Just got my first ball python. I have a few questions (:

[hylian]

I just got my first baby ball python a week ago and I have some questions.

Okay, first feeding. He's a male and 150 grams. The breeder I got him from said he's happy to eat every week, and I fed him two days ago. From what I can tell, he's a great eater. I'm just unsure about about the size of the pray. Is an adult mouse once a week good for his size?

And handling. How do I know if I'm stressing him out too much when I hold him? I know he's still a baby and is getting used to being handled, but I don't wan't to freak him out too much. After I hold him for awhile he comes out of his ball and starts moving pretty fast, and that makes me nervous. I'm just trying not to get bit .-.

Thanks for all your help! (:

[Daybreaker]

Congrats on the new bp!

An adult mouse sounds fine for that size, or a rat pup. You can go by the 10-15% rule: feed a feeder that is that percentage of your snake's weight if you're feeding f/t.

I say if your handling makes it to where your snake goes off feed or is constantly roaming the enclosure then it would be time to cut back handling. Handling here and there is fine for most bps: some are more tolerant of handling than others.

[Luciferskeeper]

Id think once a week an adult mouse would be fine for a little while. Id keep handling to only when needed until your snake has settled in and has eaten 4-5 times for you.

[bfirecat]

Hey and congrats on your first bp

At that size, he can eat food items around 15-25 grams, or as thick as his widest part of his body.
I would recommend rat pups instead of mice.

As for handling, most people say to not handle for the first 5 days to a week. Ive heard to start small and slowly increase the time, such as 10 mins then 15 and so on.

One sign of too much handling is refusal to eat, so as long as he eats, you should be fine. Also, most bps don't bite, so you're fine.

[angllady2]

Congratulations and welcome to the wonderful world of ball python ownership.

Ok, first and arguably most important: You WILL get bitten. Period. End of discussion. Get used to the idea, it will go much easier on you and your baby. For reference on the severity of a hatchling ball python bite, see this thread: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...icture-Warning!

Now, that you have that out of the way, at 150 grams a young adult mouse is acceptable. When he eats, look at his tummy. The food should make a noticeable bulge, but he should not look like he swallowed a football. If you don't see any bulge at all, or only a slight one, it may be time for bigger prey. I feed my babies young adult and adult mice until they reach around 300 grams.

Baby ball pythons are nervous by nature. They are very small, and small things become dinner quickly in the wild. you can handle him briefly each day, except for the two days after he eats. If he eats on Monday evening, wait until Wednesday evening to get him out again. Start out slowly, about 15 minutes at a time. He'll ball up at first, then he'll become a little speed demon for a while, eventually if you are gentle and patient, he'll calm back down again and get interested in checking you out and getting to know you better. I recommend two to three 15 minute sessions well spaced out for the first month or two. As you become more comfortable with each other, you can hold him longer. Generally speaking, try not to hold him for longer than say, 35-40 minutes. And that is at least 6 months away, you will be holding less frequently then, maybe twice in a day. Then as he reaches adulthood and becomes a real couch potato, you can hang out together for longer but less frequently, perhaps every few days.

Ball pythons to come to enjoy being handled, but remember they are not lap pets.

I wish you and your new baby all the best.

Gale

[hylian]

Thanks so much! This made me feel a lot more confident in handling him (:

[ballpythonboy]

don't handle him after feeding , shedding and a few days after sheding. Only handle your bp once or twice a week