New Ball Python

[JonnyDogma]

Hello Everybody,

I am new here and new to Ball Pythons. I got my first (so far) BP 4 weeks ago. She is a normal BP named Penny Python (I think she's a she, if she's a he, I will rename him Petey Python).

I wanted a BP ever since I first saw them 12 or 13 years ago, but I was living with my dad and his 2nd wife at the time and was not able to get a snake. (she had a very understandable fear of snakes that came from being raised in a bizarre cult, there are a lot of sick people in this world )

I had forgotten all about BPs until my friend picked one up a month and a half ago. He showed my pictures of his BP and my desire to own one came back full force. I immediately started searching for information before I wanted to get one to be sure I knew what was needed and how to properly care for one.

After a couple of searches, I found this wonderful site, full of awesome information and lots of knowledgeable folks. I read the stickies, the care guides and tonnes of threads relating to the care of these wonderful creatures. I made a list of everything I needed and then went about my search to find it all.

I purchased 2 15 liter tubs (a liter is roughly equal to a quart) so I could have a spare to swap to so that there is always a clean tub ready. A UTH, a rheostat, 2 coconut hides (she loves her hides) a temp probe / hydrometer thingy, a tupper ware bowl as a water dish and aspen bedding.

I set everything up a day before I got her so that the temps and humidity would stabilize. I keep the warm side at 90 to 93, the cool side at 77 to 80 and the humidity has stabilized to 50 to 55%. They said she ate a couple of days before I picked her up so I purchased her and brought her to her new home.

When I got her home she immediately went into her hide (warm) and I let her be for a few days. The first time I took her out I was so nervous, I think we both were, I laugh thinking how nervous I was (I am a big dude hehe) but she was a sweety. I left her alone for a couple of days after that until feeding day (1 week after I got her). I went to the pet store and wanted a live hopper mouse, but they didn't have any, so I got a small adult mouse. I brought it home and left it beside her tub all day so she could smell it. I put the mouse in and Penny was afraid of it, she curled up into a ball and just sat there. I put the cover on the tub (I was keeping a close eye on her) and the mouse ran around and kept freaking itself and Penny out. The mouse died eventually. I now realize it probably suffocated, because they need more air than snakes (it seems). I have holes in the tub for ventilation and Penny is fine.

I ended up throwing the mouse out, I think that Penny wasn't settled yet and the experience freaked her out . I handled her sporadically after that, it's so hard to leave her alone, she is a cutie. (I'll post pics when I get a good camera in a couple of weeks.) The next week, I was able to get a live hopper and did the same thing, again Penny didn't eat and the mouse died

The next week, I figured I'd try something different (I was getting so worried), so I picked up some frozen rat pups (The people said that rat pups would be a good size and they are about the width of the widest part of Penny). I thawed it in luke warm water by her tub, and she was out an about sniffing around, I thought WOOT this is it. Got the rat by the scruff of its neck in some tongs and did the dancy thing. Penny came out and sniffed it, but wanted nothing to do with it, I left it in there for a few hours and nada. So I threw it out. I knew she was hungry and such, but no go. I tried with another a couple of days later, but the same thing, I should not have done that.

The last time I tried to feed her was Sunday. The past few nights she has been roaming and digging at night, tongue flickering, she looked like she was hunting. So today (its been about 4 weeks now), I went out and got a live hopper mouse, a very cute little albino. I left it beside her tub all day and she was very interested. At about 9pm I figured it was time, Penny was in her hide with her head hanging out. I took the top off the tub and dropped the mouse in, the mouse ran around for a bit, it ran into the cool hide and then it ran into the warm hide, saw Penny and booked it out of there. Penny poked her head out again and watched....waited....and....STRIKE...coil. Dead mousie. I was so pumped and so happy, I even had a bit of an adrenaline rush. Then she let go of it and slithered away.

I was worried then that she wasnt going to eat it, but I put the cover back on her tub, turned off all the lights and walked away. I checked back 30 minutes later and, lo and behold, no mouse and Penny is in her hide (I did not lift her hide or anything, just peaked through the tub, its clear). I am so happy that Penny finally ate for me, I was so worried that I was doing something wrong and that she was gonna starve herself to death.

I would like to send out a sincere thank you to all of the awesome people on this forum who have written all of these wonderful posts and provided a lot of wonderful information. I am not one to ask for information or help, I know that sometimes I should, but I am stubborn. I am good at search engines though (tech support) so I used the one on this site to its fullest, hope I didn't burn it out hehe.

I need to get a scale soon so I can start to keep track of her weight (she is about 20 inches long, still a baby), a camera so I can share pics with you guys and I think that is about it. I am so hooked on BPs now and am going to a reptile show at the end of the month and may bring home a new snake for that 2nd tub I have seen some beautiful morphs I want, but to me Penny will always be the most beautiful (I know its corny).

Sorry for this long winded post, I tend to drone on and on Anyways, thanks again and I will have pics soon.

Take care and be well everyone!

[cweimer4]

to the addiction my friend!

Mine didnt eat for 4 weeks after I got him. I was worried sick the entire time haha. Again, welcome! and If you ever need anything we are ALL here to help in any way we can!

Good Luck!

P.S. Im going to a show on the 20th? perhaps the same one in Columbus, Ohio?

[JonnyDogma]

Thank you, this is indeed an addiction Definitely the healthiest addiction I have ever had.

I live in Southern Ontario (Canada) and am going to the Mississauga Expo on the 28th.

Take care,

J.D

[BallsUnlimited]

Hello Everybody,

I am new here and new to Ball Pythons. I got my first (so far) BP 4 weeks ago. She is a normal BP named Penny Python (I think she's a she, if she's a he, I will rename him Petey Python).

I wanted a BP ever since I first saw them 12 or 13 years ago, but I was living with my dad and his 2nd wife at the time and was not able to get a snake. (she had a very understandable fear of snakes that came from being raised in a bizarre cult, there are a lot of sick people in this world )

I had forgotten all about BPs until my friend picked one up a month and a half ago. He showed my pictures of his BP and my desire to own one came back full force. I immediately started searching for information before I wanted to get one to be sure I knew what was needed and how to properly care for one.

After a couple of searches, I found this wonderful site, full of awesome information and lots of knowledgeable folks. I read the stickies, the care guides and tonnes of threads relating to the care of these wonderful creatures. I made a list of everything I needed and then went about my search to find it all.

I purchased 2 15 liter tubs (a liter is roughly equal to a quart) so I could have a spare to swap to so that there is always a clean tub ready. A UTH, a rheostat, 2 coconut hides (she loves her hides) a temp probe / hydrometer thingy, a tupper ware bowl as a water dish and aspen bedding.

I set everything up a day before I got her so that the temps and humidity would stabilize. I keep the warm side at 90 to 93, the cool side at 77 to 80 and the humidity has stabilized to 50 to 55%. They said she ate a couple of days before I picked her up so I purchased her and brought her to her new home.

When I got her home she immediately went into her hide (warm) and I let her be for a few days. The first time I took her out I was so nervous, I think we both were, I laugh thinking how nervous I was (I am a big dude hehe) but she was a sweety. I left her alone for a couple of days after that until feeding day (1 week after I got her). I went to the pet store and wanted a live hopper mouse, but they didn't have any, so I got a small adult mouse. I brought it home and left it beside her tub all day so she could smell it. I put the mouse in and Penny was afraid of it, she curled up into a ball and just sat there. I put the cover on the tub (I was keeping a close eye on her) and the mouse ran around and kept freaking itself and Penny out. The mouse died eventually. I now realize it probably suffocated, because they need more air than snakes (it seems). I have holes in the tub for ventilation and Penny is fine.

I ended up throwing the mouse out, I think that Penny wasn't settled yet and the experience freaked her out . I handled her sporadically after that, it's so hard to leave her alone, she is a cutie. (I'll post pics when I get a good camera in a couple of weeks.) The next week, I was able to get a live hopper and did the same thing, again Penny didn't eat and the mouse died

The next week, I figured I'd try something different (I was getting so worried), so I picked up some frozen rat pups (The people said that rat pups would be a good size and they are about the width of the widest part of Penny). I thawed it in luke warm water by her tub, and she was out an about sniffing around, I thought WOOT this is it. Got the rat by the scruff of its neck in some tongs and did the dancy thing. Penny came out and sniffed it, but wanted nothing to do with it, I left it in there for a few hours and nada. So I threw it out. I knew she was hungry and such, but no go. I tried with another a couple of days later, but the same thing, I should not have done that.

The last time I tried to feed her was Sunday. The past few nights she has been roaming and digging at night, tongue flickering, she looked like she was hunting. So today (its been about 4 weeks now), I went out and got a live hopper mouse, a very cute little albino. I left it beside her tub all day and she was very interested. At about 9pm I figured it was time, Penny was in her hide with her head hanging out. I took the top off the tub and dropped the mouse in, the mouse ran around for a bit, it ran into the cool hide and then it ran into the warm hide, saw Penny and booked it out of there. Penny poked her head out again and watched....waited....and....STRIKE...coil. Dead mousie. I was so pumped and so happy, I even had a bit of an adrenaline rush. Then she let go of it and slithered away.

I was worried then that she wasnt going to eat it, but I put the cover back on her tub, turned off all the lights and walked away. I checked back 30 minutes later and, lo and behold, no mouse and Penny is in her hide (I did not lift her hide or anything, just peaked through the tub, its clear). I am so happy that Penny finally ate for me, I was so worried that I was doing something wrong and that she was gonna starve herself to death.

I would like to send out a sincere thank you to all of the awesome people on this forum who have written all of these wonderful posts and provided a lot of wonderful information. I am not one to ask for information or help, I know that sometimes I should, but I am stubborn. I am good at search engines though (tech support) so I used the one on this site to its fullest, hope I didn't burn it out hehe.

I need to get a scale soon so I can start to keep track of her weight (she is about 20 inches long, still a baby), a camera so I can share pics with you guys and I think that is about it. I am so hooked on BPs now and am going to a reptile show at the end of the month and may bring home a new snake for that 2nd tub I have seen some beautiful morphs I want, but to me Penny will always be the most beautiful (I know its corny).

Sorry for this long winded post, I tend to drone on and on Anyways, thanks again and I will have pics soon.

Take care and be well everyone!

try and feed the snake with tongs, also if u can try and freed the snake when it is out of its hide. I have a pied that would eat unless hes out of his hide rooming around. The mouse might be scaring her into not eating. Or turn the hide with the opening is not right were the mouse can run right into the hide shes in. Deff use tongs when shes out and you should get a better response. I like this way because if the snake doesnt get a good grip and can bite the snake i will use the tongs to pull the mouses\rats mouth away from the snakes skill to minimize them getting bit.

[rabernet]

JD,

It's so refreshing to read when someone does their homework before they bring home a new snake, and not just impulse buy.

Sounds like she's getting settled in nicely and from what you've written, you did everything right.

One quick question, what are you using to measure your temps and humidity in her enclosure.

How many holes do you have in her tub? Seems odd to me that two of the mice died in the tub. But mice can be pretty fragile, I've had them die on me on the way home from picking them up from the breeder before and go "man!!!! that sucks!!!!" Not the breeder's fault, they appeared perfect healthy when I picked them up.

[JonnyDogma]

Thanks guys,

I think my mistake with Penny and feeding was that I was trying to force the issue too much. I should have let her be a while longer instead of trying so hard to feed her. No matter how much we read and research, there is always a curve-ball thrown in somewhere, keeps us on our toes. It was such a relief to see her strike that mouse, I think she may have a thing for albinos.

All the mice seemed healthy enough to me, but I never researched mice and always viewed them as pests and cat fodder. That albino one yesterday though was the cutest mouse I had ever seen. My humidity was 70% for the first couple of weeks, could high humidity and (relatively) poor air cause a mouse to die? I have about 50 holes in the tub made with a soldering iron for ventilation, which seems fine for Penny.

I ended up getting two digital type devices for measuring temperature and humidity. The first one I picked up looked similar to the Acurite (I couldn't find the Acurite in Canada and I avoid the W place). It had a 3 line display and a probe and showed inside / outside temp, humidity and time. I put the probe under the substrate, under the hide and left the unit in the tub. The problem with the thing was you have to make 10 button presses to show the inside temp, it cannot display the inside/outside and humidity at the same time and you cant make the 3rd line show anything other than time. So, I went out and purchased one that did just humidity and temp. I have that one on the cool side of the tub and the one with the probe is outside of the tub, with the probe still running under the substrate. I use it to monitor the temp of the warmside and the relative humidity in my apartment.

I think next time, instead of worrying myself over and over again, I will ask the kind people here for help or for relief, after using the search feature of course, need to keep that search button well used so it doesn't seize up on me I think thats why people don't search sometimes, they are afraid that the button might stick because it hasn't been used much by them. Its ok though, because all search buttons are self-lubricated, its our brains that aren't and they need knowledge to keep them in tune.

Thanks and take care,

J.D

[Kaorte]

Maybe she only eats cute mice hehe

Glad you had your first feeding success! It is always frustrating when new snake won't eat right away.

Also, thank you for doing your research before hand. You probably saved yourself a lot of time and money by doing things the right way! Get that camera so we can see your little one!

[JeffD]

I enjoyed your info. I look forward to the pics. I'm fairly new to Ball Pythons too !

[JonnyDogma]

Haha, yeah maybe she's a Diva and was all "You expect ME to eat that ugly thing? As if! Come back again when you have something befitting my royal beauty."

I'll have pics of "Princess" Penny soon-ish

Thanks and take care,

J.D

[angllady2]

You know, I have a really timid little cinnamon BP, and how I help her is to hang onto the mouse by the tail, and just let it's front feet touch the ground. Mousie will jump and dig a bit, not enough to scare the baby, but definitely enough to get it's attention.

If I let the mouse run around, my little Kuri will hide from it every time. If I dangle it, dead mouse within 30 seconds every time. Just a thought.

And I must add, like so many others, welcome to the addiction, and a big thank you for being intelligent enough to study first, buy later.

Gale