Question

[DavethePython]

Ok So I have just bought a baby Ball Python, I am guessing it is 1 to 2 months old ,maybe a little more. I am not sure as the specialist at the store was not in when we purchased it and I have not been able to go back yet to get that info . Also unsure if male or female. I think it is male. My question is this. The snake is not exihbiting any of the behavoir we were led to expect regarding stress from the move to our home from the store etc . It is actually very calm , never hides . We have 3 or 4 places for him to hide . He is always stretched out and in the open. When being handled he has a very gentle grip , and seems very relaxed . We have only had him 24 hours or so , so we have not fed him yet . Yesterday was feeding day but they did not feed him as we were taking him home . They advised waiting until Thursday . He is still quite small , maybe 14 inches or so. He is fairly active, likes to explore his cage. We have him in a glass aqaurium ,apporx 20 gallon. Is this unusual , as it seems to be against everything I have read or have been told about this species .

[ZARADOZIA]

From my experience with babies, it is not unusual. They tend to be extremely curious. When they get older they get lazy and are not as active. How long is he & what's his name?

[Lankyrob]

All snakes have their own personalities and lots like to explore their new homes to find the escape route. When he settles in he will most likely hide away.

Are you happy you have all the info you need regarding temperatures and humidity etc - just checking as some shops arent great with this side of the transaction.

Any questions you have just ask away!

[Jacob1750]

A little curiosity from a baby is to be expected. You should try to post some pics of it if you can.

[Lankyrob]

A little curiosity from a baby is to be expected. You should try to post some pics of it if you can.

But give it time to settle in first ;)

[Jacob1750]

Deffinately, I guess I should of specified. The pictures should be of the snake in his enclosure ;)

[Jenn_06]

just to let you know this is one way to find out if you have a male or female (works great on babies), when you do this if its a male you will feel a bump no bump female.
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o284/joejenn06/2008_04_18Palpatingpics.gif

[DavethePython]

Thanks for the info all. I will try to answer them all in one shot , first the snake is about 14 inches long , and I like to call him Dave (if it is a male ) I call him Dave Ball who is one of my favorite singers and well it is a fun play on names I though.

As for temps I think the info we were given is pretty good, the sheets they gave us have all the required temps on it and so far seem to fall in with all the other sites and resources I have looked at .

Right now Dave is in a 20 gallon glass aquarium with high enough walls he wont be able to get out . Eventually he will need a larger one . I knew they are escape artists so I was sure to put nothing in that he could climb high enough to escape . I have 2 dogs as well and my younger dog is very interested in Dave so escape would be bad .

I will get pictures in the next day or so . I feel he has settled in nicely , and he is very calm when handled . He just curls up around our fingers and relaxes . Which I was told is a good sign of a good tempered snake as well.

[DavethePython]

And to Jenn , thanks for the info and pic on how to identify a make or female , we will check it out and see .

[alessia55]

If he's calm and relaxed and not stressed out, that's a good thing. I'd refrain from handling him until he eats though. Good luck & keep us posted!

[shaunyboy]

Ok So I have just bought a baby Ball Python, I am guessing it is 1 to 2 months old ,maybe a little more. I am not sure as the specialist at the store was not in when we purchased it and I have not been able to go back yet to get that info . Also unsure if male or female. I think it is male. My question is this. The snake is not exihbiting any of the behavoir we were led to expect regarding stress from the move to our home from the store etc . It is actually very calm , never hides . We have 3 or 4 places for him to hide . He is always stretched out and in the open. When being handled he has a very gentle grip , and seems very relaxed . We have only had him 24 hours or so , so we have not fed him yet . Yesterday was feeding day but they did not feed him as we were taking him home . They advised waiting until Thursday . He is still quite small , maybe 14 inches or so. He is fairly active, likes to explore his cage. We have him in a glass aqaurium ,apporx 20 gallon. Is this unusual , as it seems to be against everything I have read or have been told about this species .


its always best to get them eating regular before you start handling them

i would wait until its had at least 4 feeds before taking it out again

cheers shaun

[DavethePython]

Ok I will try that , he did not feed today . I tried and he was not having anything to do with it. He did check it out a lot , and had his tongue going like crazy ,but no dice. I tried moving it around no luck. I tried walking away and nothing. I then put a cover around his feeding tank and left him alone for about a half hour and nothing. I did have a heat lamp on him as well , but he just sat there for the most part. I am not too stressed out about it . I hear this is normal for these snakes. I will try again later in a day or so .

[DavethePython]

We were also told it was suggested not to feed them in their living cage . This will lessen the chance of accidental biting as they will not associate our hand in their cage with food. Has anyone else used this method before or does anyone use this?

[millertime89]

give it a week between feeding attempts, too many attempts in too short a time will most likely stress him out.
in-cage feeding is a topic that has been discussed several times on this forum, it honestly comes down to how comfortable you feel with it. I always feed in their enclosures and never have problems.

[alessia55]

Only offer him food every 7-10 days, but not any more often. Offering more often will stress him out. Giving him 7-10 days between offers will also make him a little hungrier and maybe more likely to eat. He's just getting used to his new surroundings, sights, smells, etc. It's normal for a snake to refuse to eat while he adjusts to his new home. Don't handle him at all or bother him until he eats- this will give him more time to settle down in his enclosure so he feels comfortable to eat. Good luck and keep us posted!

[Lankyrob]

When you say "i alos had a heating lamp on him" - i assume you were trying to feed in a separate container and put the heat lamp over that?

As long as your temps humidity etc are ok he probably just needs time to settle in - DONT HANDLE him until he has eaten for you a couple of times, feeding is more important than handling.

[DavethePython]

Yes Lanky , the way we were shown was to place him in a feeding tank seperate from his living cage. Place a heat lamp over it and feed him there. The reasoning we were given is this lessen the chance of an accidental bite by disassociating his home and our hands with feeding.

[Lankyrob]

Because he is new and you have to lift him out of the viv to feed him it is a possibility that that interaction stresses him enough not to eat. I feed all my guys in their vivs, have never been bitten whilst getting them out for handling etc

You could try putting a small plate in the viv and placing the prey item on there - i use plastic picnic plates :)

[DavethePython]

That was going to be my next option , at least for the next few feedings until he is comfortable . He may also have had a temp issue . He was warm but was not able to make the 90 degree zone for his basking . I have fixed that and now his tank is almost 90 on one end and 80 on the other. At night he sits at about 70 . This is the range we were given for him. All I had to do was change out my 75 watt for a 100 and it raised the temp almost enough. If I use the ceramic as well he is good .

[millertime89]

please get it on a thermostat.

[Lankyrob]

Any reason why you cool over night? I know some people do but personally i keep all my guys at constant temps 24/7 365 days a year. SAves fiddling around each day too :)

[DavethePython]

We are just going on the care instructions we were given.He is warm enough over night , and he prefers to come out and roam a little with the bright light off .

[millertime89]

you don't NEED to cool it at night, but it keeps the natural order of things.

[SnakeyJay]

I'd pop a lid on the aquarium tho... You'd be amazed at where a snake can get.. Plus it'll help with heat and humidity.

[DavethePython]

Sorry all , been a while since I was last on with the holidays and such. So I wanted to update. Dave is eating nicely. had 2 feedings problem free . He is socializing very well and loves to be out of his tank . He roams all over us when we are holding him. i am even far more comfortable with him now too. Ans yes now I am pretty sure he is a male. I tried the method someone had posted earlier in this thread and there was a definate bump. He roams all over his cage , he drinks frequently , and eats one fuzzy once a week. I think we are doing ok with him. I am even holding him lots now. He is very forgiving. He was letting me know I think that I was not ready to handle him and I was mistaking it for aggression. he has never tried to strike at me or anyone but every time I tried to pick him up he would ball up or try to run away . Now the last 3 r 4 days he sees my hand and he stretches out and does not even flinch when I touch him or try to pick him up. he loves to climb my arm and he is very interested in my laptop. Always trying to get to it lol. I think he must be feeling the heat from the CPU . I did find out tonight the pet store had mis priced him , we payed $150 for him and he was supposed to be $210 . We also found out he is a pastel and from what other friends of mine have told me , we got a great deal on him for that price. They have another there who was surrendered after the apt building she lived in had a severe fire. She is about 3 ft and 4 years old. I am thinking about taking her next . She has a very calm demeanor too. Guess it is true , snakes ARE like potato chips , you can't have just one :)