Interesting beginning to owning a ball python, help???
About two weeks ago I walked into a local private owned pet shop in my town, and almost immediately a very moldy aquarium behind the counter caught my attention. I was told it contained a ball python who was a lost cause and she was disposing of it. The snake however lethargic was breathing and me being me I am unable to let any animal suffer without trying to help, so 130$ later I had the snake, a new tank from a friend, bedding, a hide, a pool, a basking light and a black light. I took him home knowing very little about ball pythons, and or any snakes. But confident I could learn and proud for saving his life I hit Google lol. All the woman would tell me is he eats live feeder mice.
For the first few days he barely moved at all, I I guessed he was sick from the moldy environment as any animal/being would be. But to my surprise the fourth night he was actively moving about and exploring his new home and raising up to the black light on top of his tank. He is still very active at night and sleeps in his hide during the day. I am currently waiting in line for an appointment with the only local vet who will tend a snake but from Google help he shows no visible signs of illness. I haven't handled him much or tried to feed him due to his previous living conditions and his new environment, I don't want to traumatize him any further, but he seems happy.
I'm new to snakes so any advice, info, tips, tricks.. Anything would be helpful. Below are some pictures from today while I was changing his water. He actually crawled/slithered? I onto my hand and let me hold him. He seemed calm and stayed very still. I would appreciate any input on his age or gender, hes about 20 inches or so long and thank you.
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...231_161025.jpg
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...231_161028.jpg
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...231_135001.jpg
Re: Interesting beginning to owning a ball python, help???
Quote:
Originally Posted by
LotusCorvus
Congrats! I don't know what that woman was talking about, he doesn't even look especially underweight. Good on you for taking him in. He was probably just lethargic from being too cold and poorly cared for. Definitely read through the threads (and switch him to belly heat, esp in a glass cage those bulbs won't quite do the trick), and in no time he should be all the way back to 100%.
What do you mean those bulbs won't quite do the trick? Heat bulbs provide belly heat just as much as UTH's do. Their only downside is that they are hard on humidity (but that is an entirely different matter). Heat bulbs heat cages better than just about anything. In most cases they make the cage slightly too hot (but that can be fixed with a simple light dimmer). UTH's come with their own set of issues. For one they don't heat the air inside the cage so if the room that the cage is in drops below 75 a heat lamp will be required anyway and the added cost of a thermostat which is not optional.
