My New Snake!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MootWorm

OP is original poster :) Sorry I misunderstood. When you said you were taking him back to the pet shop, I thought you were returning him. Is there any way you can get him set up with an under tank heater and a thermostat? It's over 90 in my house, and everyone still has their heat and t-stats on. When it gets too hot, they simply shut off. It'll be much easier for you in the long run, as you won't have to constantly monitor and worry about his set up.

You'd be surprised how big of a feeder the little guys can take down. It's probably not too big for him, but if you're concerned I'd definitely get a live rat pinky if you can get your hands on one. But offer it after he's been settled for awhile and isn't stressed.

---

Thats what I am thinking hes stressed new smells and everything I own a dog (boston) and he could be smelling her and I live with my mother inlaw (due to epilepsy) and her bf and my little brother inlaw (of course my husband too LOL) and as far as I know I talked to a ride he said we will plan for tomorrow to get a tank (WOOT!!!) which honestly I have been aching to get him in one, I have a thermometer in his cage rate now. I wonder if they make heaters like ones that auto click off if it gets above a certain temp like fish tanks do ? I will hopefully getting a 10 gal tank for him tomorrow and put him in that and go back to scales and tails and explain my situation see if they can get him to eat.

Yeah I confuse people I try not too, but its my disability i have, my husband will thankfully be accompanying me to the store to help explain and get more info on what I need to know about my snake, cause I am doing everything I should be? but I just fear not eating I want him to be healthy cause one day I wanna breed him to a female pastel =D and yes I wanna be a breeder one day. My father inlaw said when he took Nate (his snake) to scales and tails and they fed him something smaller than what they were giving him before he ate it up. I honestly think my snake Xeno is the same position, Cause I know if you feed him too big could kill him or too small not enough food etc. I am thinking about talking to about a pinkie rat or 2 pinkie mice would work.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zombietox

Thats what I am thinking hes stressed new smells and everything I own a dog (boston) and he could be smelling her and I live with my mother inlaw (due to epilepsy) and her bf and my little brother inlaw (of course my husband too LOL) and as far as I know I talked to a ride he said we will plan for tomorrow to get a tank (WOOT!!!) which honestly I have been aching to get him in one, I have a thermometer in his cage rate now. I wonder if they make heaters like ones that auto click off if it gets above a certain temp like fish tanks do ? I will hopefully getting a 10 gal tank for him tomorrow and put him in that and go back to scales and tails and explain my situation see if they can get him to eat.

Yeah I confuse people I try not too, but its my disability i have, my husband will thankfully be accompanying me to the store to help explain and get more info on what I need to know about my snake, cause I am doing everything I should be? but I just fear not eating I want him to be healthy cause one day I wanna breed him to a female pastel =D and yes I wanna be a breeder one day. My father inlaw said when he took Nate (his snake) to scales and tails and they fed him something smaller than what they were giving him before he ate it up. I honestly think my snake Xeno is the same position, Cause I know if you feed him too big could kill him or too small not enough food etc. I am thinking about talking to about a pinkie rat or 2 pinkie mice would work.

---

Just keep in mind he'll outgrow that ten gallon before you know it. You might want to pick up a full size terrarium while you're there so you'll have it on hand when you need to upgrade. Honestly I would leave the snake at home. The trip to the store and back might stress him out even more. Try to bring the mouse, they may exchange it for a rat pinky.

To my knowledge, there aren't any self regulation heat pads. They do have some that have max temps, but I wouldn't trust them. Stop by a hydroponics shop if you can find one, that's where we got our hydrofarm thermostat.

What time of day do you feed? I always feed my balls around 10 pm, they're usually super active and ready for food. The only time I have refusals is when someone's shedding. My little hatchling girl even eats WHILE shedding :) (I stupidly thawed a mouse before checking on her, totally didn't realize she was in shed lol)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Main thing at this point is getting his tank all situated and leaving him alone for a few days to let him settle. Then try to feed him.

Dont get discouraged.... It takes time and patience. Do you have a picture of his new tank etc?

Also... Go ahead and get his uth and thermostat set up. If it is that warm in your room, it simply won't come on. Belly heat is really important for our little guys, especially after a feed. He will eat once he is calm and acclimated, don't try to rush it. My Nagini didn't take her first with me for 11 days. You'll be a happy proud snake momma when he finally does. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zombietox

Ok for all of you trying to help me thank you all the rude ones I just brush you off my shoulder, This is a hatchling when they had him before I bought him he was in a smaller place, they told me to keep him in here for 7 DAYS!!! if you guys ever read? Anyways yes its approaching the 7 day mark! yes I will be putting him in a new cage! like seriously -.- However I am taking him BACK! to scales and tails for not eating as I believe he is not eating due to prey is too big. He is a Hatch-ling...

Now We have a temperature monitor in his cage! no need to freak out people, and YES! I do have a heater for when its too cold... but seriously his cage is always in the 80s if it gets closer to the 90s I take him away from my dresser (where he is set) and yes it gets hot in here Colorado so I keep him below 90 as I will start cooking him, I am doing my best of what people been breeding snakes for over 20 yrs. As some of you get confused of what I am saying, YES I do have a disability causing my speech and writing to be terrible as I have had a special ED most of my school because I would not understand people or situations and have to be explained in other ways, and YES my husband sometimes has to help me! Not asking for pity but patients and try and understand what I am saying if not DON'T JUMP ME!

But his cage is always in the 80's 87 to 88 when it becomes closer to 90s I removed him away from the heater (usually beside it now) and he stays at 85-86 and through the night stays the same with a fan in our window and yes I monitor it every hour or so, the first night I stayed up all night watching it to make sure where I could set him to keep him at a steady flow of heat and not make him to hot. So please don't think I am not keeping him warm, but I am worried for him not eating hence why I am taking him back to scales and tails, and making them get him to eat. My family thinks his instincts might not be kicking in yet, I just think its too big... I can take pictures for you of the mouse its still alive -.- which I will be releasing it far away from here (sorry maybe cruel but I find it more cruel to watch it slowly die and starve) I have them separated now, the mouse was only in his cage for 3 days due to him seeming ALWAYS interested slightly striking but not Striking to kill... https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...53545106_o.jpghttps://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...44021707_o.jpg


So is it just me or this mouse IS TO BIG!!!! for him?


OH Also they had nothing smaller but I still feel its too big

---

No it isn't too big...Please do not release the mouse into the wild!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Really the OP need to start here and read read READ!!!!!!!
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...s%29-Caresheet

---

I don't think anyone is being rude. Imo, everybody should read this before they even bring a snake home. Its basic care and housing info. This should answer questions if you read it. Also help you to get your little guy set up right. But if you want to ignore the care sheet with information on how to get things right, go ahead. Incorrect husbandry is often related to snakes not eating. And a hatchling ball python can eat a mouse hopper from the day it hatches. As far as temps, they should have ambient temperature of 80 with a 90 degree hot spot. Correct your husbandry, get him a couple appropriate hides, then leave him alone for a week, and he will probably eat. Dragging him back to a pet shop is only going to stress him out more. Good luck with your little one.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MootWorm

Just keep in mind he'll outgrow that ten gallon before you know it. You might want to pick up a full size terrarium while you're there so you'll have it on hand when you need to upgrade. Honestly I would leave the snake at home. The trip to the store and back might stress him out even more. Try to bring the mouse, they may exchange it for a rat pinky.

To my knowledge, there aren't any self regulation heat pads. They do have some that have max temps, but I wouldn't trust them. Stop by a hydroponics shop if you can find one, that's where we got our hydrofarm thermostat.

What time of day do you feed? I always feed my balls around 10 pm, they're usually super active and ready for food. The only time I have refusals is when someone's shedding. My little hatchling girl even eats WHILE shedding :) (I stupidly thawed a mouse before checking on her, totally didn't realize she was in shed lol)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

---

LOL your snake is like OH thank mom NOM NOM!! -sheds-

Um Oh yeah I know he will out grow it I am going to be asking my mom inlaw if I can have her terrarium.... she lost her snake of 5yrs due to a bite from a mouse, I wanted to kill the mice I was more angry than she was, Miss Mystic was SOO gentle and a high gold, when I found out she died I was mixed feelings. The mice soon after died due to starve, before that she acted odd so we believe she got bit back in the head cause no drinking eating or even pooping than one day she was stiff. Mom did everything to make sure she was ok, so now I want mine pre killed honestly. Hmm Ok I will call the store ahead of time to ask them about an exchange, and if they say no, i will just try and pick up a pinkie. As for buying Terra's there SUPER over priced at Scales and Tails I could look at petsmart or somewhere if I need one later on. and I wanna start doing Frozen/Thawed mice for him cause I honestly dont want him to get bit, or get sick like M&M did.

You need to get him set up properly with the right temperature gradient and plenty of hides. Leave him alone for 5-7 days, and then try feeding him a hopper mouse or rat pup. Do not leave a live feeder in with him for more than a few hours. He is probably very stressed from having that mouse hopping around his cage for 3 days. Remember, a hiding ball python is a happy ball python. Good luck with your new addition!

Matt Poker

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DooLittle

I don't think anyone is being rude. Imo, everybody should read this before they even bring a snake home. Its basic care and housing info. This should answer questions if you read it. Also help you to get your little guy set up right. But if you want to ignore the care sheet with information on how to get things right, go ahead. Incorrect husbandry is often related to snakes not eating. And a hatchling ball python can eat a mouse hopper from the day it hatches. As far as temps, they should have ambient temperature of 80 with a 90 degree hot spot. Correct your husbandry, get him a couple appropriate hides, then leave him alone for a week, and he will probably eat. Dragging him back to a pet shop is only going to stress him out more. Good luck with your little one.

---

Yup with him being off the heating mat its in the 80's in my room, and him being on the mat it gets hotter like higher in the 80s like 88-89 Umm you posted to quickly I will be hopefully going tomorrow to get a bigger tank for him, and leaving him at home as suggested, also trying to get him to eat in his bigger tank the same night.

Wait I might have not said this right Ok hes also half/half Half tank on it and half off I will be getting a 10 gal tank to start and putthing the heating mat on one side

AHH so half thats not on the mat 80 the part that is 87+

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by matt poker

You need to get him set up properly with the right temperature gradient and plenty of hides. Leave him alone for 5-7 days, and then try feeding him a hopper mouse or rat pup. Do not leave a live feeder in with him for more than a few hours. He is probably very stressed from having that mouse hopping around his cage for 3 days. Remember, a hiding ball python is a happy ball python. Good luck with your new addition!

Matt Poker

---

Yeah I am thinking so Funny part is... that mouse did not move much he snuggled with the snake o.O like literally they acted like old buddies, was kinda weird and funny. The mouse is out in a jar (only place to put him) We have a kitty that will eat him if I dont LOL Umm I am leaving him alone atm I checked him out to see if he got bit/mites/or anything possibly wrong and nope nothing that I can actually see.

If you have a heat mat it HAS to be regulated by a thermostat. If not it can badly burn your snake. Please please read the caresheet Pit linked.