New Ball Python

Hi everyone! Great site!

I torn down my 500G Saltwater Reef aquarium system last spring and really needed a new hobby. I have since been OBSESSED with snakes! :snake: Although I only own one so far ;) My wife and I have limited reptile experience consisting of a Blue Tongued Skink and a Gargoyle Gecko.

I want to explain what I have done so far and would love some feedback. I also have a few questions.

I found a very cute 4 week old (normal) Ball that was VERY friendly and great to handle. I decided to pay for "him" and pick up in a week after I had "his" home set up. I went with a rubbermaid which I believe is 30" long x 19" deep and 12" tall. I have begun building a custom "adult size" home for "him" but I will save that for later. By the way, my wife and I have named "him" Hades...at least until we can verify this snake is a boy. If it's not then...:confusd:

So rubbermaid with air holes drilled in side, heavy duty clips holding lid down, under tank heater, thermostat to control heater, temp and humidity monitor, paper towel substrate for easy cleaning, two hides -- one on the warm side and one on the cooler side, water dish, piece of drift wood for climbing and scratching or whatever...

Brought the baby home on feeding day but they did not feed him as they knew he would be moving. The next day he was out and about exploring his new home so I decided to handle him. He balled up for about 2-3 minutes and then began to climb all over. He has rarely ever balled up again when I take him out of his home...if at all, I don't remember another time.

Leads me to first question. I was told he will ball up if scared and if he didn't want to be handled. This snake never seems to mind being handled. I can take him out anytime and for as long as I want and he just climbs around and usually ends up on my neck. Does this mean he really is ok being handled or could he be scared and stressed? The odd time that I bump his head by accident, he will ball up for a brief moment but other than that, he seems happy. The one exception was during his first (in my care) shed when he clearly did not want to be handled and I left him alone for a few days. Otherwise I handle him every day other than the day after feeding. How much is too much handling? How long is too long?

He is very active every night which is normal of course but if I open his rubbermaid, he immediately climbs out and onto the floor. He seems to love to explore. Normal?

Feeding...I was told to feed a mouse "hopper" every week. He was already eating frozen thawed and my first feeding with him took all of about 10 seconds of dangling the mouse infront of him before he struck and ate it very quickly. He always eats immediately and has never refused a meal, even during shedding with cloudy eyes, he ate. About 3 weeks ago I went from once a week to once every 5 days because I didn't think the hoppers were enough. What would I feed next? Rat pups? Last night I fed him a very big hopper, he ate it very fast and easily and then started to look for more I think. I dangled the feeding tongs in his rubbermaid and he kept approaching them. I kinda feel like a bad keeper right now because he clearly needs bigger food :rolleyes:

Should I feed in a different container?

His first shed with me went very well, full shed with eyes and all. Only thing I noticed was that when I found the shedded skin, I also found a lot of feces. Is this normal? By the way, I change out his paper towel every few days and spot clean. Disinfect his rubbermaid once a week.

So far its been an amazing experience! This snake has never once hissed at me or tried to strike. I hope "he" stays like this although I know it can change over time. I can even pet him on the head (when he is laying on me only, not if he is outstretched or balled up) which I was told they won't like. I think I have been really lucky with this as a first snake!

Thanks in advance for any comments and advice!

EDIT: I forgot to mention I keep the warm side at 88-90 and cool side at 83ish although this side is hard to control. Humidity is usually around 50% but the past few days its been way too high at 70% and I am trying to figure out the cause which may include a broken monitor.

Also, is it common for them to like climbing? He seems to love to climb...

You need some digital scales to weigh him, you need to feed him 10-15% of his body weight, rats are better for balls but it can be hard to get them on to rats, Also this site is very helpful you seem to have done your research though so your off to a good start.. when it comes to handle it they don't exactly like being handled but just tolerate maybe just start around 5minutes a day and gradually build up that time.

You will not need to feed in a different container, cage aggression is a myth and feeding them in different containers could stress them and can make them more likely to bite you, feeding every 5 days is a good schedule when it comes to younger ball pythons, you sound like you have everything covered, being on this website your knowledge will grow quite a lot.

But yes, i would advise on buying your BP some digital scales and feeding 10-15% of body weight e.g:
Snakes body weight (135g) x 0.15 = (20.25g) rodent prey weight

Hope this helps, and welcome!


Ye it is normal for them to climb, 70% is fine as long as your not seeing condensation etc... a way to get this is down is putting an osculating fan in the room

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SRMD94

You need some digital scales to weigh him, you need to feed him 10-15% of his body weight, rats are better for balls but it can be hard to get them on to rats, Also this site is very helpful you seem to have done your research though so your off to a good start.. when it comes to handle it they don't exactly like being handled but just tolerate maybe just start around 5minutes a day and gradually build up that time.

You will not need to feed in a different container, cage aggression is a myth and feeding them in different containers could stress them and can make them more likely to bite you, feeding every 5 days is a good schedule when it comes to younger ball pythons, you sound like you have everything covered, being on this website your knowledge will grow quite a lot.

But yes, i would advise on buying your BP some digital scales and feeding 10-15% of body weight e.g:
Snakes body weight (135g) x 0.15 = (20.25g) rodent prey weight

Hope this helps, and welcome!


Ye it is normal for them to climb, 70% is fine as long as your not seeing condensation etc... a way to get this is down is putting an osculating fan in the room

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Thanks so much! I will go and get a digital scale tomorrow. I did do a lot of research but of course it takes experience and advice from the experienced to really learn.

Why is it hard to get them onto rats? Any particular reason or just because its a change in food? I assume it would be best to try right away rather than down the road when the snake is used to eating only mice.

Actually with the 70% humidity there was some condensation unfortunately which is why I was a little concerned.

It sounds like I handle this snake for far too long. I generally take him out for about 10-15 minutes at a time but on occasion I have had him out for an hour :oops: He never seemed stressed but I guess the key word is "seemed" because I really couldn't know what it was thinking or feeling. Usually it will crawl around for 10-15 minutes all over me and then end up wrapped around my arm or neck which I assumed was the snake relaxing but I suppose it may also be stressed out?

I was only using balling as a sign of stress, what else can I look for? Obviously hissing (do ball pythons hiss?) and striking but he has yet to do either.

Oh, one more thing, I will post pics of him but what is a good guideline for knowing if your snake is the proper weight?

Thanks again!!!

Yes bps will hiss.
if he ends up curling up aroubd you and is calm its okay to keep gim iut, just maje sure nit to handle at least 2 days after feeding.
Try offering him a rat pup at the next feeding.
It sounds like your off to a great start!

After watching some video on "popping", I decided to try and see if I can determine the gender of my snake...was really easy to do and it's a girl!!!

you should name her persephone (hades wife). :)

Be careful popping your snakes unless you really know how to it can damage the snake