My first post and my first snake!

Well this is my first post here. Looks like a real nice and informative forum. And here's my ball python. I just got him last sunday. He's my first snake so I am trying to learn as much as I can. I was told to leave him for a week before I handle him so for now all I can do is watch! Oh and I have to give him a name lol.. He is around 18" and 2 months old.

http://g35driver.com/rides/spec/pix/...1091249077.jpg

http://g35driver.com/rides/spec/pix/...1091249109.jpg

just curious, what type of substrate is that?

Hi and Welcome to our little corner of the universe! He's a good lookin guy! :) What kind of setup do you have? Hides, water dish, substrate?

He's gorgeous!

Very nice, What substarte is that ... can ya describe your setup for us?

everyone curious about the substrate........nervous...i can tell..but understandable

He's a pretty little guy! You got good advice about waiting to handle him, but that looks like pine chip bedding, which can be fatal. If that's what it is, please replace it immediately with newspaper or paper towel, clean the cage thoroughly, and watch him for signs of nervous system distress. If he seems okay after a week or two, then you can go back to a natural substrate if you like, but not pine, cedar, redwood, beechwood, or any other wood that's high in phenols.

Funny, I was going to ask about the substrate as well but it looks like it's been covered....Nice lookin' snake you have there. Good luck w/him!

Uh oh.. well it is natural pine shavings. The guy at the reptile store had me buy it with the tank. I saw this type of substrate in the other tanks as well. So should I throw it out?????? You guys are scaring me.

So far I just have the substrate, a glass 10g tank, a water bowl, a cave, a heating pad and two thermometers.

Keep the comments coming!

YES!! Pine has chemicals in it that are damaging to their nervous systems!!!! Get it out like RIGHT NOW, and clean the cage, and replace it with newspaper until you find another substrate.