He fed then he shed...

[amrakweno]

I was so excited when my guy ate for me the first time on Sunday. I was also really excited last night to try to get a little hands on time in for the first time... I open the tub remove the hide and guess who's got the blue eyes. So lol I wait until the shed is complete. I'm going to guess this is day 3/4 so maybe another 5 days or so. I actually don't mind it to let him settle in a few more days. Less stress = happy snake. So here's to a good shed (75% humidity this morning) Then a hands on approach!

[shadow reaper]

My little noodle just shed for the first time with me a couple days ago. It wasn't a complete shed, which I'm pretty sure is kinda my fault (totally forgot to up humidity and it was around 50% during his shed), but it was mostly complete and he's been working to get the rest off. Wife and I are such dorks, we saved his first shed in a baggie like it's our kid's first lost tooth!

[amrakweno]

Well after I noticed blue eyes on Wednesday I open the tub to check on him today and his 1 piece shed sits in the hole of his hide. I removed it lifted the hide just to check on him , put the hide back and sit there and watch for a minute and he pokes his head out and I talk to him for about 10 minutes. He did get a little extension of his neck out of his hide but that was about it , tongue just a flickering. I imagine hes happy due to his good shed and getting more comfortable in his new home of 2 weeks. I thought about trying to pick him up for the first time but called it off. I will probably wait till after he feeds on Tuesday and maybe try Thursday. I figure the more meals and time he has in his new home the less stressed he will be when I do get hands on. I will tell you not just grabbing the little guy is testing a large part of my patience

[jbzapanda]

A complete shed, that's awesome! Glad to hear things are going great with your little guy

[amrakweno]

Okay I went searching videos on handling ball pythons for the first time and said okay hes fed and shed for me i'm going to get hands on. I wanted to wait longer, although I have been some what patient (13 days). I figured what would it hurt for us to start getting used to each other. I uncovered him , he was in a pretty tight ball. The initial touching / picking up is the part that makes me a little nervous. So I took my hook (yes i'm a weenie) and rubbed him on the side slow and soft for a few seconds then slid my hand under him and Ta Daaaaaa i'm holding my baby boy lol (shaking non the less). No hissing and not a lot of heavy breathing. So I handled him for about 5 to 7 mins. He did make me jump once ( I just knew I was gonna get bit) but other than that he relaxed and was smelling like crazy trying to figure stuff out. Let him back down in his tub and he explored about 5 mins before then going back in his warm hide. In all i'm glad I did this to start our bond and also my nerves will be down the next time I handle.