Escapee Detained, However....

So our brand-new BP Ghost escaped his feeding container the other day, on his first feed. He is just a baby, and a few days went by and I finally just found him. However when I did he was extremely scared and kept lashing out and trying to bite. It was obviously not super aggressive and more out of fear. He is resting in his tank now. My question is, how do I calm him down / reintroduce him to handling with out causing him extreme stress after his ordeal? How many days (if any) should I let him be before handling him again? When I first got him he was extremely shy and not bitey at all, should I be able to expect him to go back to how he was?

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Originally Posted by valasidria

So our brand-new BP Ghost escaped his feeding container the other day, on his first feed. He is just a baby, and a few days went by and I finally just found him. However when I did he was extremely scared and kept lashing out and trying to bite. It was obviously not super aggressive and more out of fear. He is resting in his tank now. My question is, how do I calm him down / reintroduce him to handling with out causing him extreme stress after his ordeal? How many days (if any) should I let him be before handling him again? When I first got him he was extremely shy and not bitey at all, should I be able to expect him to go back to how he was?

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What I would do is let him be until his next feeding.then if he eats wait 48 hours then try handling him,but that's just my opinion.

alright, what if this was too stressful and he goes off feed?

Try feeding on his next scheduled feeding day if he doesn't eat try again every seven days until he eats again but I think he'll eat his next feeding keep me posted on how it goes.Good luck.

Reduce the stress.......
Do not handle until it is feeding on a regular schedule for you.
Feed in its enclosure.
Remember hatchlings think everything is out to eat them.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Reduce the stress.......
Do not handle until it is feeding on a regular schedule for you.
Feed in its enclosure.
Remember hatchlings think everything is out to eat them.

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This.

Make sure his husbandry is all in check and he has good hides. That will help him feel more secure. Offer appropriately sized prey on a regular schedule, every 5 or 6 days (in his tank, as Pit mentioned). After he's eaten at least twice for you, then you can start handling again. When you have him out, put him on your lap and hold a small blanket or pillowcase on your lap too. That will give him more hiding places under your supervision, which can make him feel more at ease as well.

I would love to feed him in his enclosure, but I am nervous he will ingest some of his substrate

Think about how your wild animal does it in the wild....

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Originally Posted by valasidria

I would love to feed him in his enclosure, but I am nervous he will ingest some of his substrate

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They digest bones and nails. Bits of substrate are no biggie.

If you thaw in water them just dry with paper towel as much as possible and substrate is less likely to stick. Otherwise, as mentioned a few pieces of substrate are nothing compared to bones.

When I get young pythons I generally don't handle them for couple months other than to spot clean or change substrate. I let them get used to the new environment and they usually come around fairly quickly after that. as far as feeding I feed in the enclosure. Put them in a zip lock bag and weigh them down to thaw, that way they are not soaked. Then use the hair dryer to heat up a tad and then they should eat. I usually take mine out couple hours ahead of time and leave them in the room where I keep my snakes and then they are thawed. I heat them and by the time I open the tub they are waiting for it.

I feed mine inside her enclosure she's never once mistaken my hand as food either. I think it's better to feed in there habitat vs a new place. But just cause mine won't bite me doesn't mean yours won't mistaken yours for food

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Originally Posted by valasidria

I would love to feed him in his enclosure, but I am nervous he will ingest some of his substrate

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Out of curiosity, what type of substrate are you using?

Aspen shredding ate suppose to be ok of its injested. I get tiny pieces that get stuck on the fur of the rat but nothing to be worried about

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