New Ball Python!

[ballpythonlove6]

I'm new to this forum, found due to lat online digging. But I'm going to get my ball python today! The current owners haven't told me much about her, so lets hope all goes well! Your forums are all so helpful!

[Concept9]

Grats on the new ball and welcome.

[Lankyrob]

Welcome to the forum, if you have any questions throw them up here and we will do what we can to help

[bcr229]

Congrats! And speaking from experience, BP's are like Pringles, you don't stop at just one...

[ballpythonlove6]

So far, so good. Still unsure on whether it's a boy or girl, though the people "suspect" it's a male. He's still very small. Today was feeding day, as well as his first day in his new home. I was skeptical on feeding him but he was out of his hide and active. So, I did. He ate well. Took him a few minutes to strike but he ate a live mouse I'm super happy about this! Question; how long should I wait before handling him?

[Starbuck]

since you just got him, i would give him about a week to settle in before handling him. He will be much more well-adjusted for it

Additionally, you may want to do some additional research on feeding; there are lots of threads on this forum that talk about it. As a ball python, he will eventually need to be on small rats; so you may wish to start feeding him rat pups or appropriately sized young rats... and this does bring the live vs. F/T debate into play. Rats can tend to be a little more 'vicious' than mice, so you may want to consider feeding frozen/thawed, it tends to be cheaper, you can buy in bulk and store them, and you never have to worry about a frozen rat injuring your snake.
There is nothing inherently bad about feeding live, but it is your responsibility as an owner to be much more vigilant during feeding time, and ready to intervene just in case.
Some ball pythns just never seem to take to frozen food, so this may be a moot point, but just my .02 cents
Congrats on the new addition!

[ballpythonlove6]

Thanks so much! Yeah, he still looks pretty pissy, haha. Haven't been able to get any good photos of him yet, but I'll post one when I get it. Also, the woman I got it from had me under the assumption that she had "everything" I would need.. Come to find out: I'm missing a few things. I need a thermometer! And a humidity gauge! Does anyone have a good website to order from or suggestions?

[LadyWraith]

I use the digital indoor/outdoor combo temp/humidity gauge that has a probe. I also have a temp gun and keep track that way in case of thermometer inaccuracies. So far it's been dead on. You can find them in a hardware store or even the home hardware section of like Walmart. Any of the big reptile supply stores online like RBI should have more reptile specific items.

[2spookyshota]

hello and welcome! congrats on the new ball python! I'm actually getting a new ball python as well