Just brought our BP home...

Is that black light we have to keep on all the time supposed to get really hot??? I've plugged in the heating pad. The owner said he never knew whether the snake was a boy or girl. I've decided to call him/her "Sweetie."
I took her out of the tank a few minutes but with my 4 kids and husband all up in my face (and my 2 year old squealing) they were making me a nervous wreck. Sweetie seems very curious and kept licking the light on the webcam. She eats about once a week and it's almost time for a feeding, so I will go to Pet Smart tomorrow and get a mouse.

I was told to not feed her in her tank, to put her in another container to eat.

Wish me luck. I hope my electric bill won't go through the roof...

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Originally Posted by JoDirt

Is that black light we have to keep on all the time supposed to get really hot??? I've plugged in the heating pad. The owner said he never knew whether the snake was a boy or girl. I've decided to call him/her "Sweetie."
I took her out of the tank a few minutes but with my 4 kids and husband all up in my face (and my 2 year old squealing) they were making me a nervous wreck. Sweetie seems very curious and kept licking the light on the webcam. She eats about once a week and it's almost time for a feeding, so I will go to Pet Smart tomorrow and get a mouse.

I was told to not feed her in her tank, to put her in another container to eat.

Wish me luck. I hope my electric bill won't go through the roof...

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The black light is not necessary at all. you would do best to just let him/her hang out in the enclosure for at least a week before trying to do anything, just to reduce stress and let her get acclimated and used to her new home. It is very possible that he/she may eat, as both of mine did within a day of each being brought home. but other than that necessity, I would let the little one just have some time to relax.

As far as feeding outside of the enclosure, it is a matter of preference honestly. I don't do it just because my current setup is not very conducive to not getting tagged, but that's soon to change. So again, long story short, it's just what you prefer.

I would feed in the enclosure ur more like to get tagged moving it to feed it. then feed it. then moving it back.

Also put it in and leave it be for a week. You holding it after you just got it can lead to many more probs best to just leave it be for a bit

also you said u got a heating pad? like a human heating pad or a under tank heater? or what? Also is it hooked to a thermostat?

The reason you feed in a different enclosure is so they dont associate eating in their enclosure. Suposedly making it less likely for you to get tagged when you stick your hand in there home. Do you have to? No. Does it make you any less likely to get tagged? I think so. I have dealt with both and the ones that were fed in the same enclosure were def more likely try and get you than the others. I also dont have 300+ snakes to deal with. If I did then I would probably feed in their same enclosure.

I'd feed in the enclosure. It really is personal preference. IMO, snakes don't get put in a tub to feed in the wild. They're opportunistic eaters, and since they often hide in mammal burrows, they sometimes have food come to them.

They're probly way more comfortable feeding in their home than they are in a tub. Then again, it most likely doesn't matter much to them, unless they go off feed.

I remember seeing something about black lights being dangerous to snakes... I can't remember is someone called BS on it or if it was true. I would unplug it either way, and get a dimmer or thermostat for the UTH (under tank heater).

my question is, is it bad that ive been handling my snake since the day i got him? he tends to sit in my hand for a few minutes curled up then eventually just starts exploring all over the place, he doesnt sem like he is stressed out, i thought it was a good sign that he is exploring.

Again it depends on who you are talking to. IMO it doesnt matter. I have always handled my snakes and have never ever had a problem.

It's typically recommended to new owners to not handle the snake until it eats for you. It just reassures that your snake is not stressed and gets a meal in him.

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Originally Posted by DJ_Bizarre

my question is, is it bad that ive been handling my snake since the day i got him? he tends to sit in my hand for a few minutes curled up then eventually just starts exploring all over the place, he doesnt sem like he is stressed out, i thought it was a good sign that he is exploring.

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Heres my question. You keep handling and him not eating for you. Is that worth it?

honestly i didn't know that that was a possibility, i know people said stuff about letting a snake get comfortable in their new environment but i didn't know it was about not eating.

He may not be exploring. He may be looking for a place to hide. If I sit on the couch with one of my pythons, he makes a beeline for the underside of the cushions. :)

so i tried feeding him, he was smelling the f/t mouse but didnt strike or even attempt to eat it...im really hoping i didnt mess up somewehre since ive been handling him:(

Chances are he probably wants live. I always try F/T first if they don't take I then try live. Guess what? 9 times out 10 they take the live. It takes time to get them to eat F/T. Some of my snakes will eat F/T and other only take live. I hate raising rats but I feel its better nutritionally than frozen.

On a side note. If you have an older snake that is used to eating F/T, I wouldn't suggest feeding it live. I have noticed that the older they get eating F/T they become complacent when eating and seam to stop constricting. They will just go up to the rat sniff it strike it then maybe throw a side on it then they just start eating it.

I second the being bit by moving them to a different feeding enclosure... because I got tagged doing just that. Usually the routine is you take out the mouse, bring it to the room, move the snake... which means it already smelled the mouse which means it's probably in hunting mode... a heat source a.k.a. your hand reaching for it may cause it to strike and constrict.

Yup, ditch the black light. They don't need it and if it gets hot they can get burned.

Try leaving your snake completely alone for a week so he can get used to his new environment. They need to feel safe in their new home before they feel safe enough to eat.

Honestly, "cage aggression" is not a problem with these species. For bigger snakes, moving to a separate feeding area is beneficial but for ball pythons it doesn't matter. Many times, ball pythons won't eat in a separate enclosure because they are shy and don't feel safe.

Make sure your snake has two identical tight fitting hides. I like using plastic cereal bowls from the dollar store. Cheap and effective!

Remember, if your snake does not feel safe, it is unlikely to eat.

Also, why would your electricity bill go through the roof?

We put ours into a separate enclosure to eat, just because we were told to do that when we got our first BP years ago. We haven't had any unusual problems, but it definitely is personal preference.