Purchased a Ball Python

[LandonBP]

I have kept Ball Pythons in the past though just recently felt the need to adopt another Ball Python, I missed the personality of the Ball Pythons I used to have. Yesterday I went to my local pet store to look at the Ball Pythons, they had about 50 Baby Ball Pyhtons in one cage together, they were all in one corner basking, though one was active and looked very healthy as he was moving around the entire snake. I asked to hold the active snake and was hooked, he was not scared one bit and looked perfectly healthy. I purchased this Ball Python for only $20.00. He was but into a box and gave to me, the box had one hole in the top. During the ride home the snake continued to poke his little head out of the box and flick his toung at me then go back into the box, we were home about 30 minutes later.

I let him rest in a 10 gallon tank while I prepare his 29 gallon tank for him. The entire night he was moving about his snake, and now the next day hes finally a sleep. Im going today to purchase a fuzzy for him to see if he will feed. I have taken a few pictures of 'Slavco' below, though they are not the best quality pics, I could not get him to stop moving. I will post more later.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v351/LandonCowling/Picture001.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v351/LandonCowling/Picture005.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v351/LandonCowling/Picture002.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v351/LandonCowling/Picture003.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v351/LandonCowling/Picture004.jpg

Thank you for viewing! :)

[Edmond Y]

Hi Landon, glad to see this little guy as he will be one of your best friend and wish he will eat well.
Cheers
Edmond

[ATBlover]

i like the gold on the neck...congrats:D

[peterm15]

may i suggest not useing a 29 gallon tank for such a small snake.. he will feed insecure.. maybe a small rubbermaid would be more suited.. and will keep the snake healthier..

but that is one beauty of a snake.. i like the stripe going down the last 1/3 of his body

[LandonBP]

peterm15; I have a 29 and several 10 gallon tanks, would you suggest a 10g, or would this be too small? Thank you very much for the kind replies. Also; do you think he could take a fuzzy?

[peterm15]

im not 100% sure.. im really just going off of what i have seen in my reasearch over the past few months.. and i will be keeping my small ball ( getting soon ) in a rubbermaid until he is almost full grown then he will be switched into a custom built enclosure..

the screen tops on tanks are not good at all for ball pythons.. you may have to keep a damp towel on top to keep humidity up to where its supposed to be.. thats why many opt to use a rubbermaid.. the snake will feel WAY more secure and is much easier to keep temp and humidity correct...

for hatchlings i know many use a shoe box sized rubbermaids so maybe one size larger would be the best bet....

imo i wouldnt suggest a tank at all.. not being able to see as much will be made up for when you have a very healthy snake that rarely comes off feeding.. and you can still see in some rubbermaids.. its just not like looking through glass

[LandonBP]

Thank you for your reply, I will purchase a small rubbermaid today perhaps 10g. Should I just put small holes into the top of the rubbermaid for air, I dont see how he would get enoughy ventiliation. Also I am considering purchasing another Bally python (same size), would two babies be ok if kept together? Thank you very much for your replies :)

[ATBlover]

i think he gets the point about rubbermaids being better then tanks...if he wants to use a tank he can and should...i find them perfect for my balls that i used to have...They were sold as a breeding pair..

[ATBlover]

kinda missed the newest post while typing...

[peterm15]

Most I think use the shoebox size rubbermaid for hatchlings. 2218 is the model number on them, I use a size bigger 2220. I keep them in those till 1000g and then switch them to adult ones. 2218 is ok till about 500g and then they really don't fit. I've had no prob with using 2220 I just give smaller hides to the babies.

here that was posted on another site.. i couldnt find anything on this one.. if you give me about 10 min ill see if i can find the how to for this thing,.... its here somewhere

[peterm15]

atb lover.. i realise that.. and i agree.. i dont have much experence at all with this stuff.. just going off my reasearch.. tanks CAN be use but it is much easier to use a rubbermaid.. as tanks can be hard to maintain..

whats your method in useing tanks.. how is yours setup

i would have given advice about how to set up a tank and what size but i really dont know.. as i havent dont ANY reasearch on useing tanks. i opted for rubbermaid right away

here check out the faq for balls.. it explains some rubbermaids

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49236

[LandonBP]

I saw that thread. But do you think two bp's can be placed together? They would probally both be males. Thank you for your time.

[peterm15]

its not a good idea... if one gets sick both get sick.. you cant keep track of feacles and it would make feeding harder.. if you do decide to use rubbermaids it would only cost like 20 extra bucks to set up another tank and would most likely save you lots of money and hassle in the long run..

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25763&page=1&pp=15

that cage wasnt used for balls but it gives you an idea

[LandonBP]

Awesome, thank you for your help! :)

[peterm15]

no problem..

im still l;ooking for the how to when i find it ill post

[LandonBP]

ok, Thanks :)

[peterm15]

http://www3.mb.sympatico.ca/~cranwill/faq6.html

here this is tim cranwells site.. a great pic of what the cage should be like.. you can always subsitute the jellow conts for more natural looking stuff.. this is just basic

[LandonBP]

Awesome thanks! :)

[LandonBP]

He ate his fuzzy today and is doing great :0

[peterm15]

great good job.. id like to see some pics of him and his enclosure when you get them

[Kathy Shaw]

I breed Ball Pythons, and have found that baby balls like small areas.
I feed (House) hatchlings in shoe box size rubbermaid containers.
Unless the baby is very small (under 50 g) I start them on hopper mice.
They are more active then fuzzy mice and attract the BP to hunting it.
Hope this helps and that he eats soon.

To use rubbermaid containers you do have to put multiple air holes in the lid or container (A soldering iron with round tip burns nice holes) and the lid must be secured some how. Rubber bands, velcro, tape a weight on top...
I use a shelf system with pegboard for the shelves spaced so the containers just slide in and out. That way I do not need to put holes in anything or worry about them popping the lids. You do have to make sure you do not leave a gap between the container and pegboard shelf (babies don't need much space to escape). The shelving system makes it much easier to feed and clean and they are cheap so you can have a few extras around so if they make a real messs you can just pop a new one in and then have time to clean the other one with out having a cageless snake to keep an eye on.
Kathy

[LandonBP]

Awesome, thanks.