Ask what is actually recorded
Arrange the conversation with the previous keeper, breeder or rescue before the handover where possible. Ask which animal the records belong to and how it is identified. A name alone can be ambiguous if it has changed or if several animals have similar names.
For royal pythons, also called ball pythons, the RSPCA specifically advises finding out how the animal has been feeding before acquisition. That is a useful prompt to request dated information; it is not a guarantee that a record establishes the animal’s health.
Ask for the meal and the observed result
Ask when food was last confirmed as eaten, what was offered and where that information was recorded. Then ask about later offers, including refusals or occasions when the result was not observed. “Fed last week” may describe an offer rather than confirmed consumption.
If the previous keeper describes the usual food or routine, record that as their account. Do not turn it into a universal recommendation for the species or assume it should be continued without suitable advice for the animal’s circumstances.
A worked conversation with a previous keeper
This fictional example concerns Nori and a handover on 13 November 2026. The values are demonstration data, not a care plan or a real animal’s medical history.
| Your question | Previous keeper’s answer | How to preserve it |
|---|---|---|
| When was the last meal confirmed as eaten? | My notebook records one thawed mouse accepted on 5 November 2026. | Reported accepted meal; retain the notebook reference. |
| Were there later offers? | An offer was refused on 12 November. | A separate refusal, not a new accepted-meal date. |
| Do you have a dated measurement? | 420 g on 8 November, with the container tared. | Reported value, date, unit and measuring context. |
| What do you know about the last shed? | Skin found on 10 November; I did not see the event. | Discovery date known; exact shedding time unknown. |
| Is the earlier history complete? | No records before October are available. | Earlier history not supplied; do not fill the gap. |
Keep useful documents connected to their source
Ask what existing care records or relevant veterinary documents can accompany the animal. Keep the dates and the identity of the animal clear. Read any conditions on documents and request clarification from the issuer when necessary.
An app profile does not verify ownership, legal origin, species identification or health. A handover note is not a certificate. This website does not ask you to upload private documents; keep them through an appropriate arrangement with the people involved.
Start your own history from a clear boundary
Record when the animal arrived and distinguish supplied information from your own observations. For example: “13 November 2026: arrived; earlier feeding details supplied by previous keeper’s notebook.” Keep the original or a readable copy when available.
Then add the next event you actually observe. Before copying an older record, check the animal, date and unit and whether it is already present. If a date is missing, preserve that uncertainty instead of choosing an exact date to make the record complete.
Bring older notes into the history →Start an individual animal log →Use the record without treating it as a clearance
SquamaTracker can organise meals, sheds, measurements, notes and photos for up to three animals on the free plan. Premium is optional. The app is available on iPhone and Android with French and English interfaces. This guide does not promise an automatic record transfer from the previous keeper.
A supplied history does not replace appropriate preparation, quarantine advice or veterinary assessment. The guide below covers quarantine as a separate topic; seek appropriate help for concerns rather than waiting for missing records to arrive.
Read the separate quarantine guide →Find feeding records in the app →Keep measurements with their dates →Frequently asked questions
What if the previous keeper has no records?
Keep that gap explicit. Note what they can report and how certain it is, then begin your own dated observations. Do not invent a complete past history.
Does a feeding record prove the animal is healthy?
No. It documents a reported or observed event. Health requires an appropriate assessment, not a conclusion drawn from a list of meals.
Can I automatically transfer the previous keeper’s app profile?
No automatic transfer is promised here. Agree how to receive readable information and enter verified details manually where appropriate.
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