Question about feeding new bp

So we got out bp Saturday the breeder feeds every 7 days (sun night/mon morning) Its about time when he would normally get fed.

Iv heard not to feed him for like 2 weeks after you get him until he is fine with the new environment. Well he mostly hides up under and hide on the heating pad. Well now hes out looking around well he sees the dog and just raises his head up and stairs at the dog like hes hungry lol.

So should i attempt a feed or still just wait?

He eats live were gonna try a f/t and pre sent room/cage then kinda hold it in front him him and add a little shake and hope he takes it

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Originally Posted by f4n70m

So we got out bp Saturday the breeder feeds every 7 days (sun night/mon morning) Its about time when he would normally get fed.

Iv heard not to feed him for like 2 weeks after you get him until he is fine with the new environment. Well he mostly hides up under and hide on the heating pad. Well now hes out looking around well he sees the dog and just raises his head up and stairs at the dog like hes hungry lol.

So should i attempt a feed or still just wait?

He eats live were gonna try a f/t and pre sent room/cage then kinda hold it in front him him and add a little shake and hope he takes it

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Its actually 1 week with no contact or feeding attempts.So try next saturday,he will be fine :gj:.I would not try to switch him until he has eaten several times for you.Why stress him out even more?

ditto to above

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Originally Posted by joepythons

Its actually 1 week with no contact or feeding attempts.So try next saturday,he will be fine :gj:.I would not try to switch him until he has eaten several times for you.Why stress him out even more?

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Well idk about feeding him live. Hardly a snake expert and i hear it and injure the snake if it bites him

There is a risk of the snake getting bit, but it's very minimal. One of the admins on here has fed live over 4500 times, and she's only had a handful of injuries.

You should leave the snake alone for the week, do not handle or try to feed. The snake will be fine with out food for one week. For the first two or three times you feed you should give it live if that is what it is used to. The only way the rat/mouse is going to injure the snake is if you leave them unattended. After you have established that the snake will eat for you, then you can switch to frozen/thawed if you would like. The only reason you should wait to switch is that if you do so now, being in a new environment, with new/different food, it could cause the snake to refuse food, or even become stressed enough to fast for a few months, which is not what you would want.

When and if you do switch to frozen/thawed, after soaking in warm water to thaw, you should blow dry them dry, really concentrating on the face to make it the warmest place on the body, so the snake will most likely strike the head. I say this because most of the ball pythons I've had that were switched from live, would not eat them wet, or even towel dried for that fact. Some of them I even had to scent with used mouse/rat bedding to get them to eat it.

No matter what way you want to feed, it will still be okay, but if you stick with live, just never leave them unattended. Good luck to you!

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Originally Posted by f4n70m

Well idk about feeding him live. Hardly a snake expert and i hear it and injure the snake if it bites him

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You observe everything until he wraps it up.Those that throw in a rodent and leave the room are the ones that usually have the snakes get injured.If your snake was in the wild they do not have drive up frozen thawed rodent shops :P.They know what they are doing ;)

i agree with the 1 week no handling no feeding. BUT you can try on the first attempt to switch prey types. With every animal i've ever gotten that has fed live its entire life, i switched to F/T the first feeding i had it. Why? Because its easy for me. If there was a refusal, i'd give the animal a week and in that time get it its preferred prey item. If its live, i'll pick it up a mouse. The absolute KEY to this though is PRE SCENTING. trying to switch a live feeder to F/T feeder without prescenting is not a good idea.

^ the above is my personal experience :)

They wonder around alot in a new cage for a few days! It is not hunting! It is stressed! I would wait at least a week if not two and feed live for the first couple feedings! Babies like to hunt their prey! Cover the sides and top of the tank. Make sure your temps are 80-84 on the cool side and 90-94 on the warm side. Use a digital thermometer with a probe to measure the temps on the ground. The ambient(air) temp should be at least 75. You need two identical tight fitting hides with one small opening on each. One hide goes in the warm side and one in the cool side! If it feels secure and warm then it will eat! Your humidity should be 50-80%! Good luck!

Hmm well hes been in his hide all day. Its about 11:35 and hes been out roaming around. cool side is like 83* at like 66% humidity. the cool side is like 79* with 58% humidity.

I know the hot side has kinda high humidity but iv been adding a bit more holes to bring it down. Would try to bring it down more but hes out wandering around and when i take a peek in the side of the tub to see temps (no opening it) and if he sees me he like makes a S with his neck and just stares at me like he wants to eat me lol. After all tonight is his normal feeding night.

So in the morning should i work on trying to lower the humidity or is 66 good for now?

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Originally Posted by seeya205

They wonder around alot in a new cage for a few days! It is not hunting! It is stressed! I would wait at least a week if not two and feed live for the first couple feedings! Babies like to hunt their prey! Cover the sides and top of the tank. Make sure your temps are 80-84 on the cool side and 90-94 on the warm side. Use a digital thermometer with a probe to measure the temps on the ground. The ambient(air) temp should be at least 75. You need two identical tight fitting hides with one small opening on each. One hide goes in the warm side and one in the cool side! If it feels secure and warm then it will eat! Your humidity should be 50-80%! Good luck!

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Just seen this. He hides all day. Just this night hes been out for like past hr wandering around.

The cage sits in a dresser where both drawers are taken out so the sides and back he cannot see anything but wood since its sits in there. There is room between the tub and walls tho. The front i have a blanket hanging from it to kinda hide the front so its dark inside. I normally put blanket over at night for 2 reasons. One so its dark(night time) for him and 2 my dogs are nosey. They sleep in the room they see him moving they get curious. Since blanket is up their to dumb to know whats behind it lol

The UTH sits at 90-94*

Hot side temp is like mid to high 80's

Cool side like mid 70s low 80's

Humidity is between 50-80 on both sides.

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Originally Posted by f4n70m

Hmm well hes been in his hide all day. Its about 11:35 and hes been out roaming around. cool side is like 83* at like 66% humidity. the cool side is like 79* with 58% humidity.

I know the hot side has kinda high humidity but iv been adding a bit more holes to bring it down. Would try to bring it down more but hes out wandering around and when i take a peek in the side of the tub to see temps (no opening it) and if he sees me he like makes a S with his neck and just stares at me like he wants to eat me lol. After all tonight is his normal feeding night.

So in the morning should i work on trying to lower the humidity or is 66 good for now?

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the humidity will dissipate over time, but the hot side needs to be hotter. 83 is good for your cool side. If you don't have one yet, get a reliable thermostat. a dimmer can be used in the meanwhile, but i always recommend something you can set and forget.

The "staring like he wants to eat me" (or the dogs) is probably more like "staring trying to figure out if you might eat him."

Let the little guy have a week to settle in to his new home. While it is entirely possible that he'd eat now if you offered it, there will be NO harm to him to wait. On the other hand, offering food when he is too stressed to eat it will only add to his stress.

I see no harm in trying f/t the first time you offer him food. Some will take it right away even if they are used to live. If he doesn't take it the first time, then give him live until he is eating for you consistently, and then try to make the switch.

Your humidity is fine for now. After you've had him a while and you can see how it fluctuates over time, you may want to adjust it a little bit. For example, you may find the aspen is slightly humid the way it is packaged, but dries out a few days after you put it in the enclosure, so your humidity gets too low and you need to cover up a few holes.

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Originally Posted by cinderbird

the humidity will dissipate over time, but the hot side needs to be hotter. 83 is good for your cool side. If you don't have one yet, get a reliable thermostat. a dimmer can be used in the meanwhile, but i always recommend something you can set and forget.

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It seems the longer the lid sits on the higher it gets lol but when i open it just a tad bit to check temps it lowers

I got a ok tstat its nothing to fancy for now. Its the Zilla Temperature Controller.

I can get the hot side hotter i just didnt know if the hot side being like 85-90 + the uth temp 90-94 would be to hot and hurt him.

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Originally Posted by kc261

The "staring like he wants to eat me" (or the dogs) is probably more like "staring trying to figure out if you might eat him."

Let the little guy have a week to settle in to his new home. While it is entirely possible that he'd eat now if you offered it, there will be NO harm to him to wait. On the other hand, offering food when he is too stressed to eat it will only add to his stress.

I see no harm in trying f/t the first time you offer him food. Some will take it right away even if they are used to live. If he doesn't take it the first time, then give him live until he is eating for you consistently, and then try to make the switch.

Your humidity is fine for now. After you've had him a while and you can see how it fluctuates over time, you may want to adjust it a little bit. For example, you may find the aspen is slightly humid the way it is packaged, but dries out a few days after you put it in the enclosure, so your humidity gets too low and you need to cover up a few holes.

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I open the lid every now and then just a tad bit just to check temps to make sure all is ok. I dont bother him or anything, So is it good like it is now my temps and stuff? Should i just leave it as it is now for like a week or two then try to fix the humidity then? It wont hurt him till then?

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Originally Posted by f4n70m

I can get the hot side hotter i just didnt know if the hot side being like 85-90 + the uth temp 90-94 would be to hot and hurt him.

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No, that won't hurt him. You want the temp in his hot spot to be 90-95. If the temp you are measuring at 90-94 is on the UTH outside of the enclosure, that probably does not make the hot spot hot enough. Bump it up a bit.

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Originally Posted by kc261

No, that won't hurt him. You want the temp in his hot spot to be 90-95. If the temp you are measuring at 90-94 is on the UTH outside of the enclosure, that probably does not make the hot spot hot enough. Bump it up a bit.

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Well i have the UTH reading 90-94 on the inside of the cage. The tstat probe is on the outside under the UTH but i got my acu rite probe on the inside on the plastic above the UTH.

So the uth temp on the inside of the tub is 90-94 mostly 91-93

Should i still make the air temp like closer to 90?

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Originally Posted by f4n70m

Well i have the UTH reading 90-94 on the inside of the cage. The tstat probe is on the outside under the UTH but i got my acu rite probe on the inside on the plastic above the UTH.

So the uth temp on the inside of the tub is 90-94 mostly 91-93

Should i still make the air temp like closer to 90?

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That sounds perfect! :gj: As long as the air temp is at least 80 throughout the entire enclosure, that is warm enough. Your snake can absorb the heat through his belly.

I bet you would find that the air temp under the warm side hide is warmer. If it isn't warm enough inside the hide, you may have too thick a layer of aspen, and that is absorbing too much heat.

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Originally Posted by f4n70m

Well i have the UTH reading 90-94 on the inside of the cage. The tstat probe is on the outside under the UTH but i got my acu rite probe on the inside on the plastic above the UTH.

So the uth temp on the inside of the tub is 90-94 mostly 91-93

Should i still make the air temp like closer to 90?

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the air temp should never be that hot. 80 is fine. air temp of 90 means the hot spot is WAY to hot.

Sounds like your set up just needs to even out.

To give you an example, i have my heat tape set to 96. The enclosures hot spots are between 90-94 depending on what level they're in on the rack. The ambients (air temps) hover around 80-82.

Your temps are pretty good! Wait a while on adding holes! The humidity should go down in a week or so!

Wow, lots of "he's stressed", "he's exploring his new environment".

He may be hungry and out hunting. If you're concerned, try feeding. I've fed every new snake within a day after I've gotten them, they've all eaten. Getting a refusal will not imprint your snake for life.

My philosophy is to give the snake what he wants. It took me 5 months to figure out one of my snakes and that is to toss in a live mouse, go away and let him eat in peace. My others, 3 take f/t off tongs, and one I have to leave the f/t prey in his cage, go away and let him eat in peace.

What these other people are saying is it may cause problems if you feed too soon. Not that it will.

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Originally Posted by cinderbird

the air temp should never be that hot. 80 is fine. air temp of 90 means the hot spot is WAY to hot.

Sounds like your set up just needs to even out.

To give you an example, i have my heat tape set to 96. The enclosures hot spots are between 90-94 depending on what level they're in on the rack. The ambients (air temps) hover around 80-82.

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Well my uth sits like 91-93. My air temps mesaured by flukers and acu rite on left and right side of cage. The left where uth sits is around like 83. Then the right side opposite of the uth sits like 79-80

How are u seeing how hot the "hot spot" is?

I mean i know the temp of the air and uth.

I had the warm side temp at 91. And uth at like 92. The cool side was like 87. He was just laying on the substrate/water bowl. So i think it was to hot for him.

So my question is how hot should the temp be? I got uth at 91-93. Also how do u measure the "hot spot"

Is that like the temp on top of the substrate?

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Originally Posted by f4n70m

Well my uth sits like 91-93. My air temps mesaured by flukers and acu rite on left and right side of cage. The left where uth sits is around like 83. Then the right side opposite of the uth sits like 79-80

How are u seeing how hot the "hot spot" is?

I mean i know the temp of the air and uth.

I had the warm side temp at 91. And uth at like 92. The cool side was like 87. He was just laying on the substrate/water bowl. So i think it was to hot for him.

So my question is how hot should the temp be? I got uth at 91-93. Also how do u measure the "hot spot"

Is that like the temp on top of the substrate?

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I consider the hot spot to be the hottest temp I can find inside the enclosure.

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Originally Posted by kc261

I consider the hot spot to be the hottest temp I can find inside the enclosure.

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my hottest temp is on yhe uth with air temp of 85 and uth temp of 93

He doesnt even seem to like his hides lol. He is never in them. He is just sitting on the cool side of the tank in between the water bowl and the side of the tub :/

Also if my uth is at 91-93* what should my air temp be? Some said high 80's low 90's some have said low to mid 80's??

So whats best? Also for cool side to

Okay, I have talked with you at length about your setup and I know personally you are doing everything the right way.

Stop worrying!!! You are over thinking all of this. Just leave the snake be for one week. Then try feeding him. Try f/t if you want but if he doesn't eat, would get a live mouse for the following week. He will not die, he will not starve. Don't worry about the humidity, don't worry about the temps. Just check on him once a day or so to make sure he is alive (without touching him or moving him or his hides).

A stressed snake will often "lay out" in between objects in the cage. This is just a normal new ball python behavior. Sometime in the next week he will discover that his hides and his home are safe, and he will use his hides.

Quit worrying and relax!! He isn't an infant, he doesn't need to be watched over 24/7. He will be just fine :)

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

Okay, I have talked with you at length about your setup and I know personally you are doing everything the right way.

Stop worrying!!! You are over thinking all of this. Just leave the snake be for one week. Then try feeding him. Try f/t if you want but if he doesn't eat, would get a live mouse for the following week. He will not die, he will not starve. Don't worry about the humidity, don't worry about the temps. Just check on him once a day or so to make sure he is alive (without touching him or moving him or his hides).

A stressed snake will often "lay out" in between objects in the cage. This is just a normal new ball python behavior. Sometime in the next week he will discover that his hides and his home are safe, and he will use his hides.

Quit worrying and relax!! He isn't an infant, he doesn't need to be watched over 24/7. He will be just fine :)

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lol he knows he has hides he used em for a day :P. Well imma leave it like it is. Both humidity are 50-55 so i think thats fine.

UTH 91-93

Cage temp hot is 81-85 cool is 79-82

So if all that is fine i will leave the little guy be

And u guys was right the humidity does go down over time :P seems to get lower and lower lol

They will use their hides during the day to sleep even if they are stressed! They just need time to settle in and build trust with you!

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Originally Posted by seeya205

They will use their hides during the day to sleep even if they are stressed! They just need time to settle in and build trust with you!

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he used his hide yesterday till night then he roamed around for a long time. past when i went to sleep lol

Today he takes no interest in them :P

I fed my girl live the day I got her, and she took F/T the next week with no problems.

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Originally Posted by I<3Dreamsicles

I fed my girl live the day I got her, and she took F/T the next week with no problems.

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The day you got her? :o lol

I think mines will eat now. He seems hungry but dont seem to happy with the new tub. So imma wait :)

Btw i seen BA Reptiles but their snakes were a little more then i wanted to spend. So i found special k reptiles. Good people also :)

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Originally Posted by f4n70m

The day you got her? :o lol

I think mines will eat now. He seems hungry but dont seem to happy with the new tub. So imma wait :)

Btw i seen BA Reptiles but their snakes were a little more then i wanted to spend. So i found special k reptiles. Good people also :)

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Yeah, it was her day for feeding anyway. I still left her alone for a week after

Thats weird... Did you see their normals? lol. I know the morphs are all expensive. My normal female was $20.

Ill check out special K if I see them.