rescued snake...ned advice please

so a few weeks ago i was taken out the trash at my apartment complex and i found a young snake in a tank next to the dumpster. no one in sight anywhere. so i took the snake back to my place, they must have recently dumped him he wasn't skinny or anything. i took him to a vet and had him checked, all good health wise. and the snake has been eating fine. the whole time i have had him i have been able to handle him, thankfully considering snakes terrify me. anyways all of a sudden the last two days when i have reached to take him out he hisses at me everytime i touch him and then he gets in the strike position. any experienced snake owners know what may be wrong with him? thanks in advance and try not to bash me :( came here in hopes i wouldnt get bashed like i did elsewhere. no ive never had a snake because i am scared of them but i have a heart and couldnt leave him out there and he/she has been helping me get over my fears. so if anyone know how to help him out let me know please.

The snake is definitely stressed right now so I would recommend that you leave it alone for atleast a week so it can get used to it's new enclosure, give it plenty of hides. Also if you can post a pic that would help us give you better info on the husbandry that it would need. Did the vet tell you what kind of snake it is?
Also thank you for getting past you fears and helping an abandoned snake, very brave of you.

Since you said he was fine until recently, there's a chance he's going into shed... I know mine get cranky at that time (I call it snake PMS, LOL), and normally gentle snakes have bitten me while in shed. Do his eyes look cloudy and/or blue, and is the coloring a little darker with a pink belly? If so, those are sure signs he's about to shed. Oh yeah, and a photo of the snake & setup would be helpful too. ;)

yea i second that the snake mite be r going into shed do u know if its a ball python r not if it is look on here for the caresheet since u never had a snake before it will tell u all u need to know. thanks to u that animal had a chance cuz other pll would have said eew snake an ran lol:rofl:

Yes more info on the snake and your tank setup would be very helpful.

I agree with everyone else, probably a shed but yes, a pic of his current setup and the snake would be helpful. As someone that used to be terrified of snakes myself, I know what you mean about getting over your fears. If he is a BP, they are great teachers and wonderful animals, before long, you will find yourself wanting more. Snakes are like tattoos, you just can't have one...lol. :D

EDIT: nevermind, I missed the 'a few weeks ago' thing.

I agree that he may be going into shed. Just leave him alone for a bit. :)

I would leave him be for a week and make sure you have hides that he can just fit in nicely and it only has one small opening. You will need two! Follow everything on this caresheet and you will be fine! http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

If he's been eating regularly for you he's probably going into shed! Some balls are very cranky around this time. Make sure to post a pic so we can confirm it, or just look for a pink belly and blue eyes. If s/he's showing the signs make sure to bump up the humidity to 70% or so so they have a nice clean shed :) And THANK YOU for taking it in!

yes the vet told me he is a ball python and probably around a month and a half or so. his eyes dont appear glossy or blue and his belly is not a reddish color. i almost said eww snake and ran cuz ever since my science teacher put his snake on me and it bit me ive been horrified of them and his was a ball python as well, a big one. i dont have any pics of his enclosure just yet, just one of him. in his enclosure i have aspen harlan bedding, water dish, one of those heat things you attach to the bottom of the tank, and a tree log in there, oh and i believe the tank is a 10 gallon. mind you i didnt set this up this is exactly the way i found his tank next to the dumpster. here he is though http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...&id=1669402918
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/...&ref=fbx_album
wasnt sure how to post a pic....thanks guys

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Originally Posted by snoopylove

in his enclosure i have aspen harlan bedding, water dish, one of those heat things you attach to the bottom of the tank, and a tree log in there, oh and i believe the tank is a 10 gallon.

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I don't see any mention of hides? i might be missing it though. Here is a cheap, safe idea for a hide that my snakes love. Clay pots, you can get them anywhere and for how small the baby is..you can get a perfect sized one at walmart for $1. just knock a hole in the side and then put it in. you should get 2 actually, one for the hot side and one for the cool side.

Other than that, i would just leave him be for a while. let him chill and he will be fine. :)

He could be at the end of a shed cycle. Or, maybe he is hungry. Hatchlings can be very snippy. I wouldn't worry too much about it though, they usually grow out of it. Ball Pythons are great pets. They can be very calm and lovable.

What is he eating? I would give him a week to settle down, and then give him a nice size adult mouse. Something the same size as your snakes widest part. Then give him 2 days to digest, and try to handle him then. I have two little ones that are about 3 months old. They were very cranky as babies, but usually after the first couple of sheds they settle down. They know exactly what day is feeding day and are usually on top of their hides waiting.

I would go and try to find an indoor/outdoor thermometer to measure that heat pad. They can get hot, and burn the little guy. You should get a lamp dimmer to keep it regulated.

Kudos on rescuing him too :) Maybe he can turn your fear around. I've seen a lot of people change after handling one of mine.

First of all, I just wanted to say thank you for rescuing this poor little guy. It's very admirable of you to do so, especially if you're afraid of snakes!! I really can't believe someone would just put him out with the trash!! :( Ball pythons are wonderful snakes though, and I'm sure he will calm down for you in no time!!

As far as the hissing, it sounds like he feels a little insecure. He definitely needs 2 small hides, one over the heat mat, and one on the other side of the tank. Cheap hides include the clay pot already mentioned, and my personal favorite are thick, opaque plastic bowls from the dollar store. You can get a 4 pack for a $1, and then just cut a hole in the side with some good scissors (just make sure the edges aren't too sharp). You also need to make sure that the heat mat isn't getting too hot, and that the overall temp of the room doesn't go below 75-80 degrees.

I would say give him the 2 hides, check temps/humidity, and then just let him relax for a week or so, and you'll probably notice a huge difference. If not, then he could be hungry, and you can try giving him another mouse, wait a couple days, then just keep handling him. He's a very cute snake from the pictures!! :D

Hope this helps, and good luck with him :)

NO FAIR! I want a BP with that head pattern SOOOO bad. And you just happen to find one :rolleyes: Did the vet sex her/him for you?

no id id not mention any hide as i didnt know he needed one since he didnt have one in the cage but i will definately get him one, and remove the log? i have heard snakes can get burned and i constantly check the pad to make sure its not too hot, i actually wasnt sure if it was getting warm enough at one point. the vet sexed him yes, said he was male. he did just eat on sunday afternoon, so i figured he should eat again today right? yeah he has a pretty cool pattern but he is soo creepy lol. i still dont know what i was thinking taking him home lol. like i dont have enough to take care of, ive got two mini pinschers, ones a rescue, and 2 kitties both rescues. so ive got my hands full but i hope he comes around i felt so bad, i know hes a snake but how could someone just throw him out, especially in arizona heat. some people disgust me.

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Originally Posted by snoopylove

no id id not mention any hide as i didnt know he needed one since he didnt have one in the cage but i will definately get him one, and remove the log? i have heard snakes can get burned and i constantly check the pad to make sure its not too hot, i actually wasnt sure if it was getting warm enough at one point.

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Spend $25 bucks tonight on two very important items if you can. A table lamp dimmer, and an accurite thermometer. Both can be found at a lowes/home depot. Plug the Heat Pad into the table lamp dimmer, and use the accurite probe to measure the temperature and adjust from there. That will help prevent your snake from being burned.

Also, I feed my BP once a week. He should be good again until Sunday if you are feeding the appropriate size.

yeah i can do that. how big is your BP? just wondering because i was told since he is younger to feed him every four days and then go to every five days and so on....i have been feeding him the small white feeder mice from petco...is that wrong? also i was wondering if i should switch him to the frozen mice because someone told me when he gets bigger the bigger rats/mice will hurt him....is this true?

I feed my hatchlings every 5 days. I usually do this until they reach about 500 g's. Some people do more, and others less. A mouse should be perfect size for him.

Frozen is much safer to feed, but it takes a little patience and time. If you are planning on switching, do it now. The older he gets the harder it may be. But, if you are monitoring him while you feed, there should't be a problem. I feed all mine live. Some rats can get defensive and bite. Most of the time the snake will get the rat before it realizes what's happening. I leave the rat in for 10-15 min, and if the snake doesn't eat it then I take it out. I would never leave it in overnight, and not unattended. A little rat but usually isn't a problem, but if you aren't watching they can chew on your snake and cause severe problems.

Hey if you don't want him ship him to me! :please: But really, I'd go with every five days until you're sure he's eating consistently and at a good body weight then try converting him to FT. Feeding live isn't dangerous, you just need to closely monitor the feedings and never leave a live rat unattended with your snake. Mine are both about 7 years old and they both eat live. My female does get the occasional FT, but not since I've had to start breeding my own feeders.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by snoopylove

yeah i can do that. how big is your BP? just wondering because i was told since he is younger to feed him every four days and then go to every five days and so on....i have been feeding him the small white feeder mice from petco...is that wrong? also i was wondering if i should switch him to the frozen mice because someone told me when he gets bigger the bigger rats/mice will hurt him....is this true?

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Thank You for taking in the little guy even though you are apprehensive about it. You will find that snakes are pretty easy to take care of. There is a little work in the beginning, but once you have their tank set-up and running properly all you have to do is basically clean up their poo and pee and feed them once a week.
The most important thing will be keeping the temps and humidity correct. If you are going to look for the Acu-Rite, it is an Indoor/Outdoor thermometer. You will basically place the unit on the cool side and that will be the "Indoor" temperature. You place the probe on the warm side. It will go under the substrate, over the Under Tank Heater, preferably in the warm side hide. This will be the "Outdoor" temperature. And you will use the lamp dimmer to adjust the UTH to keep this temp around 91F. The reason you measure it under the substrate, right on the glass is because that is the hottest temp that your snake can be exposed to if he burrows down. Depending on the Acu-Rite model that the stores have in stock, it may or may not have a hygrometer built in to tell you the humidity. If it doesn't, you will need a separate digital hygrometer. I just don't recommend the stick-on dial or tape gages from pet stores as they are notoriously inaccurate. The Acu-Rites are normally at Lowes or Home Depot in the Outdoors section and some Wal-marts will have them in the Home Improvement/Hardware section and they look like this...

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...8/hpim0473.jpg

Another inexpensive, yet effective way to make hides is to pick up a couple of plastic bowls. I got a 2 pack for $1 at the Dollar store. then just cut or melt a hole in the side or top big enough for your snake to get in and out of. You will need 2 of them.
Make sure that the screen lid for the tank locks down secure. Some tanks have a lid that slides on and latches and some have a lid that has to be held on with clips, available at most pet shops. If you have any questions, just ask. Hopefully you will decide to keep it and realize how fascinating and misunderstood reptiles really are... :snake:

If you want the super low maintenance option for cheap, you can move your little guy to a plastic tub (there's a picture above with that accu-rite). The reason this is better is because the plastic tub with the plastic lid with a few vent holes will hold temps and humidity much more stable than the 10gallon glass tank. The tank you have right now will be too small for him in a year and a bigger one (at least 20L is recommended for an adult male) would be more expensive than a plastic tub. The plastic tub will also provide a much better feeling of security for the snake.

So, to accomplish this, you can buy a Really Useful Box (RUB) from Staples. A 4.0L (8"x12"x3" high) cost $5.99 and the 9.0L (8"12"x5"high) cost $7.99. The height of the box does not really matter much because the snake is terrestrial. Those boxes are big enough for your snake until it reaches 20" long. After that, you can move him to the 33L or 50L RUB (24"x15"x5" or 24"x15"x8" respectively) which is a good size for an adult male.

I suggest the RUB versus the Sterilite because the RUB comes with an escape-proof lid and is a thicker, more durable plastic. Some Sterilites are flimsy enough that the snake can push up part of the lid. There is the silver-clip sterilites that are escape-proof as well, so you can use those too.

With these tubs, you don't have to have a hide - but you can also put one or even two in - if you prefer. I currently have 70gram babies in the 4.0L RUB with 2 small hides (just enough for them to curl under with the sides touching their body) plus a water bowl on top of aspen with a heat mat on the underside of the container (stuck to the outside) covering 1/3 edge of the floor-space. I put aspen in it as bedding and the humidity pretty much stays constant at around 55% which is what you want.

So yeah, you can spend some money on a dimmer at Lowe's or a Reptitherm or similar proportional thermostat at PetSmart to make sure your heat mat doesn't go beyond 95 degrees.

You don't need the branch or anything else in the RUB. Put the RUB in some corner of your house that doesn't get much traffic and your snake should stop being nippy in no time... well, unless he's hungry or in shed...

Hope this helps!

First of all a big congratulations to you as a first time snake owner, a rescuer with a lot of heart, and as someone combating fear of snakes. When you go, you go all out! :D

As I understand your posts, you are doing quite well with him so far. Even if he didn't have a hide at first, he does need at least one, preferably two. The cheapest and easiest way is to pick up either a small clay flowerpot or my personal favorite, dark colored cereal bowls from the dollar store. Make sure what you choose is just a little bit bigger than he is when he's balled up.

It's no surprise he's a little freaked out, you would be to if you'd been through what he has. It is possible he is in the last stages of shedding, if you don't know for sure what you are looking for, you can miss it. You've been given plenty of advice on temperatures and thermostats, so do invest in a thermometer and a thermostat as soon as you can.

I think you will find once he's got a safe place to hide, and possibly sheds, he'll be a lot less crabby.

Take your time with going from live to f/t if you can. If he's eating live and you can handle that, let him stay with live for at least another month or so until he settles in, then you can try f/t. You'll find lots of helpful information here on switching by doing a forum search. All but the tiniest ball python babies can handle a small adult mouse, so he should be fine with one adult mouse every 5 to 7 days.

Best wishes with your new baby.

Gale

ok guys, just got back from lowes and petsmart, got the table lamp dimmer and thermometer thingy and got him two small hides. ive set it all up as i was told. is it normal for baby balls to sleep a lot? hes not as active as he was at first just kinda balls up a lot and hisses lol. man hes creepy. anyways thanks for all your help guys. it ism uch appreciated, the last forum i posted in i got no help. all i got was people yelling at me for getting a snake when i know nothing about them and i am scared of them. ummm HELLO i didnt GET a snake, i FOUND one lol. so thanks

Ball pythons are not super active normally. If he's just sitting around, he's acting pretty normal then.

Good for you for taking him in. If you decide you still don't want him, I'm sure you'd find him a good home. But I hope you do keep him, because you're obviously a pretty darned good person!

Now that he has a hide, he is going to go in one and just chill. give him a few days to a week and he will probably shed and then be all better. And if you ever have any other questions, just ask. :)

Babies are a little more skittery than adults, especially if his previous owners never held him or tried to tame him down. My baby still hisses a little bit every time I go to pick him up.

Just don't hold him too often, but he will probably feel safer with two hides like you got. I hold my hatchling snake maybe 2 times a week, 3 at max.

i thought about getting rid of him, but as creepy as he is i think he has been through enough so he has a forever home here. maybe that is his problem? i was taking him out prety often and holding him, so i should leave him be and only take him out couple times a week?

You only have to handle him a few times a week. Ball pythons are super easy to care for, and are quite lazy bums, so the fact that he's hiding all day is totally normal.
You're awesome for offering him a great home even though you're afraid of him! However, I bet soon enough you'll warm up to the little guy and maybe, one day, become a ball python fanatic like the rest of us here.. :P

Since he's in a new home and he's young, hes going to be very scared.

Give him a week or so to get used to his new home and take that time to adjust to having a snake. I know leaving him alone is hard since he's a new pet, but you ave to force yourself to just observe for a bit.

After that he should calm down a bit and become more comfortable. I'd say leave him alone completely for no less than 5 days and on the 5th day offer him some food. If he eats he's doing well.

Kudos to you for rescuing the snake though! :)

I would start by taking him out once every few days barring a daily check and water change) and eventually work up to being able to handle him daily (except for 48 hrs after feeding and during shed). I try to keep it under an hour a day but sometimes i keep mine out longer. you may find him to be creepy now but the fact that you took him in and are caring for him leads me to believe you will soon b like the rest of us and wish you had more of them. really they are a pretty cool pet and you found one of the best snakes to get over your fears.

A hiding BP is a happy BP! LOL :)

Now that you have the essentials, there are a few other things to look at that will help you and your new little guy.
-Humidity: Screen tops will let all of your humidity out, and being in a dry place like Arizona will just make it worse. The easiest way to fix this is to cover most of the screen. Aluminum foil, wax paper, and plastic wrap work great. Or, if you choose, you can go to Lowes or Home Depot and have them cut you a piece of plexiglass to fit over it. That works too. When I ws using screen top tanks, I cut some cardboard into strips that fit across the screen and wrapped them in aluminum foil. That way I could add or remove the panels as needed to raise or lower the humidity. This is what it looked like...

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file.../ztank0053.jpg

To keep the humidity stable, you may have to use one or more of these methods:
1) place the water bowl partially over the Under Tank Heater.
2) use a bigger water bowl.
3) use a spray bottle to lightly mist the tank once or twice a day.
4) if you're still having humidity problems it might be necessary to switch to Cypress substrate since it holds humidity better.
I keep my humidity around 55%-60% and my snakes shed just fine without adjusting it,but some snakes need a little more humidity when they go into shed, and there are a few different ways to raise the humidity if need be:
1) mist the tank more frequently.
2) make a humid box, which is basically some kind of Tupperware container with a few holes poked in the lid with a wet sponge or damp sphagnum moss inside, and it is placed over the Under Tank Heater to help with evaporation. I think sponges are better because they are cheaper and can be re-used alot longer than the moss.
3) remove some of the covering on the screen, fold up a wet towel (not dripping), and place it on the screen. Then just re-wet or replace it when it dries out.

-Thermostats: The lamp dimmer can work, but it requires more frequent monitoring and adjustments to keep the temperature correct. I would recommend at some point getting a digital thermostat to control the UTH. You basically plug the heater into it, attach the probe to the heater, and set it for the temp you want. You can order them online starting around $30 for a basic thermostat, and depending on the model and features you want, they can run up to over $300. If you decide that at some point you want to get one and need a list of websites, just ask.

-Security: Ball Pythons, in the wild, live in burrows and termite mounds, which is why they prefer snug hides and smaller enclosures. They are not fond of big open spaces. Something you can do to help you little guy feel more secure and relaxed is to cover both ends and the back of the tank. You can use anything like colored poster board, construction paper, foam board, aquarium scenery, or even fabric if you choose. Anything to make the tank seem not so open and spacious.

I know this is a long post, but I hope it helps some and gives you some ideas.
Oh! You might as well give the little guy a name, then I won't have to keep calling him "Little Guy"...:D