New addition to the growing collection.

[GarterGirl]

So, after much deliberation and poking around for a healthy looking fellow, I purchased a ball python today for my husband. He's been pining over the loss of his two for a few years now, not to mention complaining (playfully) that all but one of our snakes are 'mine.'

That being said, he's the python fan, not me, so I'm looking for some little tips or tricks to keep both of them happy. He's very good with the basic care, but I understand that these snakes aren't anything like what I normally work with (thamnophis and nerodia). Any experienced owners have some suggestions? Times they normally go off their food, little indications that they aren't feeling well, tips on shedding help (since I've seen and heard of all the shedding issues they have.)
And before people jump down my throat about having a finicky snake that I don't know much about- again, this is my husband's snake, and he does know about them, but I'm trying to learn more so that I'm closer to his level.

Oh- I'll post pictures soon, but my hubby named him Mephisto, though I call him MaphiBiscuts. Funny story, I had a temp hide in there for him that was a large cardboard tube. The damned snake didn't just curl up in it, he knotted himself and wedged himself in there so tight that I had to peel the tube apart like a tube of biscuit batter in order to get him out so I could put a real hide in his tank. XD

[marvelfreak]

Congrats! Can't wait to see pictures.

[sweatshirt]

Woot! Congrats. Love the name.

[GarterGirl]

Thanks to both of you!
And which name? Mephisto, or MaphiBiscuits?

[sweatshirt]

Both ;) But... MaphiBiscuits is more casual!

[franks]

Congrats on the new snake! I would say the biggest "tip" for a newer ball python owner, is that their health is effected by how secure they feel. Tight fitting dark hides, and a home that makes the snake feel enclosed will go a long way towards its health.

[GarterGirl]

Thanks franks! I'm going to be making a custom hide that I think they'll both like, so I'll make sure to keep it enclosed enough that the snake will feel safe.
I've heard that they prefer having two hides- one in the warm side and one in the cool side- is that true?

[Amadeus]

Thanks franks! I'm going to be making a custom hide that I think they'll both like, so I'll make sure to keep it enclosed enough that the snake will feel safe.
I've heard that they prefer having two hides- one in the warm side and one in the cool side- is that true?

YES. They require a hide at each temperature gradient. For my bp, I have three hides. Hot, Warm, Cool. Your snake should use all of them.

[GarterGirl]

YES. They require a hide at each temperature gradient. For my bp, I have three hides. Hot, Warm, Cool. Your snake should use all of them.

You just stop by all my threads, don't you? XD

Alright, I'll work on two more hides.

[Mikoh4792]

YES. They require a hide at each temperature gradient. For my bp, I have three hides. Hot, Warm, Cool. Your snake should use all of them.

I give each of my snakes a hide for every degree from 100-75...

Just jokes.

OP I would also put a hide at different temps so your snake doesn't have to choose between heat and security/cooling off and security

[Aaron_S]

Thanks franks! I'm going to be making a custom hide that I think they'll both like, so I'll make sure to keep it enclosed enough that the snake will feel safe.
I've heard that they prefer having two hides- one in the warm side and one in the cool side- is that true?

All snakes should have multiple hides. As mentioned, no snake should have to choose between security and temperatures.

So far you've already experienced this with his paper tube hide. As you can tell, the smaller the better for them!

I would like to know what stories you've heard about with them being notorious for bad sheds.

I have quite a number of them and I never get bad sheds. It's the first I've heard of it. No snake is a "bad shedder" it's 100% husbandry issues.

For feeding, just feed on a regular schedule and if he stops eating it'll be throughout the winter most likely due to breeding season. Don't worry about this. A lot of ball pythons do, even for prolonged periods and they never have any issues. I know of a male that bred one year, didn't eat and bred the next season as well before eating!

[GarterGirl]

All snakes should have multiple hides. As mentioned, no snake should have to choose between security and temperatures.

So far you've already experienced this with his paper tube hide. As you can tell, the smaller the better for them!

I would like to know what stories you've heard about with them being notorious for bad sheds.

I usually give my snakes a hide in the cool end and then a not as enclosed area in the warmer side, just heard that bps need two actual enclosed hides and wanted to confirm.

Well, as far as the shedding issue, I've heard that their shedding is more drastically effected by humidity, temperature, and stress levels than most other snakes. Everything has to be just so. He did a rehab on a pair that had really awful retained shed (as well as mites and malnutrition and cypress bedding, which I took care of), and in order to get them back to health, it took a lot of babying on humidity and temps. I know he knows what he's doing, but he has a hard time explaining it to me, so I would like to catch up so that I can be of assistance.

[Lankyrob]

Basically keep the humidiy stable all the time and up it by 10% duringnshed and you should ahve no issues. I keep my bp at no less than 55% (but usually 60-65%) the majority of times and up it to at least 65% (but usually 70-75%) during shed and have had no issues.

[Aaron_S]

I usually give my snakes a hide in the cool end and then a not as enclosed area in the warmer side, just heard that bps need two actual enclosed hides and wanted to confirm.

Well, as far as the shedding issue, I've heard that their shedding is more drastically effected by humidity, temperature, and stress levels than most other snakes. Everything has to be just so. He did a rehab on a pair that had really awful retained shed (as well as mites and malnutrition and cypress bedding, which I took care of), and in order to get them back to health, it took a lot of babying on humidity and temps. I know he knows what he's doing, but he has a hard time explaining it to me, so I would like to catch up so that I can be of assistance.

Their shed cycles aren't like that. I've never heard of them being more finicky than other species. Considering the fact that they are usually suggested for beginners. As well as a really hardy species that can still live through keeper mistakes. Disregard the information you heard about bad sheds. Just keep the humidity up and increase it when it goes into a cycle. I don't know what you use now for substrate but a cypress mulch bedding would be sufficient.

[GarterGirl]

Their shed cycles aren't like that. I've never heard of them being more finicky than other species. Considering the fact that they are usually suggested for beginners. As well as a really hardy species that can still live through keeper mistakes. Disregard the information you heard about bad sheds. Just keep the humidity up and increase it when it goes into a cycle. I don't know what you use now for substrate but a cypress mulch bedding would be sufficient.

Hm. Maybe I hear it because I'm in Arizona, where it's nearly impossible to keep their humidity up? Don't know. It's not just what I've heard though, I've seen a lot of them that shed in flakes and have obvious spots that are retaining sheds.

The bedding wasn't an issue- the issue was the mites in the bedding.
We use a few different things for bedding, but generally a blend of mulch/bark, coconut fiber and moss. We like natural looking vivs, though I think we'll avoid the live plants for Maphi.

[Bloutitt]

Did you name him Mephisto possibly because of the Diablo game series?

[GarterGirl]

Did you name him Mephisto possibly because of the Diablo game series?

While we are definitely nerdy enough for that, that is not in fact why we named him Mephisto. Most of our snakes are named after various forms of 'satan,' because we are cheesy goth kids at heart and enjoy riling people up (that's what happens when you put two atheists in the Bible Belt for a few years.)
We currently have Mephisto, Samael, Bael, and Beelzebub. We can't help it, we're dorks. Beyond the snakes, we have a tendency to name our animals after various deities from various pantheons anyways.

[Aaron_S]

Hm. Maybe I hear it because I'm in Arizona, where it's nearly impossible to keep their humidity up? Don't know. It's not just what I've heard though, I've seen a lot of them that shed in flakes and have obvious spots that are retaining sheds.

Don't have a fail set up and you'll be fine. I don't remember what you have it in but if it has a screen top you'll be in trouble, regardless of where you live.

The bedding wasn't an issue- the issue was the mites in the bedding.
We use a few different things for bedding, but generally a blend of mulch/bark, coconut fiber and moss. We like natural looking vivs, though I think we'll avoid the live plants for Maphi.

Bedding doesn't have harmful mites contained in it. They may contain wood mites but not snake mites.

[Bloutitt]

While we are definitely nerdy enough for that, that is not in fact why we named him Mephisto. Most of our snakes are named after various forms of 'satan,' because we are cheesy goth kids at heart and enjoy riling people up (that's what happens when you put two atheists in the Bible Belt for a few years.)
We currently have Mephisto, Samael, Bael, and Beelzebub. We can't help it, we're dorks. Beyond the snakes, we have a tendency to name our animals after various deities from various pantheons anyways.

Haha love it \m/

[sweatshirt]

While we are definitely nerdy enough for that, that is not in fact why we named him Mephisto. Most of our snakes are named after various forms of 'satan,' because we are cheesy goth kids at heart and enjoy riling people up (that's what happens when you put two atheists in the Bible Belt for a few years.)
We currently have Mephisto, Samael, Bael, and Beelzebub. We can't help it, we're dorks. Beyond the snakes, we have a tendency to name our animals after various deities from various pantheons anyways.

I like you =)

[GarterGirl]

Don't have a fail set up and you'll be fine. I don't remember what you have it in but if it has a screen top you'll be in trouble, regardless of where you live.

Bedding doesn't have harmful mites contained in it. They may contain wood mites but not snake mites.

His current set does have a screen lid, though we've covered about 3/4 of it to help keep it in. It's temporary while we work on a larger enclosure. Taking some advice from here and a few other sites, we've managed to keep the humidity at around 50%.

[Lankyrob]

His current set does have a screen lid, though we've covered about 3/4 of it to help keep it in. It's temporary while we work on a larger enclosure. Taking some advice from here and a few other sites, we've managed to keep the humidity at around 50%.

50% is too low, especially at shed times, you need to up it to nearer 60%

[GarterGirl]

50% is too low, especially at shed times, you need to up it to nearer 60%

He does have a shed box for shedding now. I'll work on getting the humidity a bit higher in the full tank.