Good morning all! I am a new member here and have been spending A LOT of time researching...lol

Ill give you guys a bit of background on myself and my new pet ball python (normal)

I grew up on a farm in Ontario Canada, catching every snake I could find. I've caught everything from a regular gardener snake to a eastern fox snake, to a blue racer. I have always been fascinated with snakes, but none of my girlfriends were until now...lol Hence why I am finally a ball python owner!!

My new baby was posted on kijiji, on the to give or donate section. I called the guy who had her (? not sure what sex but for what ever reason I call her a girl?) and he told me she was to go to a good home. I talked to him for about 20 minutes asking him everything I could think of, and finally set up a time to pick her up. He told me he has had her for about a year and a half. When I showed up he had her in a 30g tank, with a 10g UTH, one hide (above the UTH), some decorations, and a water bowl. He had cypress substrate in there that was as dry as the Sahara. He told me he had been "starving" her so he could switch to F/T small rats and she was going to need food soon. I ran out to the pet store and grabbed a small feeder rat and some rat food in case she had no interest in it for a bit (stress from moving around). I grabbed her out of her home and placed her in a feeding tub, then held the rat about 2 feet away to see if she had any interest in eating yet....and she flew across the tub to get at it. So I stunned the rat and held it about 6 inches away from her head and before I could blink, she took it. YESSS!! She was not in good condition when I got her (under weight, dehydrated, bad shed still clinging) and her home was disgusting. There was at least 6 poops in there, and the water dish had a coat of slime in it. I replaced EVERYTHING.

So now she is in a new 30g I had, a 30g Zoo med UTH, big ceramic water dish, 2 identical hides (warm side cool side), aspen substrate, bog wood, pressurized mister (misted once a day when I change the water) digital themo/humidity gauge, day light set on a timer (6:10am - 6:30pm) and she is on a weekly feeding schedule until she is back up to weight and health (she has eaten twice for me so far with NO PROBLEMS...like a little piggy). Today is week three, which means its feeding day today. Ill grab some pictures of her after a few days so I don't upset her digesting and post them up. She has had a soak, and she is handled about once or twice a week right now.

So far I would have to say that this is the best pet I have ever had. Thank you all for the great information posted here, it has helped me out greatly!! I cant wait to share some photos of her and learn more about these amazing snakes! Not to mention get a couple more!! Cheers all!!

-DaveR