First handling...

yeah thats strange, I have also noticed that my snake tries to stop himself going back in the tank when i go to put him back - he either doesn't like his tank or he enjoys playtime too much!

I wouldnt have waited that long to start handling, but I'm impatient.

How long do you folks usually keep your BP out and about?

I have handled mine a couple more times since I originally wrote this topic.

The other night I had him out for about 90 minutes. He didn't seem to mind. This has not led to any feeding troubles. Today he ate his normal meal of 2 pinky mice. So that is two feedings with new handling.

I have read some people don't recommend their BP out for more than 20 minutes? Do I just have a really tolerant snake?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by satanicnugz

The other night I had him out for about 90 minutes. He didn't seem to mind. This has not led to any feeding troubles. Today he ate his normal meal of 2 pinky mice. So that is two feedings with new handling.

---

Just wanted to point out - pinky mice are generally not appropriate food for ball pythons, even as hatchlings they are capable of consuming hopper sized mice.

Pinkies just aren't developed enough to be a very nutritious meal for a growing ball python.

Might want to increase the prey size. I've seen ball pythons that had lived for months on pinkies alone...a very sad sight.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by elevatethis

Just wanted to point out - pinky mice are generally not appropriate food for ball pythons, even as hatchlings they are capable of consuming hopper sized mice.

Pinkies just aren't developed enough to be a very nutritious meal for a growing ball python.

Might want to increase the prey size. I've seen ball pythons that had lived for months on pinkies alone...a very sad sight.

---

Ut oh, have I been feeding my little homey the wrong stuff?

I thought I read you are supposed to feed them something about as big as their most girthiest part of their body? These are a bit smaller than his thickness,

He is approx. 19 inches long. Not sure of his weight. I'm also not sure how old my BP is. Not to old though.

I have been giving him 2 pinky sized mice every 5 days. The pinkys aren't the tiny deep pink colored with purple eyes. They are usually white or black with a small fuzz covering.

Here is a picture I found on the web of what I usually give my snake. I feed him two of these. About the size on the far left.

http://static.flickr.com/1/927264_00c4b95f20_m.jpg

If I am giving him the wrong size, please correct me. Also could you post a picture of what I should be feeding him so I can know what to look for when I go to the pet store. Thanks for all the help. I am a BP noob.

Yeah, those are pinky mice...

The "girth rule" is one of those oldschool rules of thumb that are actually just really silly. I've seen some female balls that, by the girth rule, would mean they should be eating small rabbits...in reality, they need no bigger than a weaned to small sized rat.

Your snake is probably not much wider than the pinkies because that's all the food its been getting...pinkies just aren't enough food for them.

Anyways, I would absolutely step up the prey size. Try using Hopper sized mice. These are mice that are fully weaned but still small. You could even try feeding a small adult.

Did the pet store tell you to feed pinkies?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by satanicnugz

How long do you folks usually keep your BP out and about?

I have handled mine a couple more times since I originally wrote this topic.

The other night I had him out for about 90 minutes. He didn't seem to mind. This has not led to any feeding troubles. Today he ate his normal meal of 2 pinky mice. So that is two feedings with new handling.

I have read some people don't recommend their BP out for more than 20 minutes? Do I just have a really tolerant snake?

---

Sorry about the last post. Took to long to edit and it posted.

First, like Brad said I would stop feeding pinkies and go straight to small adult mice. I was feeding mine that when he was about 16".

90 mins seems like a long time to have him out. He may seem tolerant but I am sure he is stressing out especially being young.
I was told when I got Ozzy that handling sessions of about 10 mins every other day for about a month then up it to 10-15 everyday for about the next 3 months to get them use to you and being handled by people so they see you as no threat. Now w/ Ozzy being over 3 yo I only take him out about every 2-3 weeks to check him out and let him hang out for a spell. He likes to come out and look around the bedroom and check things out. After about 20 mins or so you can tell he has had enough.
And always wait at least 24-48 hrs after a meal to handle.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by elevatethis

Yeah, those are pinky mice...

The "girth rule" is one of those oldschool rules of thumb that are actually just really silly. I've seen some female balls that, by the girth rule, would mean they should be eating small rabbits...in reality, they need no bigger than a weaned to small sized rat.

Your snake is probably not much wider than the pinkies because that's all the food its been getting...pinkies just aren't enough food for them.

Anyways, I would absolutely step up the prey size. Try using Hopper sized mice. These are mice that are fully weaned but still small. You could even try feeding a small adult.

Did the pet store tell you to feed pinkies?

---

Yeah my snake looks like he should be a bit fatter, now that you mention it.

I think I know what you are talking about, but could you post a picture of what a hopper looks like? I just went to google images and looked for the above pic.

Well the pet store I bought the snake from (an actual good store, I know the owner) never really recommended me a size. But whenever I mention pinky around him he didn't really say anything about it being to small.

Hope they don't mind if I gank some bandwidth...

http://www.micedirect.com/images/m_hopper.jpg

Just a suggestion. We have lots of snakes. We hook all of our snakes. It is really a good habit to get into. Snakes are creatures of familiarity. When we take a snake out of a tank or box we use a hook so that the snake learns that he is coming out not feeding.

What ever you do, do it the same why everytime
:rockon: