and trying different keeping methods/environments when things arent't working is as close to perfect any of us will come. What more could this hobby as a whole ask for, but for this type of responsible thinking keepers.
Your point about parrots is also quite confusing.
We live with 3 parrots, which are as demanding as most children (In fact they pretty much are our kids). I can't imagine there is any argument you could come up with against keeping parrots, when you, like myself, keep snakes?
Perhaps we misunderstood?
-Jim Demirjian

: In my opinion Baja�s are one of the snakes that are only a step from not being successfully kept in captivity. They are really on the edge and you have to find a balance, upset that balance even a little and the snake is not going to live. I would recommend the following, all from personal experience and not what the books say.

: Humidity while I think can be a factor I doubt it�s the main thing to worry about. In captivity as well as the wild you have microhabitats that are nothing like their geographical surroundings. In the dessert around me we have many snakes that need high humidity and low temps. I think Baja�s are okay with a little higher humidity so I doubt the water bowl should be a concern. I would however not leave more then a 4 once water dish in the bowl and if it gets spilled be sure to clean right away.

: What I would focus on based on what you said (�eating well and growing quickly�) is this. I wouldn�t even expect, hope, plan or dream of breeding before an animal is 5 years old. I�m not saying it can�t be done, I just doubt you�re going to do it with a healthy snake. I would feed them the least and smallest size meal you think will work. Don�t even attempt 2 mice a week as that won�t work. I would also try my hardest to have a fairly hot spot in the cage and another spot that doesn�t fall below 80 or so.

: I�m sure many people have gotten many other things to work and have bred them at 3 years or even 18 months, but like the late night get rich schemes say, �results not typical�. I�m only saying the things I find to be a must for most animals.

: Also, as Walt said, if they puke a meal, at the least skip the next meal for that animal and when you do feed it only give it one small item.

: Last thing I�d like to add. If you have a Baja that has puked up a meal once, I�m sure it will do it again. If they puke up a meal 2 or 3 times I would say they�re about ready for the freezer. Not that I wouldn�t keep trying, just that I doubt there�s much hope.

: Sorry this was gloomy, they�re just tough snakes and for that reason I feel they should be left with the monkeys and the parrots, in the wild and not out homes!

: Good luck and keep us posted,
: Adam Block

Follow Ups:

What did I get into? LOL Adam Block 08/10/01 (2)
- we wont hold it against you, *PIC Jim Demirjian 08/10/01 (1)
  - HANDSOME BIRDS!!! Raven 08/10/01 (0)

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: Adam, : after reading your post I am left wondering about several of your rermarks. : First, I can't understand why you would think an animal that has regurgitated several times is ready for the freezer? My own Bajas have regurgitated several times I can think of offhand, and as I said in previous post, I give them alot of time and never have pushed them. Nobody is perfect when it comes to keeping any of these animals, but it would seem to me that asking questions and trying different keeping methods/environments when things arent't working is as close to perfect any of us will come. What more could this hobby as a whole ask for, but for this type of responsible thinking keepers. : Your point about parrots is also quite confusing. : We live with 3 parrots, which are as demanding as most children (In fact they pretty much are our kids). I can't imagine there is any argument you could come up with against keeping parrots, when you, like myself, keep snakes? : Perhaps we misunderstood? : -Jim Demirjian : : : In my opinion Baja�s are one of the snakes that are only a step from not being successfully kept in captivity. They are really on the edge and you have to find a balance, upset that balance even a little and the snake is not going to live. I would recommend the following, all from personal experience and not what the books say. : : Humidity while I think can be a factor I doubt it�s the main thing to worry about. In captivity as well as the wild you have microhabitats that are nothing like their geographical surroundings. In the dessert around me we have many snakes that need high humidity and low temps. I think Baja�s are okay with a little higher humidity so I doubt the water bowl should be a concern. I would however not leave more then a 4 once water dish in the bowl and if it gets spilled be sure to clean right away. : : What I would focus on based on what you said (�eating well and growing quickly�) is this. I wouldn�t even expect, hope, plan or dream of breeding before an animal is 5 years old. I�m not saying it can�t be done, I just doubt you�re going to do it with a healthy snake. I would feed them the least and smallest size meal you think will work. Don�t even attempt 2 mice a week as that won�t work. I would also try my hardest to have a fairly hot spot in the cage and another spot that doesn�t fall below 80 or so. : : I�m sure many people have gotten many other things to work and have bred them at 3 years or even 18 months, but like the late night get rich schemes say, �results not typical�. I�m only saying the things I find to be a must for most animals. : : Also, as Walt said, if they puke a meal, at the least skip the next meal for that animal and when you do feed it only give it one small item. : : Last thing I�d like to add. If you have a Baja that has puked up a meal once, I�m sure it will do it again. If they puke up a meal 2 or 3 times I would say they�re about ready for the freezer. Not that I wouldn�t keep trying, just that I doubt there�s much hope. : : Sorry this was gloomy, they�re just tough snakes and for that reason I feel they should be left with the monkeys and the parrots, in the wild and not out homes! : : Good luck and keep us posted, : : Adam Block

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