My first post is to say hello and that I enjoy the info and tone of this BB. I am sure most of my advice is going tell new owners to be patient and don't panic. I cannot say anything else because I am too new at being a snake owner, even after owning my Monty for 2.5 years.

My male Monty hatched almost 3 years ago, I picked him up from the breeder (not a pet store) about 2 months after he hatched. The breeder had 3 BPs left from this clutch and Monty was the gentlest and calmest of the bunch. He has never hissed or struck at us.

Here he is, the first day home, the objects that are in the back are NOT in his tank. The fake vine he is on is about 1 inch thick.


Here is Monty today, just after a perfect shed. He used to eat mice pinkies, now he is eating adult mice. He will take F/T or live mice.


I have always used the same kitchen tongs to feed him, whether it be F/T or live mice. I feel bad for the live mouse, but I always stun them. The guts of frozen thawed mice just haven't stayed in the body for the last 3-4 boxes. Perhaps it was how I thawed them? A coffee cup of boiling water, and let the frozen mouse soak in that until the water temp was at 98F or so. Monty would strike and squeeze, then I had to wear latex gloves to get him from the feeding container back to his tank.

His first year caused me worry. Was he eating enough? He wouldn't strike, he won't eat!! He stayed small and he still is... maybe? He is 3 years old, about 3 feet long, about 3 inches diameter at his widest and weighs 345G. The tip of his tail seems quite thin... does it?

See? It is so easy to worry. He has always been active, lots of tongue flicking, no RIs, scale rot or any other health issues. Most sheds have been perfect, a couple were done in patches and only 2 left behind skin on his eyes. I put a green heavy duty unused but well rinsed pot scrubber in his tank so he can rub against it when he wants. I replace it regularly and always when I notice skin on it.

I did assisted feeding for about 6 months and only when he wouldn't eat for 3-4 weeks of either F/T or stunned/just killed live mice. That was the first year I have owned him and usually happened only in the winter months. The last year, he has sometimes gone for 2 weeks without eating in the winter. This spring, he is eating live adult mice every 5-7 days.

He is in a 20 gallon glass tank with a screen top. I have a towel over 80% of the screen and keep that moist. Replace the towel at least once a week! Red heat lamp so the hot side is 85-95, cool side is 70-75 One hide with a thermostat UTH under his hide, he likes his hide. A large water bowl directly under the heat lamp and a small one that is partway up the tank with magnets and mid-way between the hot and cool side. I use coconut husk and keep the area around his large water bowl really moist. I like the coconut husk because it takes a holds moisture without going moldy for a long time. I think it is soon time for a bigger terrarium and one better suited for a BP.