ball python feeding ?

rhiannon79 · 10-12-13, 07:18 PM

Hi I have a almost three foot ball python I have had it for 7 months and its never bitten or hissed or been aggressive at all I have been feeding it the little white mice I know everyone doesnt agree with live feed but mine eould not eat frozen and after a month of not eating I tried live small hoppers and he ate now I feed him two or three times a week dont get mad at me but im not really totally educated on snakes and had wanted one gor a long time and this one was at a pet store marked way down so I hot him or her they were m t very educated on snakes either any wsy last night it bit me for the first time right after it ate it was my own fault I was not paying full attention and didnt pay attention that he was still tensed up when I went to put him back in his enclosure my question is after reading last night on this sight im doing alot wrong do u really need a night bulb I have under heat on all night and should I feed him more then one mouse because I read also here that he dhould have a buldge after eating and mine never does u cant even tell he ate and spraying the enclosure with water to keep moist didnt know that either so how much moister does he need thanks in advance please let me know what u think

ErikBush97 · 10-12-13, 07:54 PM

Hoppers are way to small for a snake that's 7 or more months old. Feed him something that 1 or two times as big as the roundest part of his belly. Here's what I feed my Ball Python.

SSSSnakes · 10-12-13, 07:55 PM

Stop feeding the snake in another enclosure, feed him in his enclosure. That is why you got bit. Feed larger mice no more than once a week or every two weeks. You need to keep your enclosue temps up night and day with either a over the top heater or a UTH. Humidity can come from lightly misting or causing the water to evaporate from the water bowl. There are many ways of doing thing and still getting the same results.

rhiannon79 · 10-12-13, 08:13 PM

Thank u both for the info my snake eats live mice for fear of my snake getting bit by the mouse can I feed it three mice instead of one big mouse

SSSSnakes · 10-12-13, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhiannon79

Thank u both for the info my snake eats live mice for fear of my snake getting bit by the mouse can I feed it three mice instead of one big mouse

You could feed 3 smaller mice instead of 1 larger one or try feeding rat pups.

rhiannon79 · 10-12-13, 08:41 PM

Great that is good news I will defently start that the next time I feed him thank you so much for the information I love my snake and was glad to finally know what it feels like to get bit not bad at all I expected worse

ErikBush97 · 10-13-13, 05:15 AM

If you feed your snake three small meals, do it all in one day, once a week. It will probably cost more to feed several meals, though. You would probably be okay feeding rat pups. If you're scared about the rat pup hurting your snake, you can put a pencil right in the rats face, and the rat will chew on the pencil instead of your snake.

rhiannon79 · 10-13-13, 09:40 PM

Here is a pic of my enclosure and Bodious is in the back corner I will get better pics of Bo when he settles down and I can get him out I want to pick him up so bad dont want him to think "I bit her and now she hasnt picked me up since maybe I should do it again"

rhiannon79 · 10-13-13, 09:48 PM

Here are some old pics of himfirst when I first got him and the other couple months later

ErikBush97 · 10-14-13, 04:12 AM

He's a cutie!

rhiannon79 · 10-14-13, 06:16 AM

Thanks I hope he calms down hes very tense sprayed his enclosure and just petted him and he was so tense I picked just his end up it was night and he was by that driftwood log and he jumped like he was startled gonna feed him three mice today give him two days of rest and im gonna just try to take him out hope he doesnt tag me cross ur fingers and wish me luck....lol

ErikBush97 · 10-14-13, 10:32 AM

Even if he bites you, continue to pick him up, and handle him anyways. Snakes don't generally like being held, so if biting you makes you leave him alone, he'll keep biting. So just roll with the punches, don't back down, and I'm sure he'll eventually tame out

Mikoh4792 · 10-14-13, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhiannon79

Thanks I hope he calms down hes very tense sprayed his enclosure and just petted him and he was so tense I picked just his end up it was night and he was by that driftwood log and he jumped like he was startled gonna feed him three mice today give him two days of rest and im gonna just try to take him out hope he doesnt tag me cross ur fingers and wish me luck....lol

I wouldn't pet him for now. Most snakes tense up when they are pet or tickled. It's best to just pick them up from underneath.