New Owner, New Member- Questions!

[emeraldwinter]

I just purchased my first ball python a few weeks ago and I tried to prepare myself as much as possible for him but inevitably I have long random questions and would appreciate some help from experienced owners. Sorry in advance for this post being huge :S

He's a lemon pastel ball python, I was told about 6 months old. His warm spot temp is 89F and the rest of the tank is room temp at 72F. He has a water dish and appropriately sized hides on both warm and cool sides of the tank as well as climbing sticks and fake vegetation for cover. I'm using cypress mulch for substrate.

He eats perfectly when I feed him. I'm feeding him mice for the time being but I want to switch to rats as soon as this batch of mice are gone as I've heard they are a more complete food source.

How often should I feed him and how much? I work at a zoo and we feed our full grown balls about once every 2 weeks 2 large rats each or whenever they start moving around they're enclosure looking for food. Should I do something similar with my little guy?

Also I started out without a hygrometer thinking I could mist fairly frequently and more often when he sheds but now I think he might be dehydrated. His eyes got cloudy a few days ago and his skin was dull but he stayed like that for a few days and never progressed further. So I read up on soaking your snake and gave him a short bath in warm water yesterday and today his eyes are clear and his color is bright again. Then I noticed one of his eyes was dented and read that those are all signs of dehydration. I soaked him again today and he took 2 looong drinks of water, which is a reassuring, and seems comfortable just resting in it. He was in a small bowl that he can touch the bottom of with his head out and he didn't try to get out for about 40 minutes. I took him out cause the water got cold but was he okay in there indefinately? Would he move if he's uncomfortable? I will get a hygrometer asap.

Thanks so much if you read all that and for any info/advice

[Emilio]

Welcome to Bp.net the link below will definitely help you out with most of your questions.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

Can't wait to see pic's of your Lemon pastel.

[Skittles1101]

Please read up on the shedding process
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...edding+process

His eyes turned "opaque", or cloudy as you stated, which is when the layer of skin that he is about to shed rises above fluids, they clear up days before they physically shed. Which is what you just described. He is not dehydrated, he is shedding

No need to bathe him anymore unless he's covered in poo or has stuck shed. I suggest this thermometer/hygrometer:
http://www.amazon.com/Chaney-Instrum...8010442&sr=8-6

As far as feeding, feed one appropriate sized meal (about the width of the widest part of his body) once a week. A ball python shouldn't go two weeks without being offered food. They are known to refuse, but it should at least be offered weekly.

Welcome to the site, I'd read through the caresheet as well
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

[dragonboy4578]

I feed my young bp's every 5-7 days, and adults every 7 days. I never feed more than one prey item at a time. It just has to be the appropriate size prey item. 10-15% of its body weight.

I very rarely soak any of my bp's. The only time I do is if they get dirty.

I would get a hygrometer. It will let you know what the humidity is. It should be between 50-60 percent all the time, and around 70% when it is getting ready to go into shed.

Chances are that when the eyes turned cloudy you bp was actually getting ready to shed. They go into blue, which can last for a few day. Then they go into a clear stage right before it sheds. It wouldn't surprise me to have a fresh skin in the next few days.....

Good luck with the new addition

[emeraldwinter]

Thanks so much guys! Those care sheets were super helpful. I never realized their eyes clear up right before they shed! Learn somethin new every day I guess I hope I didn't screw up his shed with those 2 soaks...

Thanks again