Some questions!

[whitemike]

Hey all,

Go easy on me, this is my first time lol.

I just bought a male ball python, my first snake, and I have a couple of questions.

1. They say he is about one. Is that a baby still? Is there a certain bracket for age with them?

2. They say he is about one, but he is over two feet I want to say, does that mean he is closer to two as I have seen they grow about a foot every year for the first three years?

3. How can I take him out with me in public? Any thing I should bring? Anything I need to be worried about?

4. Stupid me went to pick him up about 30 minutes after his first feeding with me to put him back in his tank. He bit me (Barely have a few teeth/fang marks). How long do I need to wait to transfer him? Is there a better way than just moving him by hand? Is it normal for him to go to bite at me like that?

I am sure that I will compile more over time.

Thanks in advance guys/gals!

[Swingline0.0.1]

Hi! Congrats of your new snake! There will not be a problem with transferring your snake, if you feed him in his cage. It is not necessary to move him for dinner! The other issue, snakes grow at different rates. He is still growing yet. If you do not have a scale you should get one to see how much he weighs.
Jimi

[whitemike]

Okay, bit me twice lol.

Will they bite more if I have them out for extended periods of time? Will they bite when they hear my dog bark/growl (I think this is why he just bit me now)?

A side note: Both times have not really just, just have more bloody holes now. lol

[Swingline0.0.1]

How long ago did you feed? You should wait 2 days after before you handle him. He might be stressed. Can you describe your setup, and maybe post a pic?

[whitemike]

My setup is pretty damn blank. A 40 gallon tank, and a water bowl. That is it. I fed him this past Friday.

I am getting more in the tank soon, just need to find the extra $ now.

[Kaorte]

!!

If you just got your snake then it is scared. That is why it is biting you.

Leave your snake alone completely for one week. No handling or feeding for that week.

After one week, feed him an appropriately sized meal (based on his weight) and then wait 2 more days before handling him. You need to allow him time to digest his food before handling him to prevent a regurgitation.

It is not necessary to feed him in a separate enclosure. He will not mistake your hand for food when you reach into the tank any other day other than feeding day. I feel all my snakes in their home enclosures and I have never been bitten.

A one year old male isn't completely full grown but he should be about close. A full grown male is usually about 1000g. There is no specific growth curve for ball pythons. They all grow at different rates.

I would actually advise not taking the snake out in public. Many people have serious fears of snakes and it could pose a legal issue at some point. With all of this new legislation popping up, we need to give ourselves a good reputation and bringing our snakes around in public is not going to help. :/

Hope this helps you out

[LGL]

What Kaorte said ^

I would actually advise not taking the snake out in public. Many people have serious fears of snakes and it could pose a legal issue at some point. With all of this new legislation popping up, we need to give ourselves a good reputation and bringing our snakes around in public is not going to help. :/

Not to mention the stress that it will cause the snake...

[steveboos]

!!

If you just got your snake then it is scared. That is why it is biting you.

Leave your snake alone completely for one week. No handling or feeding for that week.

After one week, feed him an appropriately sized meal (based on his weight) and then wait 2 more days before handling him. You need to allow him time to digest his food before handling him to prevent a regurgitation.

It is not necessary to feed him in a separate enclosure. He will not mistake your hand for food when you reach into the tank any other day other than feeding day. I feel all my snakes in their home enclosures and I have never been bitten.

A one year old male isn't completely full grown but he should be about close. A full grown male is usually about 1000g. There is no specific growth curve for ball pythons. They all grow at different rates.

I would actually advise not taking the snake out in public. Many people have serious fears of snakes and it could pose a legal issue at some point. With all of this new legislation popping up, we need to give ourselves a good reputation and bringing our snakes around in public is not going to help. :/

Hope this helps you out

I agree with every single point except one...I am bringing all my snakes to Petsmart to show my co workers. Most of them don't even know a Spider Ball Python exists or what they look like. But then again i work there, so it may be different for me...

[Kaorte]

I agree with every single point except one...I am bringing all my snakes to Petsmart to show my co workers. Most of them don't even know a Spider Ball Python exists or what they look like. But then again i work there, so it may be different for me...

If you are going somewhere that is okay with pets then that is different. If you are at the grocery store, don't bring your snake along.

That being said I wouldn't bring any of my snakes to a pet store. Other snakes there could have mites or infections that could be spread to my animals.

I just don't want to risk anyone getting sick

[steveboos]

If you are going somewhere that is okay with pets then that is different. If you are at the grocery store, don't bring your snake along.

That being said I wouldn't bring any of my snakes to a pet store. Other snakes there could have mites or infections that could be spread to my animals.

I just don't want to risk anyone getting sick

Honestly i'm the same way with pet stores, if i didn't work there and know for a fact all our snakes are healthy, i would be scared also, especially petland, they house red tails and ball pythons together....