New ball python/ worrying

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Originally Posted by Haileeboop

Okay, Thank you and to everyone else! I feed her in separate areas when feeding live right?

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No. Feed her in her enclosure. Many BPs won't eat if you move them, just stresses them out.

I have another question I forgot to mention.. My ball hides at night time too is that normal? I'm a night owl and I haven't seen her move at all.. maybe like once at 5 in the morning. Does that mean shes just getting use to her enclosure and environment?

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Originally Posted by Haileeboop

I have another question I forgot to mention.. My ball hides at night time too is that normal? I'm a night owl and I haven't seen her move at all.. maybe like once at 5 in the morning. Does that mean shes just getting use to her enclosure and environment?

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Mine usually hides at night time when it is shedding, but yes when I first got my BP he wouldn't come out at night till after about a week, I'm guessing it's normal. Sometimes though they just don't feel like leaving their hide.

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Originally Posted by Jaydan

Mine usually hides at night time when it is shedding, but yes when I first got my BP he wouldn't come out at night till after about a week, I'm guessing it's normal. Sometimes though they just don't feel like leaving their hide.

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Hmm that actually could be her shedding because I think she has a little bit of shed on her.

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Originally Posted by Haileeboop

I'm housing her in a 20 gallon tank though I think it may be a bit too big but I added some stuff in her enclosure to make her feel more secure. I'm using a digital thermometer it came with the tank and a regular thermometer/Hygrometer placed in the tank. I'm using a Heat lamp for the time being until I get a new heat pad and a black light for night time. I'm using the forest floor ZOO MED. PetSmart said they were using fuzzies for her she hasn't eaten since I got her, she was suppose to eat yesterday but she refused it.

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Make sure you have a thermostat before you hook up a heat pad, without one your snake will get burned. Are you just using a regular day heat lamp? If so you need to get a red, blue, or black heat bulb immediately. They need heat 24/7 and using a bulb meant for day at night would be very stressful. You can run the night time ones 24/7 when you get it. Also if you mean an analog thermometer/hygrometer they are very inaccurate and you will need a digital thermometer/hygrometer with probe like the acurite 00891.

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Originally Posted by Haileeboop

Okay, Thank you and to everyone else! I feed her in separate areas when feeding live right?

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I fed all mine in separate tubs when you move her to her feeding area wait about five minutes so she settles down then try feeding her.

As far as feeding in a separate enclosure vs. main enclosure it's better to feed in the main enclosure IMO (whether live or f/t). Moving a snake to a separate enclosure causes stress, then if it does eat you then have to move a snake that is in feeding mode back into there living enclosure which can cause you to get bit or a regurge. Also the snake is going to associate the separate enclosure with feeding only. In the main enclosure you don't have to worry about moving the snake causing stress with possible regurge, your suppose to leave the snake alone for 48hrs after eating and a separate feeding enclosure does not allow you to do that. You don't have to grab the snake after either so you won't get bit from a snake in feeding mode and the snake won't associate there living enclosure with feeding time bc it does way more then eat in there bc it hides, sleeps, explores, goes to the bathroom, tons of things while a separate enclosure only represents food to the snake. Weighing out the pros and cons IMO feeding in main enclosure is the smarter, safer way for both you and your snake. Just make sure you never leave a live rodent unattended with your snake.

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With regard to the sound she's making, it's probably just hissing because she's a little nervous or irritated. Follow the advice everyone has given about letting her sit for a few days and start eating well before you attempt handling again. She should be just fine, try to relax and be patient. :)

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Originally Posted by Haileeboop

Okay, I got my baby ball python Monday and done a lot of research on them. so today I tried to get her out of the hide so she can recognize my scent and get use to me. She hasnt eaten and refused to eat I'm gonna try again Saturday or Sunday she seems healthy though. The thing I'm worried about is when I approach her she makes a weird noise every time I do so and starts to breathe heavy is it stress or early stages of respiratory disease? The heat spot is at 85.5 and the cool side is at 80. I hope I'm doing everything right. Thank you!

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It's obvious your snake is afraid of you which is very common with baby ball pythons, it's that fear response or instinct that would help keep that snake alive if it were in the wild because in the wild everything is trying to eat them.

I would also hold that snake as much as 15 minutes a day every day. When you reach into the snake's cage, without hesitation reach behind the snake and gently pick it up, while holding the snake I would make sure that the snake's head is pointing away from your body so that the snake is looking away from you rather than at you, don't touch the snake's head and let the snake gently crawl through your fingers literally for 15 minutes a day. Your temps are OK, but I'd like to see that 85.5 become closer to 90. I would get a hide box not just a cover like they sell at PetSmart or Petco, but one where you snake can call it's home I have included a photo of the hides that I use, I think you can get one from Big Apple, Bean Farm or LLL Reptiles. A snake that is fearing for it's life typically won't feel like eating. When you feed the snake I would feed it inside the hide box. For my more finicky snakes I will actually lock them inside their hide box with the food item for no less than 15 minutes. If the snake does not eat the food item I would try again in two days.

http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/l...psiljmv6by.jpg

Not only am I a snake farmer / snake breeder, but I'm also a Falconer, there is a term in Falconry called Manning, this term refers to a technique that Falconers use to tame down wild caught birds of pretty. When a Falconer catches a wild bird of prey he will take the bird home and set up the bird with jess straps and a leash, the Falconer will then spend no less than 18 hours nonstop with the bird in a somewhat dark room such as a bath room or closet. During that time the Falconer will gently touch the bird all over it's body and talk to it in a very soothing voice. The hope is by spending a huge amount of time gently working with that bird it will soon learn to trust you or at least learn not to be afraid of you. It's amazing just how fast the birds will calm down during that time that they are smothered with attention. It's then and only then that the bird will begin to take food from your hand. If you leave your snake alone like most people will tell you to do you will be doing nothing to gain that snake's trust and it will continue to be afraid of you. I always recommend that you feed the snake in its cage / hide box the day after you receive it. There is nothing more anti productive than having a scared hungry snake.

I have over 500 videos on YouTube many of those videos are focused on educating / helping people like you get on the fast track of how to care for these animals. Just put my name Brian Gundy into the YouTube search box and all of my videos will appear.

Feel free to call me at 408-981-6694 or email me at fgsnakes@sbcglobal.net if you would like more information.

I hope this helps, good luck with your new ball python and welcome to the family.

Brian Gundy / For Goodness Snakes

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Originally Posted by For Goodness Snakes

When a Falconer catches a wild bird of prey he will take the bird home and set up the bird with jess straps and a leash, the Falconer will then spend no less than 18 hours nonstop with the bird in a somewhat dark room such as a bath room or closet. During that time the Falconer will gently touch the bird all over it's body and talk to it in a very soothing voice.

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Sounds horrifying for the animal! It also sounds like the basic plot to a creepy BDSM horror movie. And at the risk of pointing out a blinding flash of the obvious, Falcons are not Ball Pythons.

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Originally Posted by For Goodness Snakes

If you leave your snake alone like most people will tell you to do you will be doing nothing to gain that snake's trust and it will continue to be afraid of you.

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Ok, I have several things to say here, most of which will get me suspended from this Forum for awhile. SOOOOOOO, let me just say that I don't care how many YouTube videos you have, and I don't care how many Falcons you take in the closet, the advice you give in the above quote is simply wrong.

Your advise is a recipe for a stressed out, sick snake that won't eat.

And if you think that any ball python in anyone's collection trusts them, you are deluding yourself as to the cognitive and emotional capability of an animal with a brain the size of an English pea. Can they learn to tolerate our handling of them, and can they learn to accommodate their surroundings? Of course they can. But trust? That simply isn't a trait found in snakes.