My First Ball Python!

[mysticmoon]

Well, what was supposed to be a surprise graduation present ended up being revealed to me lol. My grandma approached me today asking what kind of ball python I wanted (I'd been blabbing about them for a while). I'm so excited! I've wanted a BP since I first got the snake bug, now I'm finally getting one. Here he is, male (1200grams) Pastel Butter het Genetic Stripe. I ordered him from xyz reptiles, whom I've heard a lot of great things about. He will be here tomorrow, which is also my graduation day. I'm expecting him to possibly differ from the pic a bit, but they did say this was him:
http://www.xyzreptiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/A410110-1st-1-500x333.jpg
Yay! �� I have a 40 gallon tank waiting for him, some Zoomed forest floor bedding, and an under tank heater. Curently waiting for hydrofarm thermostat, and a digital thermometer/hygrometer to arrive in the mail. Now all I need is some rats! Question: how big of frozen rats should I order for a 1200 gram ball python?

So yeah I'm super excited, can't wait to meet him. Although I'm sure he'll probably be quite grumpy after his long trip :rolleyes:

Any advice for first time BP owner?

[Tiny Boidae]

Hey congrats! Ball pythons aren't my cup of tea, but I can definitely see the appeal. Enjoy your new snake and congratulations on graduating!

[mysticmoon]

Thank you, Tiny Boidae :)

[EL Ziggy]

Congrats on the new BP and more importantly on your graduation!

[Zelg]

Grats on the graduation. I'm not usually partial to the darker morphs (aside from normals, which I of course have a normal), but that is a fine looking ball. He's got some slick markings and I love how his patter fades going down the sides. Nice fine.

Not sure what size rats you should be going with as I'm currently attempting to switch from mice to rats. If you're unsure you should email XZY and ask what they've been feeding the lil(or big) guy. If not, I would just start off with small adult rats. If thats not enough you can always feed two (if you're buying in bulk and dont want to waste them). Better to start small IMO. Not sure how big 1200 grams is tbh. I'm sure someone else with more knowledge will chime in soon enough though.

[Albert Clark]

Grats mm on both your graduation and the new addition to your collection! Don't forget to quarantine him for at least 60 days, preferably 90, to protect him and also to protect your other snakes. A adult ball python can survive on a medium rat for their entire life on a biweekly basis. i would , however make sure i find out from xyz what they were feeding him. He is a genetic powerhouse, congrats again.

[Piggybuns]

Whooaaaa world's best grad present in my books!! >w< I'da killed for mom to let me do that back when I graduated, lol!! Congrats, he's so pretty! I love how his colors make him look really soft and smooth, and the patterns are a very dark outline like a woodburning. .3

[macandchz]

congrats on both the ball and the graduation! you should name him Free at Last! lol

[mysticmoon]

Thank you everyone! I am very lucky.

@zelg & Albert
Thank you both, I quite liked his pattern myself. He was the best looking guy in my price range. He will be quarantined, I have him set up in an area of my apartment where none of the other snakes are. I will email xyz and find out what they were feeding, good idea. I didn't think of that.

[mysticmoon]

Hmm I contacted them, they said they feed live adult mice. How hard do you think it'd be to switch him to frozen rats?

[travesty]

My ball didn't have a hard time switching to rats, although she has become a picky eater since. She goes on food strike sometimes but never loses weight. Your mileage may vary.

[Albert Clark]

Certainly it will be more challenging to switch him now as he is a adult if you take his weight into account. It is easier to convert a hatchling. However, some individuals are more accepting than others. It may be that he will take to f/t quickly but it will be a trial and error approach. Less attempts at feeding will be better. I wouldn't handle him until he has had at least 3 to 5 meals with you. That will be difficult but it's part of the tough love approach too. I did it with my candino male. Good luck and I can't wait to see how you make out.

[mysticmoon]

Update: they emailed me back, said they were mistaken. He eats live small-medium rats.

@Albert do you suggest not handling so as to keep him less stressed and more likely to eat?

[Andy_G]

Any snake you get should not be handled until it eats at least 3 times in your care. This should go for all new acquisitions and not just ball pythons. You have to let them settle in and get them eating before you start creating sources of stress such as handling. Also, be sure to quarantine the new acquisition away from your current collection. 30 days should be a minimum for a ball python.

[mysticmoon]

Thank you for the info Andy, I will definitely do that

[Albert Clark]

Update: they emailed me back, said they were mistaken. He eats live small-medium rats.

@Albert do you suggest not handling so as to keep him less stressed and more likely to eat?
That's correct. The shipping process is very stressful on animals. So, yeah it will be a good thing to offer just the right husbandry for about a week w/o any handling. Just go in to change water and spot clean. It will be hard but is the right thing to do in getting him acclimated/ established. I would wait about the same amount of time to attempt any feeding but that is controversial. Good luck and kudos for the acquisition.

[tastybeets]

Cute! Grats on your snek and graduation!

[Karilyne]

Congrats on your graduation and new BP!

[mysticmoon]

Hey guys, I'm a bit concerned about him. It looks like he got a little beat up in shipping, he has a cut on his lip that looks a bit swollen. The shipper also told me he was shedding, but it looks like he's already shed and retained an eye cap, unless that's an eye injury which I'm hoping it's not. He seems to be okay, he was moving around checking out his tank last night. What do you think? Will he be okay? I misted the bedding to keep it humid so he can get the eye cap off, if that's what it is. I'm a bit upset, not really sure if the company is to blame or not.
http://i66.tinypic.com/14c9q8k.jpg

[mysticmoon]

Another pic of his eye. This pic is kind of relieving, if you look close you can see his brown eye and pupil underneath. Stuck eye cap??
http://i66.tinypic.com/33ol2mc.jpg

[mysticmoon]

His good side http://i66.tinypic.com/wmeagy.jpg

[mysticmoon]

I'm hoping he is okay, he is a very beautiful snake. I'm happy with his coloring, just wish he didn't arrive all beat up :(

[albertagirl]

Best grad present ever, congratulations! So sorry he arrived looking like that though. Even his good eye doesn't look quite clear, are you sure he shed already? Definitely concerned about both the chin and the other eye, great pictures documenting it, but can't hurt to get a vet to look at it too in case there is any need to provide documentation in future discussions with the breeders. If you haven't already, I would also send these pictures to the breeder immediately, just so that there's no leeway for them to say that this happened to him in your care.

I don't have the experience to guess at what might have happened to him or what else to do about it.

[Albert Clark]

I'm hoping he is okay, he is a very beautiful snake. I'm happy with his coloring, just wish he didn't arrive all beat up :(

Wow mm! Definitely send the pics over to the seller to make him aware. i bet that's a rat bite or rat claw from a bad wrap plus the retained shed. You shouldn't have to accept a animal in that condition as much as you want him there are plenty of healthy pastel butter het genetic stripe. I ship animals to customers all the time but would never have shipped a animal in that condition. Consider sending him back right away. If you did paypal you should file a claim. This is just IMO. XYZ apparently had to see this condition prior to shipping. In the meantime i would remove all the substrate and put the python on paper towels. XYZ should send you a shipping box and shipping label so you can return him at no cost to you and replace the animal. Sorry about the rant but i hate to see big time breeders taking advantage of customers.

[mysticmoon]

Thanks albertagirl, I have contacted the breeder. They said he didn't shed yet, but I see little tiny flakes and pieces left over on him. Also why such dramatic difference in the eyes? Unless he hurt himself. I am considering a vet, I will wait a couple days and see if he sheds. This is the somewhat confusing convo I had with the breeder....

Me: Hey guys, I picked up my snake from fedex yesterday and when I unboxed him he looked a little beat up. He has a cut on his lip and looks a bit swollen, his eyeball also looks kind of wrinkly. Stuck eye cap? Or injury? I remember you guys said he was shedding.

Breeder: He is still in shed. Let's wait and look at him after he sheds. He was kept alone in a container so he would not have interacted with another snake. Send pics after he sheds please

Me: So it's probably just a stuck eye cap then? because it looks like the rest of him has already shed. I will send pics after/if he gets the eyecap off, I misted the bedding to keep it humid

Breeder: Ok. He will be shed in the next 4 days
Me: Alright.


So according to them he hasn't shed yet, I guess.

[mysticmoon]

Wow mm! Definitely send the pics over to the seller to make him aware. i bet that's a rat bite or rat claw from a bad wrap plus the retained shed. You shouldn't have to accept a animal in that condition as much as you want him there are plenty of healthy pastel butter het genetic stripe. I ship animals to customers all the time but would never have shipped a animal in that condition. Consider sending him back right away. If you did paypal you should file a claim. This is just IMO. XYZ apparently had to see this condition prior to shipping. In the meantime i would remove all the substrate and put the python on paper towels. XYZ should send you a shipping box and shipping label so you can return him at no cost to you and replace the animal. Sorry about the rant but i hate to see big time breeders taking advantage of customers.

Thanks Albert, I'm pretty upset and seriously conisdering returning him. In my last comment I posted my conversation with the breeder, he was really unclear/not helpful. I sent him the pictures I posted here. It would make sense that he got a rat bite, considering they feed live. Next time I'll have to make sure I order from someone who feeds frozen thawed.

[Albert Clark]

That conversation is absolutely a fabrication on the sellers part. That is a bad shed w/o a doubt and that is a rat bite or rat claw. Don't let them sell you a ill animal. You are a customer with rights and you shouldn't have to take their animal to a vet. Don't settle for XYZ's shenanigans. This is actually a BOI complaint if they don't honor your wishes to return the animal.

[albertagirl]

I'm pretty concerned at their lack of concern. If you do decide to keep him for now, make sure to document everything. But I would consider Albert's advice as well to simply not accept an animal who has been shipped to you in poor health.

[mysticmoon]

That conversation is absolutely a fabrication on the sellers part. That is a bad shed w/o a doubt and that is a rat bite or rat claw. Don't let them sell you a ill animal. You are a customer with rights and you shouldn't have to take their animal to a vet. Don't settle for XYZ's shenanigans. This is actually a BOI complaint if they don't honor your wishes to return the animal.

I'm a bit stumped at what to do right now. If it's just a bad shed and a bite, I think I can get him through it. Unless you think it's bad enough that he needs medical attention.

Either way I'm very disappointed with xyz and will probably never order from them again. That's too bad, I'd heard and read a lot of positive things about them.

[Albert Clark]

Listen, if you want a reputable breeder, i know a few! Garrick Demeyer, Ralph Davis, Corey Delong and Deborah Stewart. Somebody has that animal (pastel butter het genetic stripe) in a healthy status. Bob Clark is another reputable breeder who is customer friendly with quality animals. You should really demand a refund. They are being more than less than honest.

[mysticmoon]

I'm pretty concerned at their lack of concern. If you do decide to keep him for now, make sure to document everything. But I would consider Albert's advice as well to simply not accept an animal who has been shipped to you in poor health.

I'm kind of on the fence right now. I will definitely document until he leaves/if he leaves.

[mysticmoon]

Listen, if you want a reputable breeder, i know a few! Garrick Demeyer, Ralph Davis, Corey Delong and Deborah Stewart. Somebody has that animal (pastel butter het genetic stripe) in a healthy status. Bob Clark is another reputable breeder who is customer friendly with quality animals. You should really demand a refund. They are being more than less than honest.

I am definitely considering it, I will think on it a bit and talk to my family about it.

Thank you Albert for all of your help

[Albert Clark]

I am definitely considering it, I will think on it a bit and talk to my family about it.

Thank you Albert for all of your help

YW. Ok, the decision is yours but you are armed with a defense now. There is absolutely no reason for them to expect you to accept this and then try to sell you a bill of goods to explain away their negligence. The right thing for them to do is to ship out another animal with the same genetics and tell you to either keep this animal or send it back. Have you read their "terms of service"? Pay pal can reverse payments for goods if you are not satisfied. Oh! this just really makes me angry!

[mysticmoon]

YW. Ok, the decision is yours but you are armed with a defense now. There is absolutely no reason for them to expect you to accept this and then try to sell you a bill of goods to explain away their negligence. The right thing for them to do is to ship out another animal with the same genetics and tell you to either keep this animal or send it back. Have you read their "terms of service"? Pay pal can reverse payments for goods if you are not satisfied. Oh! this just really makes me angry!

It says they have a no return policy. However I do have picture proof of their negligence which I could hang over their head to get a refund. When I ordered him he was the last of that morph available from them, so I would have to get another from somewhere else although that doesn't bother me much.

[travesty]

Wow, that's terrible that they did that. Whether you keep the snake or not, I would definitely retaliate. "Eye for an eye" At least get your money back.

[mysticmoon]

Update: I kept the snake, who I've since named Twister! In the past month I have been treating his rat bite with non-pain relief neosporin. The swelling has come down a lot, and the cut now has a scab. I was also able to get off most of his stuck shed, but his eye caps are still there. However they are starting to peel back and I think if I keep the humidity right he should get it off next shed no problem.
Oh and good news! He eats frozen thawed no problem! Thank god :) He's an absolute sweetie and I'm so in love. I know most people probably would have shipped him back but it was love at first sight lol. He's still not the prettiest looking snake but he seems overall happy and I know with time he'll be gorgeous again. I was also able to take a look in his mouth and I don't see any ingrown teeth or anything lodged in there.
I complained to the seller, they offered to refund me my money if I sent the snake back but I decided to keep him and help him get back to health. Definitely not doing business with them again though.

His bad eye/rat bite
http://i65.tinypic.com/2zrqlmp.jpg
Blepblep
http://i63.tinypic.com/10eo8pz.jpg
Pretty snake
http://i67.tinypic.com/akvqd3.jpg

He doesn't have the coolest decor yet but it works for now lol. Plastic blue bowls, 88 cents each at Walmart!

[Ian of Oldham]

Well done on both snake and your graduation, I feed my adult female on medium rats every 8 - 10 Days and she is in good health and very happy with that. this is when I was just changing her over to rats


2 Royal 1 Corn 1 Boa a mad Cat and 1 hog on its way