Bought my first BP yesterday! I have a few questions...

My favorite band is Killswitch Engage too!!Rock on!

I talked to the breeder today and he told me that the most recent batch that Killswitch was in has been really aggressive for some reason. Any tips on calming him down?

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Originally Posted by syvil

I talked to the breeder today and he told me that the most recent batch that Killswitch was in has been really aggressive for some reason. Any tips on calming him down?

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Leave him alone and get him some nice tight hides and clutter up his enclosure. Making him feel safe is the first step to calming him done. Ball pythons are usually aggressive because they are trying to defend themselves from predators (you). Once they figure out that you aren't going to eat them they will calm down.

i love quizzes =D

1. What humidity levels should I try to keep his terrarium at? I live in a very hot+humid area (San Antonio) so I want to make sure they're not too high or too low.
humidity needs to be between 50 - 60, but during his shed, bump it to 70

2. After feeding him and putting him back in his terrarium how long should I wait before handling him again. I'm guessing 24-48 hours but I just want to be sure.
i wait 48 hours before checking on my snakes (changing water, handling, checking for mites, etc...)

3. I think it's a male based on a few videos I've seen determining the sex of a BP. I'm going to make an appointment for a vet next week so I'll know for sure by then. Are there any questions I should ask the vet?
just enure it has no int/external parasites, or mites, no RIs, if its the correct size, the size prey that the vet recommends for it.

as for ur setup, i havent read everyones comments so im not sure wut was suggested already, but make sure u have a heat pad WITH something to regulate its temps, as well as a digital thermometer. aaand teh snake needs 2 identical hides, the only reason half logs aren't preferred is bc they have 2 openings, and bps feel more secure in something small, dark, tight, and has ONE opening. i used to have 2 identical half logs, but they were pushed up against the sides of the tank which was covered with foil to make it appear as though it has only 1 entrance.

congrats on teh new bp =D
welcome to the site (it will DEFINATELY save ur butt if u need it to)
GL on the changes =p

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

Leave him alone and get him some nice tight hides and clutter up his enclosure. Making him feel safe is the first step to calming him done. Ball pythons are usually aggressive because they are trying to defend themselves from predators (you). Once they figure out that you aren't going to eat them they will calm down.

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Besides putting in the new hideouts and removing the half-log I've left him alone. I bought two identical hideouts and placed them on the cool and hot side of the terrarium. I'll take some new pics of the setup and post them later. He seems to have taken refuge in the hideout on the cold side of the terrarium and hasn't come out since yesterday. I'll definitely give him his alone time :snake:

Here's the changes I have made to his terrarium. Two identical hiding places.He's currently housed up in the one on the left the one on the right is where the heating pad under the terrarium is located.

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/4632/pict0134m.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by syvil

I talked to the breeder today and he told me that the most recent batch that Killswitch was in has been really aggressive for some reason. Any tips on calming him down?

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The best way is to ensure that he feels secure in his new home with small tight hides. It's good you got rid of the 1/2 log hide - they don't provide the security that ball pythons require. Then let him have at least a week to acclimate to his new enclosure.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

The best way is to ensure that he feels secure in his new home with small tight hides. It's good you got rid of the 1/2 log hide - they don't provide the security that ball pythons require. Then let him have at least a week to acclimate to his new enclosure.

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Will do... what about feeding should I just hold off another week before feeding him as well?

I would give him about one week by himself before you feed him. If you have moved stuff around here and there just a couple times I do not think it will be any big deal and you should be able to feed him a week after you put him in his home. For example I just got two babies about a week ago and I have had them out to weigh and measure, take a couple pics, and clean their enclosure and refresh their water, each event on a different day. I will feed them on Monday. If they do not take then I will wait a day or so and try again.

There's a pic you posted with the snake in the water bowl...

Can someone confirm if this may be a possibility of mites?

Im not too sure...so don't get worried...