Proud New Owner

As of today, I own a ball python! I was at a reptile expo all day browsing, until finally I found the one I wanted. I asked to handle her, and I held her for a quite a while. She was active and alert the whole time, more like a red tail boa in terms of personality than a ball python. I looked at her brother too, but I was looking for a female. My dad went away to have lunch, and he was away for what felt like forever. By the time he was back, well... let's just say I may or may not have bought her. The breeder says she's a black onyx pastel (black pastel, pastel and het red axanthic... or something like that), so I named her Onyx. She's got an absolutely stunning pattern, almost like concrete. I've never seen a ball python that looks like that before. She's currently eating live mice (hoppers, I think), but I'm going to try to switch her to frozen thawed. She's got a ton of personality, and I caught her poking her head out of her hide looking around. I can't wait for her to settle in, I love her already. I'd post pictures, but I didn't get any good ones. After she settles in, I'll post some decent ones here. She's got the cutest face! :snake:

What advantage does F/T have over live?

Congrats! Even though their not covered in fur they make great pets. They're nice chill little noodles with lots of personality! I hope it's everything your looking forward to and more. Also,get ready for the urge to get more then one :P.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by auhsojnacnud

What advantage does F/T have over live?

---

The advantage is that my mother won't kill me. xD

In all seriousness, though, I don't want a live rodent injuring her.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KillerKarrie

Congrats! Even though their not covered in fur they make great pets. They're nice chill little noodles with lots of personality! I hope it's everything your looking forward to and more. Also,get ready for the urge to get more then one :P.

---

Hahaha, I already have the urge to get another one! I will force myself to wait a little bit, though. :rolleyes:

(let's see how long I can wait)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by auhsojnacnud

What advantage does F/T have over live?

---

F/t is also easier to buy in bulk unless you are breeding your own rats. Buying live rats individually is expensive unless you have a nice reliable cheap source.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mom honestly isn't too keen on the rodents in general, lol. Had to get a separate freezer for them (I'm not kidding). She said no way is she allowing live. Fine by me, frozen thawed seems easier anyway. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AlexisFitzy

F/t is also easier to buy in bulk unless you are breeding your own rats. Buying live rats individually is expensive unless you have a nice reliable cheap source.

---

Oh, my snake isn't big enough to have rats yet. Ive just been getting hopper mice, but ill have to get bigger ones soon.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by auhsojnacnud

Oh, my snake isn't big enough to have rats yet. Ive just been getting hopper mice, but ill have to get bigger ones soon.

---

Hatchling ball pythons are generally big enough to handle rat pinks/fuzzies.

What's the advantage to f/t over live? Nutrition wise, nothing. Convenience and preventing a possible injury to your snake is an advantage though. I hate going to the pet store once a week. I like to go once every two months, get what I need frozen, then thaw it when it's feeding day. It is personal preference though, if you like to go to the store all the time, or keep and care for rats and mice, then feed live.

Well, I went ahead and checked under Onyx's warm hide today to check temperature, and apparently she moved during the time I was out. She was in the cool hide last night, so it's good to see that she's figuring out the cage layout. So far she seems to be doing well! :)

By the way, does anyone have some tips on how to switch her to frozen thawed? I haven't tried feeding her yet, of course, but I will after she's settled.

Congratulations on the new ball python! She seems like she has a really good personality and sounds beautiful. Best of luck with her! :)

As for feeding F/T vs live, I always go frozen/thawed. It's cheaper when buying in bulk, easier, and removes risk of injury that's involved with live feeding. As for switching her over, I'd say patience and persistence is key! There are some tricks you can use (such as scenting or braining) but I'm not much experienced in any of them, sorry.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MissyG

Congratulations on the new ball python! She seems like she has a really good personality and sounds beautiful. Best of luck with her! :)

As for feeding F/T vs live, I always go frozen/thawed. It's cheaper when buying in bulk, easier, and removes risk of injury that's involved with live feeding. As for switching her over, I'd say patience and persistence is key! There are some tricks you can use (such as scenting or braining) but I'm not much experienced in any of them, sorry.

---

Thank you! I'm really excited about finally owning a snake. :)

I'm going to 100% go with frozen thawed, it's just the switching over that I'm not entirely sure how to do. The breeder had her on live hoppers, I think.

I went into my room to check on Onyx, and she was completely out of her hide exploring her cage. She saw me and came to the center of the cage and was acting all, "yes, I'm out, what do you want?" After that, she turned and halfway climbed on top of her hide box and just stared at me for around five minutes. Who would've thought a python would have so much personality? My mom certainly didn't, haha.

I never knew snakes had such amazing personalities either! When night falls, even if the room lights are on, precioucess wants out and comes to the center (where the doors open) and taps on the glass. When I open it I put my hand like a bridge on the bottom of the opening and she slithers right up my arm. Just too cute! And love how sociable she is.


Molly & Steve
0.1 Normal BP. PRECIOUCESS
0.1 Normal Columbian BCI. LUNA

To get them to eat f/t, I will set the rat out til it gets room temp then I put it in a bag and submerge it in hot water til it's body temp gets to about 100 or a little more. Then I use tongs to wiggle it around in front of my snakes. Only one of my snakes had ever had f/t so when my dealer was out of live, I was a bit worried. I did this method and all 5 of my snakes took f/t no problem

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by aLittleLessButter

To get them to eat f/t, I will set the rat out til it gets room temp then I put it in a bag and submerge it in hot water til it's body temp gets to about 100 or a little more. Then I use tongs to wiggle it around in front of my snakes. Only one of my snakes had ever had f/t so when my dealer was out of live, I was a bit worried. I did this method and all 5 of my snakes took f/t no problem

---

Ok, I guess I'll try that. She's pretty small still, so I want to try to avoid missing too many meals.

Ok, I had to pick her up and move her today because her hide was in the wrong place and I couldn't put it back down because she was in the way. She seemed pretty chill about it, but do you think I might have stressed her out? Just want to check... still trying to figure out what is and isn't going to stress Onyx out while she's settling in.

Another advantage is space and disease control. I used to have so many pythons couldn't afford to buy food for all of them. So we bred our own mice and rats and multis. It took up a lot of space but i also noticed when keeping live rodents in the vicinity of the snakes (same building but different room) it was very hard to be tick free. Frozen rodents don't have any parasites !!

Well, she refused to eat today. I think I accidentally stressed her out, poor thing. I'm leaving the rat in there tonight and hoping she eats by morning. I really shouldn't be worried, I know, but in reality it is stressful!

Oh the joy of a first snake... more like HELL! Its so stressful if they miss a meal, or wont stay on hotspot! Just dont worry, Dont offer her rats every couple days. or mice, whichever feeding but offer sporadically, so your not training her to refuse. If they decline first meal (i do with hatchlings) i offer like this

day 3
day 11
day 14
day 21
day 35... So on, try to keep it different, vs day 4/8/12/16


Aswell a nice trick is if u have 1 snake, leave rat out to dethaw (not in water/bag) and let the "scent" urge snake to gain a better feed response, place infront of cage or on top, I use to even place in a lid deli cup (like cricket holder with holes) inside cage so my lil guy would smell, by the time i came home zapped with hair dryer he took it ASAP. (often wet rats push snakes away, at least 70% of mine wont take a rat directly in water) But theres 100's of ways to trick them!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CORBIN911

Oh the joy of a first snake... more like HELL! Its so stressful if they miss a meal, or wont stay on hotspot! Just dont worry, Dont offer her rats every couple days. or mice, whichever feeding but offer sporadically, so your not training her to refuse. If they decline first meal (i do with hatchlings) i offer like this

day 3
day 11
day 14
day 21
day 35... So on, try to keep it different, vs day 4/8/12/16


Aswell a nice trick is if u have 1 snake, leave rat out to dethaw (not in water/bag) and let the "scent" urge snake to gain a better feed response, place infront of cage or on top, I use to even place in a lid deli cup (like cricket holder with holes) inside cage so my lil guy would smell, by the time i came home zapped with hair dryer he took it ASAP. (often wet rats push snakes away, at least 70% of mine wont take a rat directly in water) But theres 100's of ways to trick them!

---

Haha, yes, this is more stressful than I thought it would be. I'll definitely try some of the things you suggested about feeding. Thanks! :D

Onyx ate a frozen thawed small mouse yesterday! I guess the trick is to shove it inside her hide. She refused to take it until it was halfway into her hide. Lazy little thing, haha. Though, after it was in the hide, she hit it like a train. She ended up almost completely out of her hide she slammed into it so hard... It's surprisingly satisfying to know she's comfortable enough to eat! Oh geez, I'm getting addicted to ball pythons and it's only been a week. I'm planning to get another one in December or January if all goes well. :rolleyes:

Haha I'm sort of in the same boat!! I got two in June, a third in August, and I am planning to breed them this coming season! TY for sharing!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sammiebob

Haha I'm sort of in the same boat!! I got two in June, a third in August, and I am planning to breed them this coming season! TY for sharing!

---

Wow, things are moving along quickly for you! What morphs do you have? What do you want to produce? :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Penultimate

Wow, things are moving along quickly for you! What morphs do you have? What do you want to produce? :)

---

Yes they are!! I have two normal girls and a pinstripe male, and I'm hoping to get a cinnamon female soon and for whatever reason, the thought popped into my head of a super cinnypin. I don't even know if the pinstripe pattern will show up but a worlds first made by a teenager would be pretty fricken cool! LOL

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sammiebob

Yes they are!! I have two normal girls and a pinstripe male, and I'm hoping to get a cinnamon female soon and for whatever reason, the thought popped into my head of a super cinnypin. I don't even know if the pinstripe pattern will show up but a worlds first made by a teenager would be pretty fricken cool! LOL

---

That would be cool! I have no clue what a pinstripe super cinny would look like, but anything with super cinnamon is awesome.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Penultimate

That would be cool! I have no clue what a pinstripe super cinny would look like, but anything with super cinnamon is awesome.

---

I love them!! I don't mind the duck bill issue and I don't think that the kinking problem will be severe at all. I'm really hoping that it works out and the pattern shows through!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sammiebob

I love them!! I don't mind the duck bill issue and I don't think that the kinking problem will be severe at all. I'm really hoping that it works out and the pattern shows through!

---

I think the duckbill is kind of cute, haha. Hopefully it works out well!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Penultimate

I think the duckbill is kind of cute, haha. Hopefully it works out well!

---

Me too! Thanks! Hope all goes well for you too!

Gah, waiting to handle her is painful! Trying to wait until tomorrow, but geez, this is hard! It's been over 24 hours... by how much I don't know. I've asked this before, but do I have to wait until tomorrow? Haha, this feels like an eternity.

(And I swear, she's taunting me. Keeps looking at me and flicking her tongue before going back into her hide. She knows I'm trying not to pick her up.)

Lost all self control. There's a python in my lap. I can confirm that she's done digesting! No lump left.

While she was out, I took some pictures. They're not great, but hopefully you like them. :)

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...6/0/onyx2.jpeg

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...6/0/onyx1.jpeg

She's pretty!! Congrats!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sammiebob

She's pretty!! Congrats!!

---

Thank you! The pictures seriously do her no justice.

She's gorgeous! :D really like her coloring and pattern. She's so speckly [emoji4]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AlexisFitzy

She's gorgeous! :D really like her coloring and pattern. She's so speckly [emoji4]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Thank you! She almost looks like granite or concrete in person, she is very speckly! That's part of the reason I picked her. She's even more stunning in person. :)

And I like how she has a light ring around the base of her head looks like she has on a little snake necklace lol [emoji4]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AlexisFitzy

And I like how she has a light ring around the base of her head looks like she has on a little snake necklace lol [emoji4]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Oh yeah, I never noticed that, haha. Thanks for pointing it out! :)

I think this snake was meant for me. I looked at her side markings, and she has a perfect "T" on her. That's the first letter of my name! It's either she was supposed to be mine or it's an epic coincidence.

Here are some more pictures! These were taken in better lighting. :)

The "T" on her side is visible in the first picture. It's right below my index finger. It's upside down in that picture, but you get the idea.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps1c5bd546.jpg

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps2069a59d.jpg

My mother held Onyx for the first time today. She has never, ever held a snake in her life. She's the person who was against me getting a snake for years, but now... well, she thinks Onyx is cute! Making progress here! :)

She is soooo precious!!! One of the cutest faces I have ever seen. Congrats and kudos for being such a good mamma and educating yourself so well. Onyx is a lucky little snake. 😊

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SashasMom

She is soooo precious!!! One of the cutest faces I have ever seen. Congrats and kudos for being such a good mamma and educating yourself so well. Onyx is a lucky little snake. 

---

Haha, thanks! I'm looking forward to the months and years to come. :)

Offered a frozen thawed mouse again yesterday. She struck immediately and banged into it with so much force that she ended up almost completely out of her hide (again). For some reason she also decided that she wanted it twice killed and wrapped around it three or four times as opposed to the first time (only wrapped around the mouse once). Apparently she wanted to eat in private. She took her mouth off of her prey and turned her head completely around to stare at me until I left her alone. An hour later and the mouse was not in the cage. Hopefully she keeps it up! :)

I want to start a thread just for random Onyx updates and pictures. Would I put that in the general BP forum or the BP picture forum? I would be posting some pictures, but not every post would have a picture, so I don't know. Probably a stupid question, haha!

Good girl!! And that hilarious... Her turning and looking at you. Painted a great picture. I'm getting a baby next Tuesday! We can swap baby stories. This is my new boy. http://www.texomareptiles.com/Photos...ry/i-w55dQ7t/A