New Ball, first snake.

Hello everyone,
Just thougth I would share that I am a new owner of a very small BP. I got it at the local pet store about a week ago. I have it in a 12 qt. Sterilite and am using a heat cord taped to the bottom of the tube. I am using the acurite thermometer from wall mart. My temps are 92.4 hot and 82.3 on cool. I have one hide in there for him and am using papertowels right now. My humidity is a little high at 72. I think that is about it for now.
I have had fish tanks for atleast 6 years now, one bearded dragon for a little over a year and wanted to get into snakes.
I plan to learn alot from you guys, looks like a great site.
My question after all that is that I have had it for a week, did not try to feed him all week. I look in on him/her this morning, was going to feed but it looks like it is getting ready to shed. Eyes are blue/gray, should I worry about feeding now or wait? Should/ can I handle the little feller yet? or wait for the shed to be done.
Sorry for the long post, just a little excited about my new friend.
Thanks for your time.
Rik

Hi and welcome to BP.net! :handshake:


Sounds like you've got things tuned in pretty well. I'm assuming the heat cord you mention is taped down on the OUTside of the tub, right?

As for the shedding/feeding issues....if I were in your shoes, I'd certainly wait and not handle him until he's finished shedding and has eat at least one meal for you. (I know it's hard to wait!!)

You can try to feed him if you wish, but be prepared to deal with the prey item if he refuses to eat it. F/T is relatively easy...but if you feed live, you need to be prepared to deal with being stuck with a live rodent. All that said...it won't hurt to wait for him to complete his shed and then try feeding him.

thanks for the info. I will go ahead and wait until he has shed before handleing and feeding him/her.
Yes the cord is on the outside of the tube. Everything seems to be going good except I can't hold him, and I would love to make sure he is eating. I will wait, for him to get over his shed. again thanks for the help.

i am planning on live mice right now, I have four I plan to breed for food. Will see how it turns out.

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Originally Posted by syclone

thanks for the info. I will go ahead and wait until he has shed before handleing and feeding him/her.
Yes the cord is on the outside of the tube. Everything seems to be going good except I can't hold him, and I would love to make sure he is eating. I will wait, for him to get over his shed. again thanks for the help.

i am planning on live mice right now, I have four I plan to breed for food. Will see how it turns out.

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Good thinking on waiting. He is probably in stress enough, but throw a shed into the mix...

As they get more used to their surroundings and you, sheds won't be so stressful for them and feeding during that time will be fine. So just hold out for a few more days

Your humidity level is good for a snake in shed, but you probably want to go ahead and lower it after it has finished.

Props to you on setting him up and giving him some alone time. I personally would not handle him until he has eaten for me a few weeks in a row.

Congrats on buying your first snake :)

I was going to melt a couple more holes in the lid to get the humidity down some. I will try and wait to handle him until I get him eating good. I apprecieate all the comments, I am sure that I will have some more questions. I also have a funny feeling that this isn't going to be my only snake.

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Originally Posted by syclone

... I also have a funny feeling that this isn't going to be my only snake.

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Hehe....that's pretty much a given, if you hang out here for long! :P

Quote:

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Originally Posted by syclone

I was going to melt a couple more holes in the lid to get the humidity down some. I will try and wait to handle him until I get him eating good. I apprecieate all the comments, I am sure that I will have some more questions. I also have a funny feeling that this isn't going to be my only snake.

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Don't plan on only one snake. You will have another within a few months. I am now up to 8 ball pythons. It all started with 1 little female.

Oh no its never just one... they're like pringles. Once you pop the fun don't stop. Cant have just one. First its one...then two...then six...then eight...then thirty next thing you know you're a regular horder with a filthy house that has reptile fecies on the wall and snakes roaming around eating eachother and breeding in a roach infested cesspool. This is your future.