Will a BP starve itself to death?

I'm going to go to bed, guys, any of your information will be read when I wake up, but please be gentle, I have this really bad habit of getting my feelings hurt EASILY and then end up not taking advice. I know this is a problem, but I can't help it.... Please don't just jump onto me, I know that some (or most, probably) of the things I have are the wrong things, but I was trying to cover the basics with a salesperson hovering and my stepdad in a hurry to get out with the snake before he changed his mind... I tried my best to get good stuff, I know I could have done better, but I was really excited and didn't want my stepdad to change his mind suddenly so I was picking the first things that did the job i needed (heat, temp gauge, hides, climbing, soaking, tank, topper, and substrate).... I know I wasted a lot of money, but that's my lesson, don't be too hard on me... Although I WANTED a snake for 8 years, my parents were vehement in their NO answer, so I didn't have any hope and didn't DO 8 years of research, only here and there, just basic stuff you know....

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Originally Posted by h00blah

make sure u get a thermostat / rheostat or dimmer to control that UTH (undertank heater) and yes, stick ons are notorious for being HORRIBLY inaccurate.



i would wait a week anyways to let her get used to her enclosure before a feeding attempt. that way, she'll be hungry (which could increase ur chances of a successful feeding), and hopefully she'll feel more secure.


EDIT: the BP is not a climbing snake. it could potentially harm the snake if it climbs and falls. u can always swap that out for some nice looking foliage! looks nice, AND it can clutter up an enclosure to add bonus security!

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Well I saw on a LOT of care sheets that they needed SOMETHING to climb and rub on when they shed, so I just kinda stuck it in there, she seemed to like going over in to break up the terrain, but I suppose a plant could break it up too...

Wow I'm suddenly feeling like the worst ball python beginner ever..... Gee... lol... low self esteem combined with slight set backs really put a wallop on you...

EDIT: Depressed moment over, I'm not the worst... I could have her in a tank with sand and no soak bowl and... no hides and... a heat rock... I COULD not care enough to ask about her and her set up and feeding her.... I probably COULD use her as a trophy pet just to show everyone how cool I am..... BUT I don't, so I'm doing ok... Just got some of my info from the wrong source... I'm willing to fix it too.

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Originally Posted by ranapipiens89

Wow I'm suddenly feeling like the worst ball python beginner ever..... Gee... lol... low self esteem combined with slight set backs really put a wallop on you...

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omg, at least u started with a 10 gallon and two hides!!

i started with a 40g, 1 hide, 1 uth (with no t stat), stick on thermometers, a heat lamp, and he was right next to my walk in closet (high traffic area)

not to mention he was in shed, and had stuck shed (bc i didnt really care bout humidity) and retained eye caps, causing him to go off feed (due to stress)

u started well, and ur making appropriate adjustments

ur well on ur way :gj:

not to mention u found us =D

Here's another question, should I reset my "leaving her alone week"? Since I DID have to handle her today to get the seeds out of her mouth, do you think I should wait until a week from TODAY or a week from YESTERDAY when I actually got her before I start handling and/or attempting to feed her etc.? Just wondering if it mattered.

ADD: Okay, maybe i'm not going to bed just yet, haha... Stinkin' addictive forum!! And thanks so much for being so patient and kind to me, I am always imtimidated when I decide I want to join a forum, I think the Veterans will think I'm so stupid and say mean things (or things perceived by my apparently sensitive sensibility as mean anyway) to me about how I'm doing.... I really AM trying to do the best for them I can and it does hurt my feelings when people talk down to me or talk like I'm really ignorant... this hasn't happened in any forum but in a reply to an email I sent to someone about dogs.... It really upset me and even though the information might have been good, I got hurt and deleted it without reading it all....

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Originally Posted by ranapipiens89

Here's another question, should I reset my "leaving her alone week"? Since I DID have to handle her today to get the seeds out of her mouth, do you think I should wait until a week from TODAY or a week from YESTERDAY when I actually got her before I start handling and/or attempting to feed her etc.? Just wondering if it mattered.

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some ppl do, and some ppl dont.

IMO, i would just wait til the bp is on a feeding pattern. i didnt handle my new additions until after the 2nd feeding with me. i dont really handle my QT animals often after purchasing the. i dont have a large collection, but that just makes each one more precious to me ;)

but ya, i would suggest 2nd feeding, others may say 1st feeding. its gonna be hard, but it'll save u AND ur bp some stress :gj:

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Originally Posted by h00blah

some ppl do, and some ppl dont.

IMO, i would just wait til the bp is on a feeding pattern. i didnt handle my new additions until after the 2nd feeding with me. i dont really handle my QT animals often after purchasing the. i dont have a large collection, but that just makes each one more precious to me ;)

but ya, i would suggest 2nd feeding, others may say 1st feeding. its gonna be hard, but it'll save u AND ur bp some stress :gj:

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Hey I have a large collection, and i still have issues on feeding some hatchlings, As i have posted on this forum as well. But we try not to handle them after the 2nd or 3rd feeding. If we do it is quick and just to clean or weigh the snakes.

Hang in there.
We got our live feeders on to f/t by placing a live in the cage to get a feeding response, like when they get alert and hone in on the prey, Then swap live with a f/t quickly and zombie dance it and about 90% of the time they take the F/t. We do that a few feedings and then they get use to eating f/t. hope this helps.

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Originally Posted by cornball252

Hang in there.
We got our live feeders on to f/t by placing a live in the cage to get a feeding response, like when they get alert and hone in on the prey, Then swap live with a f/t quickly and zombie dance it and about 90% of the time they take the F/t. We do that a few feedings and then they get use to eating f/t. hope this helps.

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hey thats a tip ive never heard before! VERY interesting :gj:

Hey you are actually doing a lot better than I did! And I researched so much stuff before getting a BP.

A few suggestions: Probably the most important part of shedding is humidity. I didn't see if you mentioned anything about it but I know it can be hard to keep up in tanks, especially with a heat lamp. At the home depot they carry aluminum tape. You can use this to cover 3/4th of the screen lid to help trap humidity. Leave a hole for the heat lamp though.

Also, cover the back and sides of the tank with some kind of dark paper to help the snake feel less exposed.

You are right about those stick on thermometers, they are junk and only good for getting a rough estimate of temps. Slightly higher or lower temps than recommended could make a BP go off feed. Good for you in going to get an accurite. They are really great for people who only have a couple snakes in tanks.


If you just took the snake out to do "maintenance", then just start the count from when you got the snake. After one week, offer food. If she eats, you can try handling her 48 hours after she ate (so you don't trigger a regurgitation). Hold her for short periods of time at first, 10 minutes or so. After she starts feeding consistently and has a strong feeding response, then you could start holding her more.

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

Hey you are actually doing a lot better than I did! And I researched so much stuff before getting a BP.

A few suggestions: Probably the most important part of shedding is humidity. I didn't see if you mentioned anything about it but I know it can be hard to keep up in tanks, especially with a heat lamp. At the home depot they carry aluminum tape. You can use this to cover 3/4th of the screen lid to help trap humidity. Leave a hole for the heat lamp though.

Also, cover the back and sides of the tank with some kind of dark paper to help the snake feel less exposed.

You are right about those stick on thermometers, they are junk and only good for getting a rough estimate of temps. Slightly higher or lower temps than recommended could make a BP go off feed. Good for you in going to get an accurite. They are really great for people who only have a couple snakes in tanks.


If you just took the snake out to do "maintenance", then just start the count from when you got the snake. After one week, offer food. If she eats, you can try handling her 48 hours after she ate (so you don't trigger a regurgitation). Hold her for short periods of time at first, 10 minutes or so. After she starts feeding consistently and has a strong feeding response, then you could start holding her more.

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Well right now I have a mutilated 3 ring binder and a bit of scrap plastic covering the top of the tank.... I sprayed the tank a bit when she was soaking today just to see how the humidity was doing (I don't have a humidity gauge, I didn't know or think at the time that I would need one with a snake....) Anyway just a spritz or two from the tank and the glass was moderately foggy for a good 60 minutes before it was burned away.... Plus the bowl I have is HUGE not even kidding you on that one... haha. I bought the bowl as an after thought after the cashier had rung everything else up, the snake was in the box I made mom hold it up front and I RAN back to the dog section and got a big heavy bowl, but I vastly over estimated my snake's size.... oh well, she'll just get to use it longer I guess...