new to snakes

[erebus45]

I have recently bought my very first ball python so I am hear looking for any and all advice I have done hours of research but still I wanna know more in my opinion a person can never have enough knowledge. ok, "he" is roughly 4 months old I bought him from my local petsmart on aug 23. they got the snake in aug 11. the feeding chart shows he ate f/t the first day he arrived and hasent ate since. I wanna switch him to live if I can. I had my terrarium which is a self made wooden terr. with plaxiglass sliding doors and a screen top most all the top is covered with tin foil (humidity purposes) I had it set up for two weeks before I got him. Temps: hot spot ~90, warm side ambient ~80-85, cool side ambient ~75 humidity is staying around 55%. temp sources: I have a termo/hygro on the warm side back wall, a thermo on cool side back wall, I have a acu-rite indoor/outdoor with humidity and probe the box is located directly in the center of the cool side with the probe directly in the basking spot. Substrate: is zoo-meds repti-bark for humidity purposes. their is currently 3 hides one on warn side one in middle and one on cool side. when I got him I handled him for awhile before I bought him their was no sign of fowl play, he was active and alert tounge flickering a lot while he was roaming about. when I got him home I put him in his new home he roamed for about 20 minutes till he found his hide located in the middle he crawled up in their and hasent came out yet I do not know if that is normal or not but unless he shows signs of hunger sooner I am going to try to feed him Tuesday. if their is something you want to know that I missed feel free to ask and once again I am looking for any and all advice, thank you.

[Fraido]

All I have to say to you is don't switch him to live. Avoid it unless he refuses to eat F/T and begins to lose weight. Hooked on live is the last thing you want, it makes switching to F/T in the future more difficult. Plus, when you feed live you risk an injury to your snake. There's just no need to feed live.

What are you using as a heat source? If you're using a heat pad make sure you've got a thermostat, too. Oh, and you might want to bump up the humidity when he sheds, he may have issues shedding at that percentage.

[BMorrison]

Sounds like you're in the right direction. I'd also be curious about the heat mat and thermostat. If you don't see him and he spends 99% of his time in his hide congrats you've got yourself a ball python lol

I doubt petsmart actually got him to eat and nonetheless the first day he got to their store if you want to feed live and not ft I'd get him a small live hopper mouse the next time you intend to feed. Be aware there's a small risk when he gets to eating rats that he could get tagged on a bad strike and if you want to switch back to ft in the future you may be playing a test of wills.


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[erebus45]

All I have to say to you is don't switch him to live. Avoid it unless he refuses to eat F/T and begins to lose weight. Hooked on live is the last thing you want, it makes switching to F/T in the future more difficult. Plus, when you feed live you risk an injury to your snake. There's just no need to feed live.

What are you using as a heat source? If you're using a heat pad make sure you've got a thermostat, too. Oh, and you might want to bump up the humidity when he sheds, he may have issues shedding at that percentage.

Well the reason I want to feed live is cuz its in their nature to hunt id imagine they like to feel a pulse slowly disappear from a meal. I know they are captive breed and stuff but a part of them might still feel the need to hunt (just my opinion) for a heat source im using a light hooked to a timer for day/night cycle, I do not have heat mats (mainly because the cage is wood)

[erebus45]

Sounds like you're in the right direction. I'd also be curious about the heat mat and thermostat. If you don't see him and he spends 99% of his time in his hide congrats you've got yourself a ball python lol

I doubt petsmart actually got him to eat and nonetheless the first day he got to their store if you want to feed live and not ft I'd get him a small live hopper mouse the next time you intend to feed. Be aware there's a small risk when he gets to eating rats that he could get tagged on a bad strike and if you want to switch back to ft in the future you may be playing a test of wills.


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thank you, I am trying my best to make him feel comfy and at home (happy and healthy). and I was just going by the feeding chart they had. the girl that helped me seemed like she didn't know anything about snakes at all (good thing I did a lot of research haha) and same thing I replied to him about I feel as tho its in their blood to want to hunt (just my opinion).

[Fraido]

It is your snake and all I can do is strongly advise against it, good luck with your new little guy!

Ps. I'm a her

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[jbzapanda]

I personally wouldn't risk the health of my snake to feed live. I know that it's their natural prey in the wild, but if it can be avoided at all costs, then no harm done, right? Plus, the bigger your snake gets, the bigger prey item you'll have to feed, and the bigger the teeth and claw marks that are going to try to escape. I'd say just to keep it on the safe side. I'd only ever go to live if it was the absolute last resort. It will save you from accidents and injuries(and money from vet visits) in the future.

[erebus45]

what is the best way to tell if he is ready to eat or should I go ahead and try?

[Fraido]

I would wait a week with no handling and then give it a go.

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[BMorrison]

I personally wouldn't risk the health of my snake to feed live. I know that it's their natural prey in the wild, but if it can be avoided at all costs, then no harm done, right? Plus, the bigger your snake gets, the bigger prey item you'll have to feed, and the bigger the teeth and claw marks that are going to try to escape. I'd say just to keep it on the safe side. I'd only ever go to live if it was the absolute last resort. It will save you from accidents and injuries(and money from vet visits) in the future.

The risk feeding live is small with well taken care of feeders. I fed live exclusively for years and my big girl took 1 scratch to the neck that healed in 1 shed. I switched to ft for my convenience as I don't breed or keep rats, the myth of feeding live isn't correct. Especially if a snake hasn't eaten in a long time I'll typically always recommend a small hipper to kick start the feed response.


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