View Full Version : First Ball :)
Hey Everyone
Just want to start by saying what an awesome board this was. Not only did I find an amazing breeder, but also almost every question I could think of was answered so thank you for those who asked questions because I have learned so much from this site, it has helped me prepare for my first snake.
I just purchased my first Ball at the Rep Show last sunday, and she is absolutely gorgeous. Ill put pictures up once she settles in better.
I do have a question though, last night I tried to feed her a f/t rat and she was definately showing a lot of signs she wanted to eat (S position, tongue flicking rapidly, following the rat when pulled away) but she struck at it, hit it, knocked it off the tongs and stared at it. So I figured she just missed, picked it up, same thing. This happened once or twice more, and then she hissed after her fourth strike out.
My question is is she striking out of agression or out of hunger, and just doesnt want it, as previously she was fed live?
I do maintain proper husbandry, 86-96 hot side, 80-86 cool side and 50% humidity, rubbermaid with 2 hides (one each side), larger water dish in the middle and an HHP underneath.
Any and all critisism is openly accepted, as I feel its better to learn from your mistakes so you dont make them again. And I've learned before i got her, NO HANDLING first week. Thanks for you help!
...she doesn't want it. Try again in a week or two? My female does that too and I know if she REALLY wanted it she would strike and grab it immediately. I've found that if I keep trying to intice her by continuing to dangle the rodent in front of her she gets really pissed. I've learned not to do that anymore. :)
Good luck and congrats on your new snakey. What's her name?
malaysianbloods
03-04-05, 03:20 PM
Congrats on the new snake and I have actually found that if they do that and you leave it in with them they will eat it 80% of the time. HTH
....I've tried leaving the mouse/rat in overnight too (many times)and my bp has yet to eat them.
different strokes for different snakes, i spect :)
Thanks Sid, I tried that last night as soon as she hissed but no go
Manitoban Herps
03-04-05, 04:25 PM
Don't start to handle her till she has ate at least once, I know it's hard to fight the temptaion :p
Good luck!
I'm just curious, but was she on mice before? Sometimes a switch in smell can throw them and they'll act defensive towards it... the same way they would strike at your hand if pissed off (which could be why she hissed). I'm not saying this is probable as to what happened, but it is possible. Especially if she was previously fed live rats (or mice), she could see the F/T as a threat (moves differently, smells different, different temp, etc).
I agree with Joey. Wait a week before offering again. If she does the same thing and "follows" the rat, continue to pull the rat away SLOWLY (or maybe stop and slowly turn it). If she's hungry (and it sounds like she might be), she'll take it.
Good luck!
no, she was on live rats before, and yes thats a very good theory of what is happenin Spirit, and Joey I am waiting till thursday to try again. And I have not attempted to handle her, im waiting till after meal 3
pythonmdk
03-04-05, 06:22 PM
you could try p/k first befor you go to f/t. I always start off with f/t but if that doesn't work then I will go with what they have been eating (live) and then go to p/k and then f/t. ANyways good luck.
~John
First of all, I would like to congratulate you on having done some research before your purchase and not the other way around. What you are describing is a defensive strike. She has no desire to eat if she either misses the food item, or leaves it once struck at. She is stressed and just wants to be left alone. Let her settle in for a while, and try again in a week or so. I would also suggest you get your temps more settled; 90-95 hot, 80-82 warm.
Other than that, I know it's tough, but just be patient, she'll come around.
Jeff_Favelle
03-04-05, 07:15 PM
Awesome!
What mykee said. :)
Thanks again for all your help guys, you cleared my concience *sp* and I thought that's why she wasnt eating, out of stress, and was only striking out of agression, because she never held and coiled...as tempting as it is, im going to wait till thursday and try again :D
My temps are a lot more stable now, i figured out why my readings kept changing (she is very sneaky and keeps moving the probe around), so i now have steady temps on either side, that only differ about 4-5 degrees respectively
malaysianbloods
03-04-05, 09:54 PM
It was worth a try and I hope you can get her to FT. Good luck
Just incase you don't already know, if your ball refuses food and you're offering too often, your snake will associate that particular food item as something not to be eaten (to put it simply). Thursday is good, and if she refuses then, wait another week. It's a common mistake to offer every couple days then wonder why your snake is always refusing, so I just thought I'd mention it just incase you didn't know.
One more thing. Are you saying your temp gradient is only 4-5 degrees? If so it should be closer to 10. The temps in your tank will vary if the room temps go up and down, so forgive me if I misunderstood.
Also, there is a lot of good information here regarding how to tell when your ball will or won't eat, as to his behavior. Some people won't even bother offering if their snake isn't "acting hungry".
Keep us posted!
The temps do range according to room temperature/time of day yes, but it doesnt go up/down very much. But as I mentioned, the very beginning threw me off because i didnt notice her moving the temp probe around.
Because this is my first snake, I thought i did see signs of her being hungry as mentioned in the first post, but i am definately waiting in weeks now, because sensibly its just the right way :)
Hey all, just an update
I think I found the solution to my problem...I made a new hide just to see if she'd like it, so I put two kraft diner boxes together (stapled, and made sure there were no sharp points sticking out) and left it in there...that was Sunday, two days later she hasnt come out of it, lol :) Ive noticed she has been a lot less "explory" since I put it in, and that may have been my problem in the first place, she just didnt like the hides (2 cracker boxes, its just touching her back when shes in it), and thats why she was snappy.
2 more days, and I'm gonna try to feed her :) wish me luck
I think I would still be concerned about using staples in her hide box. If she gets the box wet and the staples come out or anything, ouch!! I don't think I would risk it. I use the small plastic flower pot bottoms, you can get all different sizes to fit your particular snake and the most I have paid is $2.50 for the largest size and just cut a small square out of the side. No worries with them at all.
pablo111
03-09-05, 11:20 AM
Just FYI
The only balls at the show were CB adults, $300 50% Het albino babies from one guy, and "CB" babies from Port Credit Pets, and then there was a moron with a fifty gallon with balls piled on top of eachother.
There were a couple of guys with spiders and piebalds and pastels, but other than that, there wasnt much, so Im kind of curious who this "great" breeder you found was
No Pablo, I arranged to pick up my ball from Dave Barasou before the show, I just met him there.
Dave Barsalou
03-09-05, 05:41 PM
Give her a little time. She ate about 6 days before (weaned rat) but hasn't enjoyed her move to a large, full-sized rubbermaid a little while back. If you can, try putting her back into a model #2218 shoe box (4 1/2" x 8 1/4" x 13 1/2", the container I gave you). Just for awhile until she gets back on schedule again. I move my animals into the full sized container ASAP, they almost all do very well.
Thx for the plug and let me know how she's doing. In a couple of weeks she'll be back to her high-strung self. I know snakes have personalities but this one was like no other. Beautiful, remarkable colours but an attitude, wow.
Thx again,
Dave Barsalou
fedupdon
03-13-05, 12:56 PM
ive had goodluck putting a hid box in the cage and lv the f/k rat or mouse in the box .also it sounds crazy but ive found color to be a big problem some of the imports i recived will only feed on dark not the white lab animals maybe they are like us some like the white meat some dont
After a lot of consideration, i'm going to feed her live for the first one, hopefully shell get the taste of rat in her and want more
Originally posted by pablo111
Just FYI
The only balls at the show were CB adults, $300 50% Het albino babies from one guy, and "CB" babies from Port Credit Pets, and then there was a moron with a fifty gallon with balls piled on top of eachother.
Are you implying that the BP's that Port Credit had weren't CB?? That's quite the assumption you're making if this is the case..
They are infact CB babies, but hey, you likely know better right?
And who was the moron you're talking? If it's NAReptiles, you could talk about him by his name instead of using immature names.
-Matt
SHE ATE!
Wooo, i tried again and she refused, so i waited a week and a half and offered a prekilled...left it in there and she ate what I think is the most amazing way, hanging! She swooped down, bit and coiled and devouled, all while hanging!
EASILY worth the wait!
Dave Barsalou
03-20-05, 02:27 PM
Glad to see she ate so entertainingly for you :) . She's got beautiful colours, can't wait to see what she looks like as she grows up.
Dave
HumphreyBoagart
03-20-05, 03:53 PM
Glad to hear she ate for you, I have done alot of business with Dave, and he has some awesome Balls! LOL! I'm getting another 17 females off him in April, I can't wait. It's my little birthday present to myself! : )
Ha great to hear HB
Well after two days I decided to start the handling process.
Was kind of nerve racking for both of us, lol, as this is my first snake. I let her climb to the top of the enclosure, then slowly and gently lifted her back up. She immediately noticed me and stopped moving. She cocked her head back, looked a lot like the s position and stared at my hand.
She had her upper half wrapped around the top of the rubbermaid, and my hand was holding up her bottom half. After a brief stand off, she then slowly cruised her body away from me and draped herself over the lip of the rubbermaid. After sitting and starring at me, not changing her position, she slowly (and i mean 15 minutes slowly) she went back into the rubbermaid and into one of her hides.
Now, while she was sitting staring at me, I wanted to lift her up off the rubbermaid and hold her with both hands, bout couldnt find the guts (or nuts, whichever you prefer) to do it.
My question is was this a good first step? and if so what should I do next time (i plan on not touching her today and handling tomorow, so she slowly gains a trust with me). Just wanted some expert opinions on whether this is a good or bad idea, or if I had done anything right/wrong in my very FIRST handle with her.
vBulletin® v3.8.7, Copyright ©2000-2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.