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New guy, new to snakes.
Hey all, first time bp owner here. Just wanted to start a thread that chronicles my first Ball Python.
I'm using a TGR rack systems single rack and tub hooked up to a Vivarium Electronics VE-200. The substrate I am using is Aspen, which is what is used by the breeder as I wanted to make sure his environment was similarly replicated to allow for an easy transition. Also his tub size is 9x21 which is close to what he was housed in.
I bought the rack system and supplies prior to purchasing our little guy and unfortunately it took longer than expected to receive the set-up so the breeder held him for a month while I waited to receive it. I went through Gregory Exotics and he was INCREDIBLY nice and the communication through the entire process was top-notch! Our little guy is a beautiful Calico Spider, my wife and I (5 year daughter as well) fell in love with him at first sight and the wait was TOUGH but we just received him on Thursday! Unfortunately I was at work but my wife snapped a few pics while she unboxed him and got him settled into his new home.
I had some frustrating moments since then trying to get my temps right, which was due to a variance between my heat tape/thermostat and actual interior tub temps. As of right now I am alot less stressed and more confident in my current settings to get my desired temperatures inside the tub. Although I am curious as to why there is such a large difference. I have my thermostat set to 110 and the hotspot inside the tub reads around 91 and the cool side at 79. I am using a Ryobi temp gun, which took some getting used to as far as the distance ratio and he is housed in an open rack design and the room he is in is around 75 degrees or higher. My wife insists that the ceiling fan be on so maybe that is one reason why there is such a variation.
I have been checking the temps 2-3 times a day and monitor his behavior while I do so, we do not touch him during these checks and make it all about business. He didn't use his hide on Thursday or Friday but I did see him on the cool side of his tub 3 times since Thursday and the other times he was on the warm side which made me more comfortable with the temps. Yesterday, two out of the three times when I checked temps he was in his hide and peeked his head out and watched me. I was extremely happy about him using it! I also noticed that he pooped and peed, I assume he peed because the substrate was wet and I spot cleaned it right there and then.
I plan to try to feed him tomorrow or Tuesday and I really hope he eats then soon we can start working up to holding him. He was a strong eater with his breeder and was eating live which I am going to try to continue. Here's to a happy Ball Python with a long life and a loving home!
Here are a few pics of him from the breeder and while he has been with us.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...iderM280-3.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...iderM280-6.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...iderM280-4.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x.../IMG_07191.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x.../IMG_07201.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...10_0858062.jpg
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:welcome:
I'm not typically a huge spider fan, but that calico spider is a gorgeous animal.
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Re: New guy, new to snakes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RickyNY
Welcome
Quote:
Originally Posted by craigafrechette
:welcome:
I'm not typically a huge spider fan, but that calico spider is a gorgeous animal.
Thanks! These past few days have been hard, especially for my daughter lol.
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Gorgeous animal, welcome to the forum! I love caliders❤️
Where and how are you measuring your temps in the enclosure? On top of or below the substrate? The hot side tempuratures should always be measured below the substrate above the heat tape as this is the hottest point your snake can access. Generally there is a temp variance between what the thermostat reads and what the temperature in the enclosure is, that's completely normal as some heat is lost in the transfer from the heat tape through the plastic of the enclosure, and can be anywhere from ~3 to ~10 degrees in my experience. This is fine as long as the temperatures in the enclosure are kept ideal.
Your rack being an open sided rack may let out more heat from the heat tape and cause the higher variance too.
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Re: New guy, new to snakes.
Welcome, beautiful snake!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk
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Very nice. Congratulations on the critter and welcome. :gj:
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Re: New guy, new to snakes.
Measuring right where the heat tape sits, not on top of the substrate but the actual bottom of the tub. Thanks everyone! I'm actually more excited for my wife because she has been wanting a snake for a long time. A lot longer than myself.
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O my he's beautiful, I've always loved the cute little spider faces! I normally don't like the high white sides as much but it looks really good on him. Congrats on getting him and welcome!
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Re: New guy, new to snakes.
yes the snake is beautiful but you've got nice nails too!!! [emoji6]
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Re: New guy, new to snakes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tttaylorrr
yes the snake is beautiful but you've got nice nails too!!! [emoji6]
Thank you for the compliments! Unfortunately I can't take credit for the nails, she works too hard to keep them pretty. It just wouldn't feel right lol
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Re: New guy, new to snakes.
Today is feeding day, pretty nervous and hoping that he eats! I know it's no biggie if he doesn't but I'll just feel a lot better about him being comfortable enough to eat :please:
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Re: New guy, new to snakes.
Any advice? I feel like I've got one shot to make it right.
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Re: New guy, new to snakes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Misternewbie
Today is feeding day, pretty nervous and hoping that he eats! I know it's no biggie if he doesn't but I'll just feel a lot better about him being comfortable enough to eat :please:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Misternewbie
Any advice? I feel like I've got one shot to make it right.
you're offering live, right? i don't feed live so i'm not much help here. :oops:
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Re: New guy, new to snakes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tttaylorrr
you're offering live, right? i don't feed live so i'm not much help here. :oops:
Lol thanks!
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Re: New guy, new to snakes.
He did it! Lol it took him long enough, I was dangling that bugger for what seemed like 5 minutes until he started to look interested. He got real close and then BAM! Quick little guy he Is! I waited for the mouse to die and then shut the tub because I didn't want to bug him. Then waited a minute or two and opened it back up and he had just the feet and tail hanging from his mouth and I watched him finish it. Awesome!
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...911_122653.jpg
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Re: New guy, new to snakes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Misternewbie
He did it! Lol it took him long enough, I was dangling that bugger for what seemed like 5 minutes until he started to look interested. He got real close and then BAM! Quick little guy he Is! I waited for the mouse to die and then shut the tub because I didn't want to bug him. Then waited a minute or two and opened it back up and he had just the feet and tail hanging from his mouth and I watched him finish it. Awesome!
see? you didn't need no stinkin' advice. :P
congrats on a successful feed!
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Re: New guy, new to snakes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tttaylorrr
see? you didn't need no stinkin' advice. :P
congrats on a successful feed!
I guess not! I am pretty proud of him!
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that's a hell of a first snake :gj:
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Re: New guy, new to snakes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by se7en
that's a hell of a first snake :gj:
Coming from you that is a great compliment! :D
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Checked his temps today before I left for work, he was over on his cool side and was acting a lot more curious than he normally does. I watched him for a minute after I checked everything and he ended up sticking his neck out of the tub with his chin on the front of my shirt and just sat there looking up at me. Slowly flicking his tongue. Not sure if he wanted to eat again (his last meal with the breeder before he came to me was on the 30th) or was just checking me out. I wanted to pick him up! It was really cool and I wish I got pics, now every time I check his temps I WILL have my phone on standby!
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My first snake is extremely tame and he wants to come out of his terrarium all the time! My 9 year old daughter can handle him and he is cool with it, he is so docile. Every time I open his rack, he tries to climb out onto my arm. He has very little fear. I attribute to my handling him fairly frequently since he was little. He knows my scent, and he know the humans in his environment are safe. He is SO CHILL with being pet, and he wants to come out all the time!
The other new pythons I recently acquired don't know me yet, and haven't been handled and TAMED nearly as much, so they mostly hide from me. I will tame them though, it is just more work to spend time with them and tame them, when you have multiple snakes.
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Adorable lil' guy! Good luck! I just got my first BP as well!
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Just wait until he is full grown! I find them very cuddly and truly amazing when they are big fat adults! I mean the babies are cute, but the adults are stunning!
Enjoy watching him grow up, it happens really fast!
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More pics, let him roam around on a warm blanket today, he liked weaving in and around limbs lol.. Even tried to go up my pant leg. Still can't get enough of this guy! When we put him back in his tub he looked like he was going to come right back out. Last time he went to the back and around his hide, almost like he was checking it and then he went right in. Today he did the same thing but came back to the front and just sat there and looked at us for a few seconds then went back behind his hide and that was all she wrote. Hate shutting the tub on him, goodbyes are so hard lol:laughing:
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Re: New guy, new to snakes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Misternewbie
He was a hungry boy! XD Congrats
Sent from my LG-D690 using Tapatalk
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Re: New guy, new to snakes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Misternewbie
Aww! How cute... he may be bigger but he's still looking beautiful!
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Thanks GiddyGoat! He is amazing! Last night after handling him we put him back and he made his way into his hide. Well once he got all the way in, his hide just popped up over his body and he stuck his head out and looked at us while we laughed. Also he had his first poop.... on my wife yesterday and it was a big one! I wanted to take a picture but she was not as amused as my daughter and I lol
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Re: New guy, new to snakes.
No problem!! He really is a nice pickup IMO! Hahah that's so funny.... I've had enough animals leave me "gifts" to know that it's funny unless you're the person they choose to do it on LOL.
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Well, today was feeding day. Offered him his mouse and he struck within 10 seconds. Everything was going well, he started working his way on his head and then he stopped eating. Went back and checked 10 mins later and he had the mouse's butt in his mouth, just holding him. Came back another ten minutes and he was just sitting there with his chin rested on the mouse. His behavior seemed normal, friendly and lifted his head up curiously out of the tub flicking his tongue. I shut the tub and I'm going to check back on him later and see if he eats it.
I'm curious as to how long I should leave the mouse in there. Obviously not all day, maybe an hour or 2 tops and then discard it if it's still there?
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Just checked on him and he ate it!! Lol finally
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So I made a spur of the moment hide for him until I can get him a new one. Just cut a baby wipe box and filed where I cut it so there were no sharp edges. He was in the perfect position when I opened his tub so I basically just set it over him lol
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...925_195716.jpg
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Re: New guy, new to snakes.
"If I fits I si- wait ohhhh yesss so much more room" lol
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You are doing great "dad"!
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Re: New guy, new to snakes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GiddyGoat
"If I fits I si- wait ohhhh yesss so much more room" lol
Lol his thoughts exactly! He hasn't been using his hide the past two days soooo yeah lol
Quote:
Originally Posted by Godzilla78
You are doing great "dad"!
Thanks!
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Re: New guy, new to snakes.
Can't wait to see the post shed pics... wonderful job with him so far!!! :D
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Re: New guy, new to snakes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GiddyGoat
Can't wait to see the post shed pics... wonderful job with him so far!!! :D
Thanks! I can't wait to see either! How long does it normally take?
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Re: New guy, new to snakes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Misternewbie
Thanks! I can't wait to see either! How long does it normally take?
I'm not very experienced so I really can't answer that for you. However a quick google search says 1 to 2 weeks. 2 weeks sounds long to me, but hey it's a better answer than I could give you. I've also heard 8-10 days somewhere, but I forget the source. I'm sure someone more experienced than I will chime in- as I don't even have my first snake home yet.
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Shed is complete! He has one tiny piece at the very tip of his tail otherwise he looks great! I checked him earlier and he made a poop so as I was cleaning that he started to come out of his hide and was checking me out! He appeared to be back to his curious self and his color looked great, I lifted his hide and sure enough there was his shed! Now feeding day tomorrow! :gj:
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Re: New guy, new to snakes.
Amazing animal and great care you are giving him! Welcome to the forum and the reptile nation. :gj:
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Re: New guy, new to snakes.
Still the same amazing little guy and super sweet. Awesome eater! Makes us proud. Just ate yesterday so he is in solitude until tomorrow :tears:
Here's a couple pics from the other day
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...009_143103.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...009_143203.jpg
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Re: New guy, new to snakes.
Wow what a GORGEOUS snake. Calico is such an under appreciated morph IMO, I just think mixing calico in with anything really punches things up. Beautiful animal!
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