Help! I found a ball python in the wild

You should have her hold him, when he's all balled up. Ball pythons are probably the least threatening snakes out there, and have cured many people of their fears.
Don't be afraid of being bitten. His natural reaction when you put your hand in will be to jerk back and hide his head. A strike occurs from a position where the neck is drawn back in an S, and the head is held elevated at high tension--you can actually see their little jaw muscles clench with the tension, lol. Ball pythons often jerk back with their neck in a low S defensively, and that shouldn't be confused for a strike position. He doesn't look very tense in your photos, so I doubt he's aggressive.

This whole story brings such a smile to my face, both from your having it rescued in the first place and to Robin fostering it until your wife becomes OK with having it in the house (thinking positive thoughts here). :)

Nice rescue and lucky snake.Most probably dont have a happy ending.
Until you get your heat mat and more suitable suplies , you can pick up a cheap maintenance lamp at home depot for like 5 bucks and a 40w red bulb at a pet store for some heat. You can use your room lighting for your day/night cycle for now. The big thing is getting your enclosure temps at least into the 80s til you get properly set up.
I would leve it alone for awhile and a fresh water bowl is a must.

Thank you for protecting this beautiful animal and trying to help it and save it - how sad.

http://i46.tinypic.com/efnfgl.jpg

is that better?

I don't know what I was afraid of :rolleyes:

little guy was awesome, let me touch him without any problems, stayed in his box while I cleaned out the terrarium, then spent 20 minutes checking out his new digs once I put him back in there. He kept knocking over his water bowl though :rofl:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by straydog1980

http://i46.tinypic.com/efnfgl.jpg

is that better?

I don't know what I was afraid of :rolleyes:

little guy was awesome, let me touch him without any problems, stayed in his box while I cleaned out the terrarium, then spent 20 minutes checking out his new digs once I put him back in there. He kept knocking over his water bowl though :rofl:

---

Didn't I tell you it would be a non-event? :D

I think you're falling in love! :gj:

The offer of fostering him for you until you can convince the wife is still on the table! :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rabernet

Didn't I tell you it would be a non-event? :D

I think you're falling in love! :gj:

The offer of fostering him for you until you can convince the wife is still on the table! :)

---

thanks, I'll keep trying her!

and watch out because he IS an escape artist!

http://i49.tinypic.com/mbh0yb.jpg

Good luck on convincing the wife, I'm fortunate that my lady has her own.

Hey great job man. :salute:For a non reptile keeper to step up and save that snake puts a smile on my face. I've very happy to see your progress and you warming up to such an "evil" creature. I hope you can talk the wife into it because I find it to be a very rewarding hobby.Either way keep us posted!

My long time girlfriend soon to be wife was not to keen on having a snake in the house either. When it first came up I was in a pet store and saw a BP and said, without really thinking, "Its been a life long dream of mine to own a snake like that." She said "Really, why don't you get her right now." Here I am a 30 year old man with a stable well paying job and I said "Because they are expensive and my mom won't let........................................................" I stood there for a few minutes as it sunk in to my obviously thick skull that BP's are expensive when you are dirt poor, like I was growing up, but trivial compared to my current means. My mom hasn't had a say in the matter in 12 years. I looked at my girlfriend and asked "What do you think about having a snake in the house." She said "I hate the idea but obviously it means a lot to you so I think you should get her." Three weeks later, tons of research and a lot of restless nights later I finally brought home my first BP.

Moral of the story is this. BP's are low maintenance, safe pets. If she goes to bed early your wife might never see Kismet. Most of my friends went from fear to loving my BP in one visit. I have one friend who hasn't held her yet and has no interest. You shouldn't let Kismet come between you and your wife but if she can summon up the courage to come and visit she might find out that she really isn't as scared as she thought. If you can go from afraid to attached maybe your wife can go from phobic to indifferent. My girlfriend went from minor dislike to slight affection. I never name my pets until I have more than one. Till then its "cat" or "dog" or in this case the "snake". My girlfriend affectionately calls my BP snakey-poo, not bad for someone who never would have imagined having one in her home.