Too Much Handling of New Ball Python??

[cali_bot]

First time and new owner of a male albino ball python, that I've appropriately named Ziggy Smalls . He's nearly a year old, and has only been in my care since Sunday afternoon. Prior to living with me he had stayed with his breeder in a reptile room within a 6 quart plastic container, but now resides in a 20 gallon tank with plenty of places to hide, bask and cool down in. After reading a blog post that suggested not handling new snakes until about a week has passed (so they can get used to their new enclosure), I am now afraid that I may have stressed him out by handling him about 5-10 minutes for the past two days I have had him. Should I stop handling him for a week and just let him adapt despite my beginner mistake or am I okay to keep handling him for a few minutes at a time at night?

Additional Notes:
- The last time he has eaten was on Friday afternoon with his breeder, he digested his food and pooped under his care and hasn't pooped while in his new enclosure, which I don't think is an issue. I'll try feeding him this coming Friday.
- Whenever I handle him he's very calm and hangs around my arm and legs before hiding in a tissue box I lay out for him or in my book case amongst my books.
- I understand that handling was a bit rushed, but I wanted to get my two cousins (aged 5) to meet him and not be so terrified of him, it worked, however he does get agitated whenever they are in the room.
- So far he hides and roams around his cage, poking at the mesh top every so often or poking at the glass. I haven't found any concern in this, but have heard about issues with nose rubbing.

All comments and suggestions are welcome! I just want to make sure Ziggy is comfortable and healthy.

[AbsoluteApril]

Should I stop handling him for a week and just let him adapt despite my beginner mistake or am I okay to keep handling him for a few minutes at a time at night?

You should stop handling him for at least a week

[tttaylorrr]

give him at least 5 days alone. no food, and try not to poke around the cage unless water needs changing or the snake pooped.

you mention roaming: consistant/daytime roaming is a sign of stress jsyk.

[Craiga 01453]

First time and new owner of a male albino ball python, that I've appropriately named Ziggy Smalls . He's nearly a year old, and has only been in my care since Sunday afternoon. Prior to living with me he had stayed with his breeder in a reptile room within a 6 quart plastic container, but now resides in a 20 gallon tank with plenty of places to hide, bask and cool down in. After reading a blog post that suggested not handling new snakes until about a week has passed (so they can get used to their new enclosure), I am now afraid that I may have stressed him out by handling him about 5-10 minutes for the past two days I have had him. Should I stop handling him for a week and just let him adapt despite my beginner mistake or am I okay to keep handling him for a few minutes at a time at night?

Additional Notes:
- The last time he has eaten was on Friday afternoon with his breeder, he digested his food and pooped under his care and hasn't pooped while in his new enclosure, which I don't think is an issue. I'll try feeding him this coming Friday.
- Whenever I handle him he's very calm and hangs around my arm and legs before hiding in a tissue box I lay out for him or in my book case amongst my books.
- I understand that handling was a bit rushed, but I wanted to get my two cousins (aged 5) to meet him and not be so terrified of him, it worked, however he does get agitated whenever they are in the room.
- So far he hides and roams around his cage, poking at the mesh top every so often or poking at the glass. I haven't found any concern in this, but have heard about issues with nose rubbing.

All comments and suggestions are welcome! I just want to make sure Ziggy is comfortable and healthy.

First off, welcome and congrats on your new snake!
P.S. I'm not a rap fan, but I love the name!!!

Ok, so my advice would be to let him get acclimated to his new home. You haven't done anything wrong, and I understand wanting to hang out with your new pet. But, you'll have this pet for 30 years, let him get comfortable and eating before handling him. There will be plenty of time to hang out once he's eating.

I would basically forget he's there until Fri with the exception of checking on him and your equipment (more on this later...). Spot clean and fill his water if necessary, but keep handling to an absolute minimum.
Try to feed him Friday as scheduled.
Then leave him alone again for at least 48 hours and forget he's there with the same exceptions as before.
After 48 hours minimal handling is ok, but I personally like to wait until the snake has accepted 3 consecutive meals before doing much handling.

Now, when you say he roams the enclosure, is this primarily at night? If not, he may be stressed, cold/hot, etc...
soooo... what are you using to heat the enclosure and how are you regulating the heat?
what are you offering for hides, etc...?
how are you monitoring your temps/humidity? and where are you measuring your temps?
have you blocked off 3 sides of the enclosure?
The more info you give us about your setup the more we can help answer your questions.

[cali_bot]

Thank you!

When he roams the enclosure it's primarily at night, he rarely gets out of his hides during the day and is currently hanging out in one right now. As far as his hides go, I got him an All Living Things Reptile Bogwood to bask, climb and hide inside of that's on the right side of the cage underneath the heating lamp with space behind it to hide in and an All Living Things Tropical Cave to hide inside of on the cooler left side of the tank with space to hide behind it as well. His water dish is in the middle of the tank and theres a buddha figurine that sits in the front of the Bogwood.

For heating I have a clamp lamp that sits at the top of the enclosure on the right side with a 75W red light bulb. I measure the temps of the enclosure mainly with a digital infrared thermometer that I point at different spots in the cage to check every now and then, and I have a thermometer/humidity gauge that sits level to where he is in the tank that I use to eyeball the temp and humidity. The humidity goes between 47% to 60%, and the temp is 90F on the right side of the tank and 78-83 on the left side of the tank where there isn't any heating. For bedding I use Eco Terra Coconut fiber substrate and have sheet moss scattered throughout the tank.

The way his tank is set up kind of blocks off the sides and back of the enclosure. His tank is on a tv drawer that sits low between a normal drawer and a shelf that I have on the sides of it, the back of the tank faces a wall. I was debating about getting a background cover for the tank, but I'm still not sure. I'll try to provide a link with a picture of the set up soon if needed.

[Craiga 01453]

Ok, cool. I have a Buddha in 3 of my enclosures as well.


Are you regulating your heat lamp with a thermostat or dimmer or anything?
And no Under Tank Heater, correct?
Is your thermometer/hygrometer digital or the dial stick-on style? The stick-ons are wildly inaccurate.

Pics would be cool, never hurts to get some more advice and feedback.

[Marzipan]

As an aside, if I am reading correctly, you only have 1 hide which is on the cold side of the enclosure?

I would advise getting a second, identical hide and placing it on the warmer side. He probably won't be able to digest his food properly if he doesn't have heat on the cool side. I don't know the US hides you are using, but I use two of these in medium a year old ball python: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002AR5B0/ref=twister_B005664DB0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 The fronts aren't really open and it's dark and holey. Not great for viewing, but perfect by snake brain standards!

Good luck! Sounds like you have done a fair amount of research and bought some decent stuff. He will be stressed at first and should probably be left for about a week, but hopefully he'll settle in soon for you!

[cali_bot]

I am not regulating the heat lamp with a thermostat or dimmer or anything, should I start? The tank has been alright and has reached a max of 93F directly under the lamp, so I wasn't too worried. And yeah, I do not have an undertank heater. I do have the dial stick on type and heard good reviews on the one I have, but don't rely on it for temp as much as I do the infrared thermometer.

A link to the tank set up:
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery//showimage.php?i=56038&catid=member&imageuser=69217

The background I'm thinking of getting is this one:
https://www.petsmart.com/reptile/hab...und-14943.html

I am thinking of getting vines to cover more of the tank soon, and would add more hides, but I don't think I have much room to put them. Thoughts?

[tttaylorrr]

I am not regulating the heat lamp with a thermostat or dimmer or anything, should I start? The tank has been alright and has reached a max of 93F directly under the lamp, so I wasn't too worried. And yeah, I do not have an undertank heater. I do have the dial stick on type and heard good reviews on the one I have, but don't rely on it for temp as much as I do the infrared thermometer.

A link to the tank set up:
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery//showimage.php?i=56038&catid=member&imageuser=69217

The background I'm thinking of getting is this one:
https://www.petsmart.com/reptile/hab...und-14943.html

I am thinking of getting vines to cover more of the tank soon, and would add more hides, but I don't think I have much room to put them. Thoughts?

that log thing should be used as decoration and not a hide. it is not secure enough and the snake will grow out of it very quickly; i have the same one. you should get the same hide as the other one you have and use that. 2 identical hides is kind of SOP around here.

ALL sources of heat MUST be regulated. you're taking a huge risk on your snake's behalf. get a $15 lamp dimmer or rheostat from the pet store or home improvement store. a thermoSTAT is superior to a rheostat; rheostats should be used in a room that has a constant temperature. you can get a cheap $30 thermostat on amazon or most pet stores to use until you can save up for a nicer, more reliable one.

those stick-on thermometers are practically garbage. go to walmart and spend $8 on an AcuRite thermometer/hygrometer.

the enclosure definitely needs more clutter.

EDIT: cover 3 out of 4 sides of the enclosure with dark fabric or thick paper. this just helps the snake feel less open and more secure.

[Craiga 01453]

Yeah, I would definitely regulate your heat. This will help with temp fluctuations and overheating.

Have you looked at the stickies on here about setting up your tank?
There is a great one floating around about how to set up a 20 gallon glass tank. Check that out for the optimal setup.

You're almost there, but need to add a few things. It's a lot of work at first, but once you have all your heat sources regulated and dialed in it's really simple. You just let the equipment do the work and you just monitor it and enjoy your snake.