Hello from Virginia. I am new here, first time posting. Not new at all to pets but fairly new to snakes. I currently acquired a ball python from a fellow co-worker. Her daughter bought it about two years ago as a baby. She lost interest in it and denied proper care and feeding. This past Tuesday I went to pick it up and try to give it a new home. When I arrived at the residence, the snake was balled up in the corner of the aquarium with absolutely no source of light or heat, no clean water, filthy bedding and from what I was told, It had not been feed in over six months. When I placed the aquarium (20 gallon long BTW) in the front seat of my truck, the snake uncoiled itself and got as close to the top of the screen lid as possible as I had the heat on as high as it would go. (It was a nice and chilly 26 degrees here in VA) Upon arriving home I promptly set up a heat lamp, cleaned out the bedding of what looked to be months of feces, scrubbed and cleaned the water bowl and thawed a small fuzzy mouse. When his dinner was thawed, I dried it off a bit and dropped it in. He seemed to have no interest at all. I kind of figured that would happen so I had no worries. Upon waking the next morning I promptly checked on him and was surprised to see NO MORE MOUSE!!! This made my day. I am now the proud parent of a cute little ball python that has yet to be named. I am hoping that I am able to care for it the way it deserves.