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| Name: |
Joker
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Age: |
One and a half years old
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| Gender: |
Male
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Kind: |
Boa Constrictor
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| Home: |
Cornwall, England
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I had met Joker at my work experience placement back in January, I had nicknamed him "Clown" due to how his eyes had a cross in them, just like some clowns have those lines painted over their eyes.
I had quickly grown to love him, getting him out to handle every week and keeping him out as long as I could. Safe to say I had fallen in love with the four-foot-long snake, who was around a year old at the time.
I constantly pestered my mum to let me get the expensive snake, just a couple of months since I had gotten my first. It was coming up to my birthday at the time, my 18th, and everytime I was asked what I wanted I replied with the same answer, "You know what I want."
Eventually my parents gave in. I went to London for the first time on my 18th birthday, but a week or so after we got back we picked the snake up, now officially named Joker, choosing a movie theme with my reptiles. He had recently shed when I had got him, so his scales were shining gold.
Within the first week of having him he ended up having a bath, as I noticed a dent in his eye which can mean rather dehydration or a retained eye cap. This was quickly sorted out and it also revealed that he loved water. So it began that I started bathing him once every week.
Some reptile keepers don't see the point in bathing reptiles, but I've never seen an issue with it. As long as said reptile doesn't mind the water and isn't bathing to often, why not? Joker's water bowl is too small for him to fit in, and his enclosure is too small to have a larger water source put in.
It has taken a while for him to settle in, months even. He's a difficult feeder, his glass must be covered up and he must not be disturbed a day or two before feeding, if he is, he won't eat. I every so often offer them something a little different and challenging, and it's shown that he actually likes chicken eggs, and will stay there for ages trying to eat it.
It's been four months now since we first picked him up, and he's grown in confidence, and size! He is now five feet long exactly, and has started to become much more active when handled. He now moves when taken outside when it is hot enough, compared to the past where he'd just lie there, he now also moves when I am handling him. This is great result considering he is quite a nervous animal. I look forward to many years ahead with my Joker!
Talk about Joker in Pet Talk!
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