Don't get too excited... but I finally got my own!

So after being a member here for a long time and doing loads of research I finally got my very first ball python! He's a normal! I got him a week ago! He refused to eat at the store but after looking through the 2 dozen "normals" they had to offer I was set on taking this little guy home with me. Well I only had him in his new setup for 2 days and he shed, almost completely. (that explains the refusing food at the store) He ate with no trouble at all the following day! After feeding I realized that he still has the top of his head and neck to shed. I am soaking him with a wash cloth and warm water so hopefully that helps take care of it. I got the idea from a post on here! Checked the temps and humidity and all is good so I think maybe the move or where he was before may have been to blame for the incomplete shed. He is only 84 grams! I am so excited to have him! I've read on here that young ones can be a challenge but he is so calm and doesn't seem to be bothered by me at all. He does curl in a ball now and then when I open the tank and remove his hide but once I've picked him up he just hangs out and calmly glides through my hands. Please understand my amazement as I've had an unhealthy, irrational fear of handling snakes my whole life for no apparent reason at all. I can't tell you how surprised I am to find how totally amazing ball pythons are! This place has made it very easy to understand how to care for these awesome creatures. I hate to say it but I am already contemplating purchasing a rack and another ball or 2 or 3 perhaps a butter or mojave. I'm still trying to figure out how to post some pictures of my little guy chowing down on his first meal with me! I'll share some more photos after his soak too! Hope I didn't carry on too much! I just had to share my new discovery!

Congrats!!! Welcome to the addiction :) Sounds like he's acclimating well. Here's to many many years of being a python mommy/daddy :D

WOW! I see you've been a member since 2009 and your just now getting your FIRST ball python!!! How exciting for you!!! I could never have waited that long :P Well, Im sure you've read tons and tons of great info on how to care for your new lil baby up to this point, so everything from here on out should be a piece of cake for you! Congrats, Im sure your tickled black and brown with scales :P What did you name him/her? and we are eagerly awaiting pics.....:rolleyes:

congratz on the ball, glad to hear he's feeding by himself. the bad shed is on the pet shop not you. haven't had him long enough to take that blame. good luck with him, don

Congrats on getting your pet.
If you get a Photobucket account you just copy and paste the IMG link from there to here.
I wish more people took the time to get informed before getting a pet like you did.

Oh, 84 grams, what a little guy! :D best of luck with him, here's to many years of snakey parenthood!

So I got a photogbucket! thanks Raven01 for the suggestion! and here he is! [IMG]http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/r...32686B7E05.jpg[/IMG]http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/r...31EA4E9125.jpghttp://i483.photobucket.com/albums/r...31E15967EF.jpghttp://i483.photobucket.com/albums/r...31BC7347CD.jpg
he looks like he's in blue when the flash is on. i'm not totally happy with my iphone camera but it will have to do for now! let me know what you guys think of this little guy... and how much do baby's normally weigh when they are first hatched... just out of curiosity?

My babies usually weight 70-80g when they hatch, but smaller is normal, also. Congratulations!