Finally joined the forum! (+questions/pics attached)
:banana:I have been looking at this website over a month or so to get information and whatnot; and finally today I decided to join!
I do own a baby ball python that's been almost 3 months now ( it's been 9 weeks since I bought him). Louie did have bad shedding experience (He shed into 3 pieces) and I saw him with blue eyes about 3-4 days ago so I've been checking humidity level and temperature. It is somewhere 65~70% humidity in the cold side and 45% humidity in the middle and 20~30-ish in the basking/hot area. I spent alot of money setting up his enclosure (somewhere around 450~480). I do keep log every time I do something such as cleaning, when he poops, when he doesnt eat, his feeding schedule, and random temperature/humidity level checks. This is first time getting a python thus I am almost going ocd on him. I did have alot of experience with lizards and tons of green iguanas. I assume that he is a male by "popping" yet not 100% sure. I also cleaned my enclosure by diluted bleach (1 gallon + 2 teaspoon of 'gentle bleach') and all the items that I bought from the petco plus baked the coconut husk and cypress mulch on 250F for 30~40mins. I know that coconut husk is almost risk-free but I like to go extra miles for this kid.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/29/mare9y9e.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/29/6ytyta3a.jpg
so here is some questions for people..
1. What is the best way to sex the python? ( would it be purchasing the tool from ebay and do it by myself? without going professional like reptile vets or something)
2. Louie is going through shedding at this moment and when I noticed his eyes were almost going blue/white and some of his scales are becoming blue-ish (spots), I tried to feed him so it will help him shed (because he has to use all his energy shedding and whatnot) and he grabbed the fuzzy as soon as I hold it up on the seperate feeding cage. But he almost swallowed halfway but he stayed like that for exactly 2.5hrs then he spit it out and I put him back in the enclosure. He "yawn"-ed to adjust his jaw like 3 times after but is that normal?
3. My room is generally hot. Like avg.80~85 degrees (fahrenheit). But I did install UTH because ceramic lamp did more harm than help. And I do not use thermometer that controls the UTH when it gets to hot, so time to time I check and I check by its coconut husk color. Do you think it's necessary?
4. This is some long-term question but where could I get morphed python here in Maryland?
Thank you for reading!:O
Re: Finally joined the forum! (+questions/pics attached)
x2^^^ I wouldn't feed and a seperate enclosure it causes more harm than helps. but sounds like you are doing good for the most part
Re: Finally joined the forum! (+questions/pics attached)
Thank you for responding. Well, I only put him in the Rubbermaid (feeding cage) whenever I feed him because I heard that if you feed in enclosure he will eventually assume your finger is a food? And guts might caught bacteria or somewhat
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Re: Finally joined the forum! (+questions/pics attached)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Louie
Thank you for responding. Well, I only put him in the Rubbermaid (feeding cage) whenever I feed him because I heard that if you feed in enclosure he will eventually assume your finger is a food? And guts might caught bacteria or somewhat
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You're only gonna cause your snake undue stress by feeding in a seperate tub. I feed in the enclosure.
As long as feeding is not the only time you open his cage it's not a problem.
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Finally joined the forum! (+questions/pics attached)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Louie
Thank you for responding. Well, I only put him in the Rubbermaid (feeding cage) whenever I feed him because I heard that if you feed in enclosure he will eventually assume your finger is a food? And guts might caught bacteria or somewhat
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by using that same logic, if you take him out of his enclosure to feed every time, he may think every time you get him out it's feeding time. i feed all mine in their enclosures and they do just fine. as long as your hands dont smell like rats. if you've been playin with rats just wash your hands.
and i've had very few feedings where guts are left on the floor of the enclosure. lol but i feed live. i know this problem is a little more prevalent with frozen/thawed. but as long as you clean out their enclosure regularly they'll be fine.
Re: Finally joined the forum! (+questions/pics attached)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Louie
Thank you for responding. Well, I only put him in the Rubbermaid (feeding cage) whenever I feed him because I heard that if you feed in enclosure he will eventually assume your finger is a food? And guts might caught bacteria or somewhat
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That is a myth. Nearly all of the big BP breeders and members on this site feed their BP's in the snakes cage. A BP isn't going to get aggressive or think your hand is food because of this.
You need to clean/disinfect your cage at least monthly anyway (as well as change your substrate). A good way to do this is with vetrinary grade disinfectants like F10 and Chlorhexidine:
http://www.reptilebasics.com/cleaning-products
Re: Finally joined the forum! (+questions/pics attached)
Hahahaha good point. Well I just hope he sheds in one piece.. and some said move water bowl to UTH side?
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Re: Finally joined the forum! (+questions/pics attached)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Louie
Hahahaha good point. Well I just hope he sheds in one piece.. and some said move water bowl to UTH side?
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The heat from the UTH will increase the water temperature in the water dish so it will release more moisture into the air. You will have to change the water in the dish more frequently if you do so.