Total Newbie

[feranaja]

Hi everyone,

I am so thrilled to have found this site! My name is Catherine and I live in west Quebec; I'm a Canine Nutrition Advisor and Tellington Touch practitioner- in- training. My area is dogs, but I have had a longtime love for snakes and reptiles. A few weeks back I realized a longtime dream and brought home my first snake, a three year old ball python named Clementine. She is extremely beautiful except she has this little white patch on her side;and has had a history of changing homes, so my heart kind of went out to her and I decided this was the one. Now, I have NO snake knowledge but am under the guidance of a very experienced reptile person so I figured I would be ok. And overall I think things are good..but I have a concern about her nervousness and I always like to get a variety of opinions. So I will be posting my noobie questions - picking everyone's brains-for now I just wanted to say hello, and I'm so glad to be here.
:p

Looking forward to all the knowledge and insight you all have to offer,
Catherine and Clem

[Lrptls]

welcome catherine! you will enjoy this site i'm sure. i have had my bp almost a year so i know a thing or 2 about them and alot of people on this site know alot about them so any questions you have will be answerd. alot of bps can be quite nervous. if yours has been in alot of homes that makes perfect sence for her to be more nervous than most of them but if shes eating and sheding corectly than thats fantastic. good luck with her and your training

[feranaja]

Hi Lrptls -

Well, she isn't eating. But it's only been two weeks and according to the person I got her from that is her pattern (and I'm worrying too much) I've offered three dead mice in 2 weeks but no way. She also struck at me when I surprised her one night (she was scouting around the top of the tank and I put my hand near her head, stupid I guess, but she made a dent in the screen, poor baby). I felt awful about scaring her and now I'm worried I've made her fear me.

I did know that wild caught snakes can be like this before I brought her home...
I'm also worried that my dogs are scaring her, just by smell (they ignore the tank, for the most part).

I think I justy need time. I decided yesterday to acquire another one, a young captive bred male, so I will learn from two very different snakes.

Thanks again! Do you have pics posted anywhere?
Cat

[Matt_K]

welcome to the site! :D

[Lrptls]

go to gallery and search username Lrptls, also www.mishypets.4t.com has alot of pictures. both have pictures of my bp.
when i first got mine she took a dead mouse right away, but the next 2 times she would constrict the mouse and leave it. i gave her a live mouse, she grabd it in one second and gobbled it down, sence then i have never had any problems feeding her. you may want to try this. this would be the only time i recomend feeding live. if she takes it get her on fresh killed and if i were you i'd go to frozen thawd (i think they are better because it kills off any potential parasites on the rodents which can be terrible to snakes)
again, good luck with her and enjoy ssnakess.

[scalawag]

Welcome to the site. It's usually recommended when you get a new snake to put it in a low traffic area and leave it alone for 2 weeks, just spot clean and fresh water. Then try feeding. BPs are notorious for feeding frustration. They can go a very long time without eating. So unless its losing weight or is very underweight I would just be patient. She'll come around. Just make sure of your husbandry. What are you cage dimentions, cool and warm side temps, hides on both sides, humidity??? And I would not put her within site of the dog, maybe a closed off room. Even if the dog is cool, it's another predator. Good luck!!!

[sketchy4]

welcome to sSnakeSs!

[feranaja]

Thank you everyone for the info and welcome! I guess I should take this discussion to the BP forum, I have loads of questions on temperature, feeding,tank size and type etc. You will probably all confirm what I've already been told since the guy I bought her from is a true expert, but it's helpful to talk anyway. I'm a nervous Mom....

Thanks again! Cat :)

[BoidKeeper]

Welcome to the site! I always recomend new ball owners get a copy of the Ball Python Manual. You can get in on line at chapters. In the mean time I would read every care sheet on the net and then come here to ask questions about what they are telling you.
And finnally, let's see some pics!
Cheers,
Trevor

[mykee]

Welcome to the ssite.

[CDN-Cresties]

Welcome to ssnakess!!!

[TheRedDragon]

Welcome to sSnakeSs Catherine! :)

[Edwin]

Welcome, Catherine!

[Bighead]

Hi Catherine
I am an aspiring animal behaviorist and full time dog trainer. I also happen to have a 3 year old female ball with a shady past but she is doing excellent now. I'm sure yours will be fine with a little patience. Welcome to Ssnakess.

[jparker1167]

welcome and congrats on your new snakes