New BP- too tame/docile??

Hi all, I am new to this forum so thanks for you patience. I just purchased my first ball python last week. From the time I got him home, he seems super docile. Not jumpy when I took him out...he hung out in my hands no problem...although I realize he should have some no-contact time for awhile, I took him out of his habitat after a few days. He just sits in my hands or on my lap...his movement is minimal (usually just wraps around a couple of fingers and sits there). Not jumpy when I take him out of the habitat.
I fed him for the first time today and he ate.
I am wondering if he is okay because he seems much more calm than I had expected. My other snake (a corn) was very jumpy and fast for the first several months (still cant take him far from the tank b/c he's a fast lil sucker).

Is this normal?

You should give them minimum a week to settle into a new place, but your snake's calm nature is completely normal. Balls are like living rocks compared to corns lol. Most are incredibly docile, which is why so many people love them. Also, make sure you give him at least two days after he's eaten to digest before handling him again.

Welcome to the forum and welcome to your new addiction! :P

This is extremely normal. No snake is the same.
Your little guy is like my pastel. She finds a spot she likes and just chills haha.
Welcome to the forum! :welcome:

Hello, and :welcome: to BP.net...

He sounds chill. I'd say give him time to settle, make sure he has enough hiding space, high enough temps and humidity and time to digest between meals. Otherwise, enjoy! He sounds like a mellow little dude. If he wasn't eating or had trouble breathing it would be problematic. He's probably just docile. My pastel female zooms around always looking for food, but otherwise she has no issues being handled. (that was my fault for underfeeding her a little, oops ><) but some of them are just cool hanging out!

sounds like you got a great BP wish mine liked to just chill lol but she is miss explorer lol never wants to sit still when i take her out of the tank

A bp could never be to tame or docile in my opinion :p

Yeah, some bps are lazier than others, but you rarely find one that's a squirmy as a corn. (Though they'll be lazier when they're cold. What are your warm side temps?)

Did you get him from a pet store? Pet store pythons sometimes have issues, but I have noticed that they're also often much more "well-socialized"--ie. already used to glass tanks and being handled by strange humans.

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Originally Posted by loonunit

Yeah, some bps are lazier than others, but you rarely find one that's a squirmy as a corn. (Though they'll be lazier when they're cold. What are your warm side temps?)

Did you get him from a pet store? Pet store pythons sometimes have issues, but I have noticed that they're also often much more "well-socialized"--ie. already used to glass tanks and being handled by strange humans.

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I dont think my warm temps are as high as they should be...I have an undertank heater and a 50w lamp on top. it gets to about 80 degrees.
I did get him from a pet store. I went searching at a reptile show but the majority of breeders were from out of town, some couldnt answer simple questions, etc. I got my corn from the same store and had a good experience.


Thanks to everyone for the advice. and yes...after spending another week with him I think I see the addiction creeping up :)

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Originally Posted by MulataSalsera

I dont think my warm temps are as high as they should be...I have an undertank heater and a 50w lamp on top. it gets to about 80 degrees.
I did get him from a pet store. I went searching at a reptile show but the majority of breeders were from out of town, some couldnt answer simple questions, etc. I got my corn from the same store and had a good experience.


Thanks to everyone for the advice. and yes...after spending another week with him I think I see the addiction creeping up :)

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Uhhhhm with a UTH and a lamp it should be a lot higher than 80 degrees. What are you measuring your temperatures with?

If you'd like a little more challenge, you could always rub some rat on your hands before you hold him. :rofl:

I've got some that are lazy as can be and are happy to just lie in your hands. At the other end of that spectrum are the ones that try and eat my face every time I open the tub.

Hi,

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Originally Posted by Alexandra V

Uhhhhm with a UTH and a lamp it should be a lot higher than 80 degrees. What are you measuring your temperatures with?

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And where?


dr del

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,



And where?


dr del

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I have a total of three thermometers and a hygrometer in the tank. A strip thermometer and a regular round one on the warm side (one on the side, on the bottom part of the tank, and one placed on the back, in the center-they dont match either) my hygrometer in the center and another round thermometer on the cool side

honestly I dont know how accurate these thermometers are though. He has a tree hide on the warm side...I figured if he gets too cold...he either climbs up and gets closer to the lamp or buries himself in the hide for the warmth of the undertank. While he has done both-- he is almost always on the warm side just laying out on the substrate whether the lamp is on or off.

I think the multiple thermometers in my corns tank are similar

Hi,

Generally they have the reputation of being very innacurate - I normally advise throwing them at the person who sold them to you as their finest use. :rolleyes:

I never found a use for the strip ones aside from aquariums at all - they aren't even aerodynamic enough for the above recommendation. :(

Another problem is people tend to put them half way up the tank wall where the snake will never be.

I would recommend you pick up a digital thermometer with a probe - the acurite digital weatherstation from walmart ( $12 ) reads temp and humidity at the base station and temp at the end of the probe.

The probe allows you to measure the temps where the snake will actually be spending its time - inside the hides.


dr del