My very first snake (or reptile for that matter)

Hello, all. I just got a ball python about a month ago. My very first reptile pet. I absolutely love her (I think it's a female, but not 100%). I am keeping her in a 20 gallon glass tank with two hides, a UTH under and an overhead heat lamp where the one of the hides is. So far so good. The snake had one shed (not the greatest shed, but she looks beautiful and bright with just a few spots of old skin) and one successful meal (a F/T hopper mouse). She is about a year old from what I understand and is very, very tame. I handle her every day, sometimes several times a day. I have two kids 8 and 14 year old boys who also handle her as well as my wife. The snake seems to be totally cool with everyone and is just a joy to have around. I just wanted to say hello to the community and show off a few pictures:

My new ball python Isis

I am sure I'll have questions. Lots to learn. I've been reading this forum's FAQ's and tutorials. Thank you for all the info!

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V

Hey, i'm in a similar boat. I recently discovered my love for snakes too!

Is your BP a normal? I like the tail pattern from what i can see.

Welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of snakes. I recently adopted a BP myself, and he's getting ready to shed, first time since I've had him! His skin is loose, his belly is pinkish, and his eyes are starting to turn blue! He doesn't seem to mind being handled, though, but just in case I'm doing it just long enough to remove him from the enclosure to change bedding, spray some water, and change his water. I don't want to stress him too much.

Like I said, welcome to the forum! I've already realized I want another snake, my girlfriend does too. Its just getting the rest of the household to agree to it! Haha.

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Originally Posted by Quacking-Terror

Like I said, welcome to the forum! I've already realized I want another snake, my girlfriend does too. Its just getting the rest of the household to agree to it! Haha.

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Haha, i want another snake already too. I'd love to get a few more BP morphs, but i think for my second snake, a different species like a corn snake would be better. IMO BPs are a much cooler and prettier looking snake, but corn snakes are more fun for handling. Those Hog Island Boas are really cool too. OMG, this is an addiction!

My girlfriend has her eyes on getting a pied sometime in the next six months. Once we've had this guy awhile and he's settled in, eating and shedding normally, then we'll look into getting another. I'd like to get a female and breed them, but that requires extra money and maintenance and I'm not quite ready for that yet!

Welcome to BP.net :)

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Originally Posted by vferdman

Hello, all. I just got a ball python about a month ago. My very first reptile pet. I absolutely love her (I think it's a female, but not 100%). I am keeping her in a 20 gallon glass tank with two hides, a UTH under and an overhead heat lamp where the one of the hides is. So far so good. The snake had one shed (not the greatest shed, but she looks beautiful and bright with just a few spots of old skin) and one successful meal (a F/T hopper mouse). She is about a year old from what I understand and is very, very tame. I handle her every day, sometimes several times a day. I have two kids 8 and 14 year old boys who also handle her as well as my wife. The snake seems to be totally cool with everyone and is just a joy to have around. I just wanted to say hello to the community and show off a few pictures:

My new ball python Isis

I am sure I'll have questions. Lots to learn. I've been reading this forum's FAQ's and tutorials. Thank you for all the info!

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V

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WELCOME TO THE SNAKE COMMUNITY, WHEN UR SNAKE IS GETTING READY TO SHED JUST PUT A DAMP TOWEL OVER THE LID (JUST LEAVE A LITTLE ROOM FOR AIR TO TRAVEL THROUGH), & SPRAY THE TANK WITH WATER EVERYDAY & IT SHOULD HAVE A PERFECT SHED, IF IT STILL HAS STUCK SHED JUST SIT THE SNAKE IN A TUB WITH ROOM TEMPERATURE WATER AND/ OR LET THE SNAKE CRAWL THROUGH A WET TOWEL, THE OLD SKIN SHOULD COME RIGHT OFF. :gj:

i just recently got my first two ball pythons , ones a bit more moody then the other ,shes snapped at me once , but didnt get the bite. but all in all it's been alot of learning for me. pet shops dont know jack about the animals or heat lamp and UTH safety . so this fourm has been a great help for me . enjoy your pet:snake:

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Originally Posted by vferdman

Hello, all. I just got a ball python about a month ago. My very first reptile pet. I absolutely love her (I think it's a female, but not 100%). I am keeping her in a 20 gallon glass tank with two hides, a UTH under and an overhead heat lamp where the one of the hides is. So far so good. The snake had one shed (not the greatest shed, but she looks beautiful and bright with just a few spots of old skin) and one successful meal (a F/T hopper mouse)

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A warm wet wash cloth can be used to remove any remaining skin patches if they're being stubborn. I suggest soaking first though.

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Originally Posted by draydem

Hey, i'm in a similar boat. I recently discovered my love for snakes too!

Is your BP a normal? I like the tail pattern from what i can see.

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I am really ignorant of all the various mutations. I think she is a "normal", but what do I know? i can take some more detailed pics of her and post and have the people here who know what they are talking about tell me what she is. I am just enjoying her a lot. She seems to have a very easy going personality. She ate and shed on my watch already and she is being handled every day by at least one member of the family. What more can I ask?

More pics are coming soon for the pattern ID.

Congrats! Beautiful girl!

p.s. If she's truly about a year old, she should be able to eat an adult mouse at the very least! :gj:

Love the tail pattern! Looks like a reduced pattern. Would love to see the rest of her back!

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Originally Posted by anatess

Love the tail pattern! Looks like a reduced pattern. Would love to see the rest of her back!

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I added a few pics to the original gallery Here. There are pics showing the back and tail. If you can ID her pattern for me I would appreciate it. As it is, I really don't care what she is because she is beautiful and has an amazingly easy going personality.

As for eating, we were told to feed her adult mice, but the first one we offered her got ignored, so we tried a hopper the next feeding and she took it. I could see that the hopper was too small, but I just want to get her eating with us and then I can adjust her rations. I am also thinking of trying to switch her to rat pups, but again, after a few meals of what she is used to.

thanks to all for the comments and encouragement.

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Vladimir

P.S. I did not realize how difficult it is to photograph these creatures in a way that captures their beauty. I can do that with mammal pets, kids, my partner, but snakes are a whole new photographic territory for me, so excuse my learning curve resulting in sub-par pictures.