Hello and a little first python help

Sounds pretty good :) Only thing I would change is make sure the hides are all very similar if not exactly the same. For a tank that size 3-4 would be good for a young one. You want them all the same so they don't have to choose between feeling secure and thermoregulating. If they feel safer in the cold size hide they may stay there instead of going to warm up if they don't feel as secure in the hot side hide and vice versa.

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If you're snake is out and moving around all the time, he's trying to find a comfortable spot to hide and sleep or if it's been a while since he fed, he wants to eat. If he's hiding for a week and you don't see him that means he's comfy.

Each ball python has its own personality and will act accordingly. My little guy likes to strike when there is a lot of activity going on around him when hes out of his tank. He'll come out calm, chill in my hand, then the dog goes running by and he strikes in the dogs direction (He's 2 months and the dog aint small). None of the other balls i use to own did that. Just one of this guys little quirks :)

Be patient, do a few checks each day, keep the water fresh and make sure he eat and you should be fine.

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Originally Posted by Crazymonkee

Sounds pretty good :) Only thing I would change is make sure the hides are all very similar if not exactly the same. For a tank that size 3-4 would be good for a young one. You want them all the same so they don't have to choose between feeling secure and thermoregulating. If they feel safer in the cold size hide they may stay there instead of going to warm up if they don't feel as secure in the hot side hide and vice versa.

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Cool same size, makes sense. And yeah he has been chiliing in his hide for almost 2 days now....appears to be comfortable....but the did come from petco. I guess I am bothered by the fact that I could give him a cold bucket and he would be happier than he was at petco. His new home could be up to par and that's the goal but is he really happy or just better off than being where he was. We just don't want to give a better home than petco, we want him to have a home that compares to well kept snakes. A proper home....thx for helping us. Even my husband who does not like them( he has meat 1 or 2 in his life he liked, proving they have their own personality) likes him. It bothers me that he doesn't leave the hide, but I am use to animals that are not so shy. his is new and from everything I've been reading and you guys have told me, that is good. Still hard to not hover and see if he needs anything.

I went into petco to get another bulb yesterday and it was defiantly his feeding day by their clock, all the others were in back feeding. Should I make the offer as some one pointed out he is skinny, or should I hold off til next week and let him settle. I was planning for the second, but I don't like the thought of him missing a meal if he is already under weight. And how do you guys estimate age?

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Originally Posted by Kim and Donna

Cool same size, makes sense. And yeah he has been chiliing in his hide for almost 2 days now....appears to be comfortable....but the did come from petco. I guess I am bothered by the fact that I could give him a cold bucket and he would be happier than he was at petco. His new home could be up to par and that's the goal but is he really happy or just better off than being where he was. We just don't want to give a better home than petco, we want him to have a home that compares to well kept snakes. A proper home....thx for helping us. Even my husband who does not like them( he has meat 1 or 2 in his life he liked, proving they have their own personality) likes him. It bothers me that he doesn't leave the hide, but I am use to animals that are not so shy. his is new and from everything I've been reading and you guys have told me, that is good. Still hard to not hover and see if he needs anything.

I went into petco to get another bulb yesterday and it was defiantly his feeding day by their clock, all the others were in back feeding. Should I make the offer as some one pointed out he is skinny, or should I hold off til next week and let him settle. I was planning for the second, but I don't like the thought of him missing a meal if he is already under weight. And how do you guys estimate age?

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Its almost impossible to estimate age. Hiding is good. They are nocturnal so he may be out at night when you don't see him :) I personally tried my two new arrivals on my normal feeding day and to my wonderful surprise they both ate!! You can try and if he doesn't eat try again in 5 days
So far it sounds like you've giving him a wonderful home.
Oh when you feed do it in his enclosure they feel safer

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That is something I have been meaning to ask, as a kid I heard that was a no no? But as I have come to know w/ my eel, he knows when I have food in hand and when I don't and I'm just digging around in his space. Never has struck at me, and they do strike like snakes do when feeding. So I am assuming that this guy will smell food when it's there and as long as I don't smell like food the rest of the time, I should be good. I am starting to see the feed else where thing as a myth based off them being a dumb animal, and well their not. I am nervous to offer the first feeding, so we shall see. We have adult frozen mice, they were feeding him something smaller, not sure what...but I did make the choice right there to up his food size...intuition I guess, but I still may have chosen something not right for him? Any thoughts and tips on feeding him?

You are correct as long as you don't smell like food you'll be fine. Moving them for feeding stresses them out.
Do not be surprised if he doesn't eat the first time you offer it. Many refuse the first time. As for method of feeding you can put the thawed prey in front of his hide, and wiggle it a bit. You definitely wanna blow the prey with a hair dryer in front of his enclosure to get the smell floating around

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Awesome......what about food size and what I picked? I see threads regarding what is best for what age and size snake, but to me that is still German, because I speak reef tank, not quite speaking snake tank yet? I think the had him on pups at the store, I choose adult mice. hey were feeding mice for sure that much I do know.

Adult mice will be good to start, looking at the picture. You can start with that.

My girl is 4 months old and can take 2 adult mice... she doesn't like rats

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Originally Posted by Crazymonkee

Adult mice will be good to start, looking at the picture. You can start with that.

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Awesome, thx for checking, and great to see I have a little intuition about this guy :)

Not the best pic color wise but ya can get an idea

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