Got a new juvenile ball python

[Iluvmybabys26]

Hello all - I am new here and am a proud new owner of a ball python! I haven't wanted one for years and have never owned a snake before. I got Satori a couple days ago from Petsmart and they said that it hadn't eaten in 5 days and was due to feed. They have been feeding it 1 fuzzy twice a week. It would not eat the first day, honestly did not expect it to because I am sure it is stressed. It is roughly 20inches in length so I am not sure how old it is, but my guess is that is young? Anyways I read somewhere to try and put the snake in a shoe box with the fuzzy and leave them there for a few hours in hopes that they would eat. I am trying that now and was hoping if that doesn't work you all could give me some more ideas and input. I am not sure how long he/she can go without eating and I really do not want anything bad happening. Thank you and look forward to hearing your ideas!!
Thanks - Kim

[Andybill]

Welcome to BP.net! Check this out!

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...thon-CARESHEET

[Iluvmybabys26]

Welcome to BP.net! Check this out!

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...thon-CARESHEET

Thank you!!! She did eat the fuzzy while in the box. I know you are supposed to stay away from pine and cedar and I had some elm branches from trimming our tree and put that in there for something for her to climb around on. Do you know if that is safe? Thanks!!

[Kaorte]

Congrats!! and to the forum

Even though the snake was fed 5 days ago it doesn't mean that you need to feed it right away. Ball pythons can stress out very easily and sometimes offering food too soon will just make them stress even more.

Wait 7 days from the day you got the snake. During this time keep handling to a bare minimum, cleaning only. Since you have already attempted feeding, I would wait one week from today before you try to feed again. This is helpful for a few reasons. 1. Your snake will be more likely to eat if it hasn't eaten in a while and 2. It will give your snake time to adjust to his new environment and get nice and comfy. A snake needs to feel 100% safe before it eats. It will not starve to death, I promise

I would recommend feeding your snake in it's home enclosure. I do this with all my snakes (so do many people here) and I've never noticed a difference in their behavior. They will not try to strike your hand if you feed them in the home enclosure. Moving them to another box can just create stress and will actually give your snake a few chances to bite you with the smell of rodent in the air. I would also try feeding on a 5 day schedule. You might be able to feed it something slightly bigger than a fuzzy. I would say he would probably do fine with a hopper or a small adult mouse. They can eat much more than you would first expect!

At 20" you probably have a hatchling. It would be hard to say without a weight. It is really hard to measure a snakes length so most of us go by weight. Much more accurate!

[fedele]

Make sure to properly clean anything from outside that you are going to use in its enclosure.

[Kaorte]

Thank you!!! She did eat the fuzzy while in the box. I know you are supposed to stay away from pine and cedar and I had some elm branches from trimming our tree and put that in there for something for her to climb around on. Do you know if that is safe? Thanks!!

I don't think the elm would harm the snake, but make sure you disinfect it before putting it in the enclosure. You can either boil it or bake it in the oven for an hour or so.

I personally don't give my snakes anything to climb on. The hatchlings can climb fairly well, but such a heavy bodied snake is likely to fall. Also, if they ever poop on it...well have fun cleaning!

[Iluvmybabys26]

[QUOTE=Kaorte;1869631]Congrats!! and to the forum

"During this time keep handling to a bare minimum, cleaning only."

What do you do to clean the snake? Didn't see this on the care sheet that was posted on here. To my surprise she did eat the fuzzy, even though she is currently shedding her skin.

[Kaorte]

"During this time keep handling to a bare minimum, cleaning only."

What do you do to clean the snake? Didn't see this on the care sheet that was posted on here. To my surprise she did eat the fuzzy, even though she is currently shedding her skin.

LOL maybe I should have specified. Cleaning the ENCLOSURE, not the snake I don't clean my snakes unless they are somehow covered in poo, in which case I give them a bath in some room temp water.