Very New Ball Python Owner

We were told at the pet store to feed ours in seperate container as well (by a woman who has had a BP for 3 years) but after reading all the comments here, and watching our snake eat several times now, I can't imagine moving her some where else to feed her.

First of all, as soon as she smells the mouse, her behavior is completely different then any other time she's acted "cautious" when someone reaches in her tank (with the mouse, her tongue goes crazy and she starts searching for the mouse right away- we feed F/T)
Also, I would be more afraid to pick her up & move her after eating. She still seems a little to "fired up" and I wouldn't want to put my hand in there then. (nor risk moving her while digesting- some here have said, just slight noises have made their snakes reguritate their food)

Finally, there has been a few times our snake did not eat right away. She wanted it dark in her tank, and she just hung out, hovering over the mouse. If she wasn't in her tank, im not sure how I would have managed to get her back in, in that mood.

Granted we've only had our snake a few months- we have fed every meal in the tank. She goes in her hide right after. We Leave her alone a couple of days to digest, except changing water, etc. Then get her out for 10min. to 1/2 hr. (they say start with only 5-10 min. in beginning) pretty much every day, until its feeding day again. She hasn't shown any sign of our hand being food when we reach in.

Good luck- its been a fun learning process for me. :)

I had a cornsnake before i got my ball python, so I was used to feeding outside of her tank (ingesting substrate could harm a cornsnake) but after much research everyone on here says that theres no reason to move your ball python to a new spot to eat. A little substrate wont hurt a ball python. I've had absolutely no issues of being bit or stuck at during feeding time, he's a pretty accurate aimer when it comes to food. :D

If you're worried about getting bitten while he's eating, get some feeding tongs. Some of my girls hit their rats so hard a piece of fur will actually fly - you'll never see me just holding it up with my bare hand! I feed all 27 of my snakes in their tubs and have zero issues reaching in to get them when it isn't feeding day.

I'm not worried about being bit while feeding I am definitely not holding a mouse with my bare hands, she did strike the mouse pretty hard when I fed. Also I fed her live so i just dumped the mouse in and let her do her thing. I was much more worried of her biting me while not feeding. I personally like the idea of feeding in enclosure Im sure its much easier for her and I'd like doing what is best for her :D. I have never owned a snake so I am fairly nervous of reaching in and grabbing her for the first time but once i have done it once I will definitely be much more relaxed. :cool: I am going to try feeding F/T though I don't want the mouse hurting her and have heard live mice can spread parasites although I'm not sure how a dead mouse would differ in that aspect other than the fact the mouse was frozen.

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Originally Posted by BPnewbie1

I am going to try feeding F/T though I don't want the mouse hurting her and have heard live mice can spread parasites although I'm not sure how a dead mouse would differ in that aspect other than the fact the mouse was frozen.

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Just make sure you thaw & warm up the mouse properly. The snake wont be interested if its not warmed.

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Originally Posted by BPnewbie1

I have never owned a snake so I am fairly nervous of reaching in and grabbing her for the first time but once i have done it once I will definitely be much more relaxed.

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I was there about 2 weeks ago. No worries about that. If it makes you feel better, grab a gardening glove. It can help boost confidence which isn't a bad thing at all. Touch it on it's side so they know you're there, and simply pick it up.

It wasn't until my snake uncoiled and was moving around the second time I held her that I was more relaxed.

I DID IT, I thought I would just give her another week but randomly decided to pick her up, and she didn't even care, she was curled up in my hands for like 2 minutes then she was all over my arm she was calm and she actually tried to prevent me putting her back she kept trying to slither back up my arm. I'm so glad I did because she is so awesome :D I'm not sure why I was nervous now ! I just wish I could carry her around with me all day :( thanks for all your opinions!

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Originally Posted by BPnewbie1

I DID IT, I thought I would just give her another week but randomly decided to pick her up, and she didn't even care, she was curled up in my hands for like 2 minutes then she was all over my arm she was calm and she actually tried to prevent me putting her back she kept trying to slither back up my arm. I'm so glad I did because she is so awesome :D I'm not sure why I was nervous now ! I just wish I could carry her around with me all day :( thanks for all your opinions!

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They aren't so scary huh? Ball pythons are the calmest snakes. I mean, their primary defense mechanism is to curl into a ball! How frightening! My best advice for initially picking up a snake is to pick it up with confidence. I poke or stroke my snakes to "wake them up" and then pick them up within a second or two. The only time I have been bitten was when I was removing an uneaten rodent from a tub. It happens, but don't be scared about being bit. It's more surprising than painful. Nibbles from my cat hurt worse then snake bites.

No It was great! I was actually having a pissy day but when I held her it cheered me right up. Now I am a bit worried about a bite but I've been pierced so I'm sure I can handle it :gj:

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Originally Posted by BPnewbie1

No It was great! I was actually having a pissy day but when I held her it cheered me right up. Now I am a bit worried about a bite but I've been pierced so I'm sure I can handle it :gj:

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A piercing is like 1000000x worse than a snake bite. You probably won't even get bit for a very long time. You will learn the snakes behavior and what looks like a strike pose and what doesn't.