Completely New! Need help!

Hey guys! My name is Jack. I am currently volunteering at my local pet store. I help out with the fish, and the reptiles. We currently have 5 BPs. One is big (4'), another is medium/large (3'), the other big one is 3' too. There are also two small ones that seem pretty young to me. They are only about 20". So far all I've been doing is feeding and cleaning whenever told to. The tanks used to be bare with only wood chips on the bottoms but after some research I learned they need more than that. I have recently placed (in the tank with the small ones) two bottom less shoe boxes with holes on each side. One closer to the heat lamp and the other on the other side. I also put in a rock directly under the lamp. This stays warm and she likes to lay on it. I also put a long stick from the bottom left corner to the up to the right corner up high in the back. I recently claimed the female (and named her "Amarillo"). She's still for sale though. I'd like to do the best for her.
Here are my questions:


1. We feed all the snakes every 3 wks. The bigger snakes get small-medium rats (4-7 in depending on the snake). The smaller ones get hopper mice (they're a little less than an inch). Ok, so what I've read is that the young ones should be fed 1-2 times a week. Is every 3 wks a bad idea?
2. What else should I do to make the snakes more comfortable.
3. Any other tips?


So in the end, I actually don't OWN any snakes, I just care for them.

When mine were small I feed them every 5 days.

There is a care sheet on this site. It is a very good beginning to learning proper care. Glad you came to the right place for advice! There are a number of things wrong with your setup. Please read that care sheet, then let us know what questions you have.

Welcome to BP.net!

Every 3 weeks is not enough food. They really should be fed at least once a week. Many of us feed every 5 days for younger bp's to bulk them up, but it isn't really necessary.

Thanks everyone! I am checking out the care sheet right now :) I will start feeding them once a week. Is once every 3 wks not enough for the big ones even?

No. Once a week. Care sheet should help you a lot.:gj:

Glad you are trying to do right for these animals.

Thanks! I'll start feeding everyone once a week.

Don, when you said there are a few things wrong with the setup, what things do you mean? Thanks again :)

Under the tank heaters with thermostats would be much better. Ditch the rocks. No need for a stick. Ball pythons are not climbers. They live in rodent burrows and termite mounds, not trees. Feed approprite size food once per week.

If they are laying on the rock, your temps may be off. These snakes typically are not baskers. rocks getting too hot could burn them. Also, the heat lamp will lower humidity.

Didn't want to be critical. Hopefully, the care sheets covered these things.

Thanks a bunch! You're not being too critical, I need to know these things.