My first BP

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...6993875&type=1Yesterday I got my first Ball Python.:D He is 4 months old and about 16 inches (I haven't been able to meeauser him yet). He is in a 20-Long tank, with 2 hides and the water bowl. I got him from a petstore, (I know it's better to get them from breeders but I couldn't find any where I live) and they were feeding him one pinkie every 4 days. I'm going to feed it for the first time tomorrow and I want to know when I would be able to handle him and any tips to make his life happier and longer. Any and all info will be helpful.

Tip 1: Feed something bigger than a pinkie those are way too small

Tip 2: Black out the back and side of the tank, it will make him feel more secure

Tip 3: If you are using a heat lamp, switch to a heat pad controlled by a thermostat

Tip 4: Don't start handling him until he's started eating

Tip 5: You should probably give him a week to settle in before you offer food

Tip 6: Make sure you've read the Care Sheet

Good luck and welcome! :welcome:

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Originally Posted by Kinra

Tip 1: Feed something bigger than a pinkie those are way too small

Tip 2: Black out the back and side of the tank, it will make him feel more secure

Tip 3: If you are using a heat lamp, switch to a heat pad controlled by a thermostat

Tip 4: Don't start handling him until he's started eating

Tip 5: You should probably give him a week to settle in before you offer food

Tip 6: Make sure you've read the Care Sheet

Good luck and welcome! :welcome:

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Thanks, and were could I get a heating pad at and how much do those cost?

I got my heating pad from the pet store for about $20 and got another one from Reptile Basics for $14 at a reptile convention. The one from the pet store can get really hot and burn your snake so you will need a way to control it. I have two of THESE and they work really well. I put the sensor between the glass of the tank and the heating pad.

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Originally Posted by RetiredJedi

I got my heating pad from the pet store for about $20 and got another one from Reptile Basics for $14 at a reptile convention.

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Thanks I will be getting one soon then. Do I need one on each side and do I still need the heating lamp?

Yeah, you can find them at a pet store or online. You will need a thermostat, rheostat or a dimmer for it though because they get really hot. With the rheostat or the dimmer you will need to monitor it daily and adjust it.

Edit: You should only need one and you shouldn't need the lamp any more.

I only have one on one side of the tank and no heat lamp because it sucks up the humidity. I also have my screen top covered like THIS but the only difference is I did the treatment to a piece of cardboard I cut to fit the screen instead of actually taping the screen. I have had two perfect full sheds and the temps/humidity stay great.

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Originally Posted by Kinra

Yeah, you can find them at a pet store or online. You will need a thermostat, rheostat or a dimmer for it though because they get really hot. With the rheostat or the dimmer you will need to monitor it daily and adjust it.

Edit: You should only need one and you shouldn't need the lamp any more.

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Ok thanks and I was going through some of the guides and earlier when he was exploring his tank i noticed his belly was slightly pink, though it was also pressed against the glass. Could he be about to shed? His eyes and body didn't seem dull but I don't no what he looked like before, if he is dull.

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Originally Posted by RetiredJedi

I only have one on one side of the tank and no heat lamp because it sucks up the humidity. I also have my screen top covered like THIS but the only difference is I did the treatment to a piece of cardboard I cut to fit the screen instead of actually taping the screen. I have had two perfect full sheds and the temps/humidity stay great.

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Thanks, but I don't think my tank will be able to do it because the screened part slides on and off so I wouldn't be able to tape that part.

Pink belly is usually one of the first signs they are going to shed. :)

Mine get a pink belly, then they get darker, then they get dull (go blue), then they clear up for a day or two and then they shed. ^__^

When you see his eyes starting to cloud up that's the time to really leave him alone until he sheds. They can't see like that and the oils from our skin can dry them out. Try to bump your humidity up if you can too, it will help him shed.

Also he might not eat right away if he's going to shed. I feed mine while they are shedding but I know a lot of people don't. Some ball pythons also won't eat when they are in the shed process.

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Originally Posted by iHAZreptiles

Thanks, but I don't think my tank will be able to do it because the screened part slides on and off so I wouldn't be able to tape that part.

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I use a damp towel on my boa cage to help with humidity. You have to wet it again pretty much every other day, but it works better for me than the foil did.

mine slides too and thats why I did that treatment to a piece of cardboard that I cut to fit just the screen and it is out of the way of the sliding part.

Ok I'll see what he looks like before I feed him tomorrow. Should I still try to move him to his feeding tank or just cover the bottom with newspaper?

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Originally Posted by iHAZreptiles

Ok I'll see what he looks like before I feed him tomorrow. Should I still try to move him to his feeding tank or just cover the bottom with newspaper?

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That's a matter of opinion and you will get a lot of different answers on that.

As far as the damp towel goes, when my BP was getting ready to shed I took a damp cloth and put it under that foil treatment and it bumped up the humidity just right.

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Originally Posted by iHAZreptiles

Ok I'll see what he looks like before I feed him tomorrow. Should I still try to move him to his feeding tank or just cover the bottom with newspaper?

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I feed mine in their cages and have never had a problem. I also feed them on aspen, you could place news paper or a paper towel down if you are concerned that he might eat some of the substrate. Some snakes won't eat outside of their cages, I have one that is a super shy feeder and will only eat if I leave her completely alone after placing it in her cage.

Don't feed him if he is about to shed.

1.0 High Yellow Jungle "Bruce"
0.1 Mack Snow Tremper Albino "Ava"
0.1 Rainwater Patternless "Pita"
1.0 Albino Checkered Garter "Herbert II"
0.0.1 Common Garter "Lucile"
0.0.1 Eastern Milksnake "Tiffany"

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Originally Posted by RetiredJedi

That's a matter of opinion and you will get a lot of different answers on that.

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Ok but I use bark, but will switch to aspen sometime next month. Does that make a difference? I don't want to take any chances.
Also, should I try to give him a bath, or maybe add another water bowl to make sure he stays moist.

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Originally Posted by kevinb

Don't feed him if he is about to shed.

1.0 High Yellow Jungle "Bruce"
0.1 Mack Snow Tremper Albino "Ava"
0.1 Rainwater Patternless "Pita"
1.0 Albino Checkered Garter "Herbert II"
0.0.1 Common Garter "Lucile"
0.0.1 Eastern Milksnake "Tiffany"

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That's another matter of opinion. I offer food to all of my snakes when they are in shed. As far as I know the primary concern with feeding during shed is that the shed could get stuck on the food while it is coming off. This early in the shed process that is not a concern. The rodent will be digested in a few days while the snake is in the blue.

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Originally Posted by iHAZreptiles

Ok but I use bark, but will switch to aspen sometime next month. Does that make a difference? I don't want to take any chances.
Also, should I try to give him a bath, or maybe add another water bowl to make sure he stays moist.

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Repti Bark is fine to use as is cypress mulch. Aspen is a popular choice because I believe it is the cheaper of the 3. Never keep them on Pine or Cedar, it's toxic to snakes.

I would only give him a bath if he doesn't shed well. Moving your water bowel under the lamp/over the heat pad when you get it will help raise your humidity a little.

Ok thanks guys, I will still feed him if he takes it, I will just cover as much of tank with newpaper as I can just in case to see how he eats.

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Originally Posted by iHAZreptiles

Ok thanks guys, I will still feed him if he takes it, I will just cover as much of tank with newpaper as I can just in case to see how he eats.

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Good luck. :)