My first Ball Python

[bonus41]

I picked up my first Ball Python from Winnipeg Reptiles while i was in the city over the long weekend, and once again my family thinks it's crazy for a girl to like and own reptiles. here is a picture of him when i got him on Saturday.



I have a couple of questions on this guy,
the first is that I'm using Aspen bedding for him since i have it laying around from my corn snake. I've been misting to keep the humidity up but my concern is that the aspen will grow mold or something from the water, would it be better to use paper towel like my Crestie uses to keep in humidity. If i use aspen how often should i change the bedding since i have to mist it...

the second is that he seems to be really nippy, he strikes anything near him if it moves or not he also bit himself on a few occasions, he bit me about five times just trying to carefully get him into his new home, one of which left a bruise on me. He has not really improved. I've been trying to leave him alone, but even if i change the water or mist no where near him he will hiss and strike at me even if I'm on the other side of the tank. Will he chill out eventually, it's hard to think that he doesn't trust me. I'm hoping he will calm down soon, is there anyway i can increase his trust so he doesn't bite as much, no one wants to have anything to do with him since he strikes out.

Thanks for your time

[RetiredJedi]

Welcome to the addiction and maybe you should refer your family to this 109 page thread on female snake keepers hehehe

Plus he's a little stressed so he's gonna be nippy. Leave him completely alone for about a week or some people won't touch until a few feeds. I have just waited a week. Then after that it just takes time and contact. Start slowly like holding him for about five mintues and slowly increase. They will calm down.

[heathers*bps]

Can you tell us about your setup? Temps, humidity, how you're heating his home, how you're ready the temps and humidity. How long have you had him?

[The Serpent Merchant]

Aspen should be changed at least once a month. I greatly prefer paper towels though.

I would leave him alone for at least a week, then try to feed him. After that you can try holding him. Every other day for 5-10 minutes. (never hold him within 48 of him eating) this should go a long way, and settle him down be it will take time.

What type of cage/hides/heat sources are you using? And what are the current temps/humidity (and what are you using to measure them?

I ask because any of those things can stress out a snake if not correct.

[Slim]

Welcome to BP.net! Very good to have you here!

Young ball pythons are pretty low on the food chain, and can be nippy when they're young and small. 999 times out of 1000, they all grow out of it. Allow your new guy to settle and eat a few times before you start handling him for anything other than husbandry reasons.

[bonus41]

i got him on Saturday, i set him up in a 30 quart tub with aspen bedding, the temperature is currently at 89F it is heated with a Heat mat (measured with a probe) and humidity is 77% i think that's higher then it actually is cause the humidity reader thing (i don't know whats its called) is sitting right on the bedding, i have nothing to hold it up. i couldn't find a good hide at the store so i flipped over one of my hay bins on the warm side he does go in it most of the time.
i didn't know if a 30 quart is to big? i also have a 15 but it seemed kinda cramped for him. I will leave him alone till i feed him next Tuesday i only did take him out cause the family wanted to see the new addition

hopefully you can read my jumbled post, theirs so muck info in one little paragraph

[LLLReptile]

Slim's advice is pretty solid in regards to them growing out of the nippy stage.

I've had more than a few nippy babies that grew out of it within months. In the stores, we often have super nippy little babies that calm down immensely within weeks of getting home and set up in their own little cage and left alone for a bit. So let yours get settled in, don't mess with it, and once it's fed a couple times for you, try handling it a little bit as the Serpent Merchant suggested.

The aspen should be easy to maintain for the most part. Spot clean poop, and about once a month switch it out. If you find that it is molding or mildewing before then, consider switching to cypress mulch or orchid bark, both of which can handle higher levels of average moisture than the aspen does.

And last but not least...another girl snake keeper here! Not just snake keeper, reptile store manager! Most of my relatives are like your family, and while they may not like the scaly beasts very much... by now they do appreciate it somewhat. Even my terrified-of-snakes grandmother asks about how my babies are doing! Give it time, they'll come around. Enjoy your new pet!

-Jen

[MrLang]

That's quite humid. You don't need to worry about the misting, which will also reduce the chances of your substrate molding. If they humidity drops below 40%, go ahead and mist conservatively.

[heathers*bps]

Do you have your heat pad regulated with a thermostat?

[bonus41]

thanks for all the info it really helps me out
the heat pad does not have a thermostat, i couldn't find one to buy. i don't have it directly under the tub i have wrapped it up in many towels so the temperature stays around 89