Im so new its not even funny

[Dstrong1337]

i just got a ball python off of Craigslist ad. She needed to go asap and i wanted a snake even tho i am a complete noob to the species. Anyways he didn't offer much in the ways of information basically shes 3 she needs to eat asap. i pryed but to no avail.

The first day (sat) she was sweet as could be sat with me as i watched TV and i was comfortable as could be with her.

The next day(sun) i got her a rat medium size and doing some research now i don't think it was the right size. i put the rat in the feeding bin heated up and my gf helped with the lid on the way in she struck at her i don't know if it was a bite or just a nudge cause she was wearing a sweater at the time. I'm not sure why she did it maybe she could smell the food below but anyways that freaked me out i was scared to get her back into her enclosure after but i did.

Anyways here i am two days later just trying to get comfortable her but i cant really read her body language, as i pet her she kinda of jerks away i know to leave her for 2-3 days after eating and im not trying to handle her just pet her lower half and let her get to know me i never scare her on my way in and always make my presence known. i know this seems like a speal and i would love to articulate it all in to lists for easier reading but basically i want to be more comfortable with her honestly any tips or advice on body language or feeding any help at all is really appreciated the smallest bit of information can be helpful cause like i said i am a complete noob. Anyways thanks a million i have attached photo links below of her i named her Mary Jane

ImageShack Album - 3 images (http://imageshack.us/g/171/img0018pj.jpg/)

[stephanbakir]

Firstly, leave any new animal alone for a week to settle. Generally they also take 7 days to settle enough to eat.
Secondly, when any animal bites you, if your reaction is to leave it alone they will learn that and bite to be left alone. Hold them till they calm down, then put them away.

Use tongs when feeding to avoid the risk of getting bitten.

Ball pythons are generally pretty docile, what are her humidity and temperatures? does she have adequate hides? always leave a snake alone after eating.

[alessia55]

Welcome! And welcome to the world of snake keeping.

I looked at your photos. Right now you only have one hide in her enclosure. She needs two- one on each side. She could probably use a bigger water dish too. Check out this book (http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Comprehensive-Breeding-Genetic-Mutations/dp/0976733404/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322006924&sr=1-2); it can be really helpful for a beginner. Do you currently have her on a heat mat with a thermostat?

[lady_bug87]

From the pictures it looks like a medium rat is ok and Steph is right BPs are pretty docile but they can be testy and picky eaters. Just leave her alone for a while to settle

if you plan on feeding her in a separate container put the snake in BEFORE you introduce the meal this way by the time she smells it shes already in there. Forceps are a must BPs can hit their food pretty hard

[Dstrong1337]

Welcome! And welcome to the world of snake keeping.

I looked at your photos. Right now you only have one hide in her enclosure. She needs two- one on each side. She could probably use a bigger water dish too. Check out this book (http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Comprehensive-Breeding-Genetic-Mutations/dp/0976733404/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322006924&sr=1-2); it can be really helpful for a beginner. Do you currently have her on a heat mat with a thermostat?


Thanks so much all, About the two hides situation i put a womens puma shoe box in there right now but it looks somewhat tight even sitting up right, i know a new enclosure is soon approaching if not now

[Dstrong1337]

Welcome! And welcome to the world of snake keeping.

I looked at your photos. Right now you only have one hide in her enclosure. She needs two- one on each side. She could probably use a bigger water dish too. Check out this book (http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Comprehensive-Breeding-Genetic-Mutations/dp/0976733404/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322006924&sr=1-2); it can be really helpful for a beginner. Do you currently have her on a heat mat with a thermostat?

also she only came with a reflector and a 60 watt house bulb i didn't even know what uth was when i got her but she didn't come with one. i asked alot of questions about heating but was brushed off and told she was fine. I need to get one stat but i am super strapped for cash

[stephanbakir]

A shoe box is a little high, cut it in half to shorten it. The snake should be able to squeeze in and touch all sides. He will feel safer that way.

[stephanbakir]

also she only came with a reflector and a 60 watt house bulb i didn't even know what uth was when i got her but she didn't come with one. i asked alot of questions about heating but was brushed off and told she was fine. I need to get one stat but i am super strapped for cash
If you are using a lamp, make sure its not a screen top because it will drain your humidity. A thermostat should be considered a must, but because you are strapped, try and get your hands on a dimmer.

[Dstrong1337]

If you are using a lamp, make sure its not a screen top because it will drain your humidity. A thermostat should be considered a must, but because you are strapped, try and get your hands on a dimmer.

its a grill top should i suran wrap it or something i have half of it covered with tinfoil and a towel over it to get the temp in the 80s

[stephanbakir]

A towel would be counterproductive, it will help insulate but it will soak in the humidity, saran would work.

[Dstrong1337]

A towel would be counterproductive, it will help insulate but it will soak in the humidity, saran would work.

Good call, should i do under the lamp or cut a hole the size of the ballast right now its just sitting on the grill top. I don't know if its flammable or not

[lady_bug87]

I wouldnt put the lamp on the saran wrap I wrap the other side and you can use a spray bottle and give the tank a spray a couple times a week

[Dstrong1337]

I wouldnt put the lamp on the saran wrap I wrap the other side and you can use a spray bottle and give the tank a spray a couple times a week


i honestly have to spray it multiple times during the day to keep it up today above 50 it drys super duper fast

[Rogue628]

That looks like aspen bedding. You may want to try to change subtrates. I personally use newspaper but I don't have a low humidity problem. Not sure what subtrate would work in a tight money spot until you can a better subtrate.

Wal Mart has some really inexpensive digital thermometers that read humidity too. Some have little probes you can stick in the hide on the warmer side, while others don't. They're in the hardware section. Not sure what kind of thermometer device you're using now but if it's a little cheap analog type one, the ones at Wal Mart are MUCH better and pretty cheap!

You may also want to try putting her water bowl directly under the heat and see if that helps to raise the humidity some. Wonder if a humid hide would be appropriate since you're having humidity issues? I've never used one myself but they're easy to make if it would help.

[ashleynicole]

Now, I live in florida so we really don't have problems with humidity, but my all my snakes have teracotta pots for their hides. For my ball I pour water directly onto the terracotta pot once a week or so and even more so when she is in the blue. I did some spagmum moss hides in the past but the water on the terracotta pot does the trick. I would use tinfoil, not saran wrap if you want to close in the top a bit. Teracotta pots are cheap, and I just use a hammer to make the hole in the top big enough and then smooth down the edges with a knife. I have one that I knocked a hole in the side and it works well too, but I went through three pots to get one that didn't bust apart, lol. Thats when I started making the holes on the top. Luckily terracotta pots are super cheap :D

The thing about snakes, they don't really need to be "pet". If you fed her you should not touch her or even open her cage for at least 48-72 hours. Then you can take her out and handle her a few times a week. We usually try to handle our snakes at least once a week. Our BP is 6 years old and this works for him.

About the feeding, what I do for feeding is I put the prey inside a separate container first. Then I wash my hands really well. I then introduce the snake to the feeding container, close the lid and either throw a towel over it, or leave it in a dark quiet room. That is if you are feeding prekilled prey. If you are feeding live you must monitor them.'
The benefit of this I believe is that the snake doesn't associate opening the cage with feeding. The guys at the herp farm feed most of their reptiles in their cages for convenience, but I have always fed mine like this and my ball python has never bit me.


The other thing I noticed is that you have aspen as a substrate. Aspen is great for colubrids, but I keep my ball python on newspaper or papertowels. It is easy and cheap to change out and then disinfect when they poop. The local herp farm here uses newspaper for all of their pythons as well and aspen for their colubrids. When I had my ball python on aspen he had trouble shedding and at one point started to get scale rot even though I thought I was keeping it clean. We switched to newspaper/papertowels and havn't had a problem since.

[SnakeyJay]

If you are using just a house light bulb 24/7.. that may be stressing it out aswell as continious daylight isnt good lol..... if the temps arent high enough i wouldnt feed as they cant digest without the right temps... just my opinion.. Good luck...