Need Help!!!

i buy a new ball python 2 days ago....
it about 2 feet long......
i dont know it a male or female(i hope female)......
it always hide itself in the hiding place......
it seem like it dont like me touch it at all.......

my setup:
i use a plastic tank with chipsi as the bedding.....
1 water bowl n 1 hiding place.....
when i put the second hiding place it start to hiss n move into attack position......
so i have to remove it.....


so my question is:

1)is my setup ok????

2)how often can i handle my ball python n what the best time(day or night?)

3)why my snake never come out from her hiding place?....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stephen Iking

i buy a new ball python 2 days ago....
it about 2 feet long......
i dont know it a male or female(i hope female)......
it always hide itself in the hiding place......
it seem like it dont like me touch it at all.......

my setup:
i use a plastic tank with chipsi as the bedding.....
1 water bowl n 1 hiding place.....
when i put the second hiding place it start to hiss n move into attack position......
so i have to remove it.....


so my question is:

1)is my setup ok????

2)how often can i handle my ball python n what the best time(day or night?)

3)why my snake never come out from her hiding place?....

---

welcome to bp:)
first id like to know a few things about your setup
1.what are your temperatures and humidity levels
2.what kind of wood chips are you using

and you should not handel a new snake for about 2 weeks and untill it has had its first meal .

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Stephen Iking

i buy a new ball python 2 days ago....
it about 2 feet long......
i dont know it a male or female(i hope female)......
it always hide itself in the hiding place......
it seem like it dont like me touch it at all.......

my setup:
i use a plastic tank with chipsi as the bedding.....
1 water bowl n 1 hiding place.....
when i put the second hiding place it start to hiss n move into attack position......
so i have to remove it.....


so my question is:

1)is my setup ok????

2)how often can i handle my ball python n what the best time(day or night?)

3)why my snake never come out from her hiding place?....

---

Welcome!!!
Could you post pics? What kind of chips are you using? How is temp and humidity provided and controlled?

A hiding bp is often but not always a happy bp...

and the golden rule when you get a new lil guy or gal leave him alone for a week or two and once they are eating before handling or he/she may get stressed out...

first off. two hiding places, use gloves if you need to. one hiding place on the cool side and one on the warmer side. make sure temps and humidity is right so it wont get sick.

they should hide, its normal and sign of a healthy snake. you should read up more about the snake, definitely.

you got it 2 days ago, let it be alone in its new invironment for a week, its not good to stress it!

just make sure the husbandry is okay, let it rest and read up on it while it does. the caresheets here are great.

im not 100% about the handling, but small ones usually get hissy and so. before you try to pick it up however, make sure it knows youre there.....you can take it up anytime, but after its eaten let it rest for 1-3 days depending on the size of the meal or they will possibly throw it up. oh, and if the room is cool dont let it stay out too long, they need to keep a good body temp.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Stephen Iking

i buy a new ball python 2 days ago....
it about 2 feet long......
i dont know it a male or female(i hope female)......
it always hide itself in the hiding place......
it seem like it dont like me touch it at all.......

my setup:
i use a plastic tank with chipsi as the bedding.....
1 water bowl n 1 hiding place.....
when i put the second hiding place it start to hiss n move into attack position......
so i have to remove it.....


so my question is:

1)is my setup ok????

2)how often can i handle my ball python n what the best time(day or night?)

3)why my snake never come out from her hiding place?....

---

and about your snake hiding <its completely normal for ball pythons to hide 80 percent of the time . we consider it a positive thing to see them in there hide .its not natural for a ball python to be roaming around during the day in its enclosure

opsss.....
i already try to handle it a few time since i buy it.......
i will stop doing it now....
the seller said i should fed it 9 March,it mean this tuesday.....
but is it ok or should i follow what i read(wait for 1 week before fed the snake)..........
i use beechwood for bedding.....
because i live in malaysia,so night n day almost same temp(around 80 to 90)....
the humidity around 80 to 90.............
i will upload the pic soon......

thank for advice n if u have suggestion or any ebook should i read,please write it here......

this page is a great info source, maybe even as good as an ebook x'D ( actually it is lol ) read here on the interesting topics and caresheets and you should know everything about your new bp in no time :D and ask away ~~

( dont forget to post the pictures later on too, everyone is incredibly curious )

bps are known not to feel like eating for 6 months, so waiting a few more days should be fine, and may help her/him to calm down a little more. or so i would say......


about temp and humid, someone else gotta answer that, i live in a cold country and use degrees C so its always a hassle XD

here is my setup......
no heat source coz it already hot here(day n night)......
or maybe i will buy 1.......

left n right is the thermometer n in the middle is hygrometer......
did i put it correctly?......

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._4059552_n.jpg

usually i will cover half of the tank in the left with towel to make a cool spot.....

bump!!!........

If temp inside is at a 85-91 you are set to go.

yup....
the temp is around 80 to 90.......
thank.....

well ill start with the basics first and foremost i would get a bigger ank my normal tyson is around 2 ft and we use a 10 gallon (switched back from the 20 long).

1 warm side temps with those thrmometers should be around 84-90 and cool side 78-82 this being because those arent very accurate and at 91 you could being reading 95+ which is getting a little on the hot side.

2 humidity i keep tyon a 40% but when his eyes start to haze over indicating hes going in to shed i make some adjustments and keep it around 60%

3 always have 2 hides. one warm sie one cool side and make sure they are as tigt as they can be for him to fit into and are almost the exact same size.

4 i use repti-carpet but u can also use a few layers of newspaper on the bottn to me this is cheaper than beddin and the repti carpet helps with the shed ver easy to clean

5 they say no handling for the first 2 weeks which is a good rule of thumb. however i kno a few ppl that have had there bps for years with o probs hndling right outta the gate mine we started handling the day after we got him. ad he fed perfectly when the time came an shows all the signs of being happy still a month later. i think it all depends on the snake.

6 with handling what i did to get used to my bp was ware gloves. and when they bite dont put em away. you dont wanna show biting gets em put back home or he will bite you everytime.

7 always remeber snakes have ver small minds there thought proess is like can it eat me,can i eat it.,food,temp,stress always remember those basics and you should be able to out smart him.

hope thishelped if you have any more questions feel free to asktheres alot of good advice on here.some thing re a matter of opinion some are fact all will help you to figure ou your bps personality and how to take perfect care of him. it takes lot of trial and error but its well worth it.

P.S NEVER USE EXPOSED LIGHTS WHERE THEY CAN TOUCH THEM AND NEVER EVER USE A HEAT ROCK

thank tysonowner.......
i think i will let my bp rest for 1 week after it first fed.....
than i will try to handling it.....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Stephen Iking

thank tysonowner.......
i think i will let my bp rest for 1 week after it first fed.....
than i will try to handling it.....

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well congrats on the new bp and i hope you enjoy him im also new to this and they just amaze in a month i went from scared of my lil norm to having him and anothe mysterious morph. looking into axantics now

i am not sure my normal bp is male or female.....
but for my future project i want to buy pastel n spider to make bumblebee.......

I would suggest blacking out the sides with paper or something so he feels more secure... the tank looks pretty open and could be frightening for a baby bp

here is a link to a ball python care sheet that can answer most of your questions...

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...s%29-Caresheet

not sure about beechwood bedding... I've only heard of aspen as being good for snakes- when choosing a woodchip bedding. I personally use paper towels but I keep mine in a rack.