Proud New BP Owner!!

Hey there everyone!

I'm a newcomer to the world of BPs, and I'm not leaving! I went to my very first reptile convention (Repticon in Texas), and after looking at every animal at least twice, the hubby and I decided to go home with a sweet normal female. I had been absorbing information about BPs and snakes in general for the past couple of months prior, and after playing with the husbandry a little, Kira was home! I know it's kind of lame to just have a normal, but really she is so pretty, and I'm a solid believer that there's no such thing as an ugly ball python.

I left her alone for the first week (besides picking her up a little bit before then to check for mites), and then it was time to feed her. The vendor had been feeding all of their animals live fuzzies, so I went to the feed store and picked out possibly the cutest little rat I'd ever seen, along with some frozen fuzzies because I planned on switching her to F/T. I was worried that she wouldn't eat on account of potentially bad husbandry or stress, but she killed and ate without a problem!

48 hours after I fed, I handled her a bit and she was NOT happy... hissed, made a show, kinda made an S shape so I left her alone until she had fed successfully twice, just to make sure that she was happy in her enclosure. The week passed and I tried thawing a frozen fuzzy, again worried that she wouldn't eat because I'd heard how difficult it can be to switch your BP from live to F/T... but after dangling for just a few seconds, she ate without any problems whatsoever!!

I just wanted to share my experience as a new owner, and maybe tell my story of the first couple of weeks and get some pointers about what I should be doing differently, etc. I am now handling Kira for about 10 minutes a day (48 hours after eating and watching for signs of shed, of course), and she is to the point where she will accept handling without hissing or making a show. This post might be boring to some, since I can't even post pictures, but I'm just so proud of my little danger noodle!! It's so difficult for me to find people who want to hear about Kira without wanting to kill her!

Congrats and welcome !

care to share more about your set up?

how are you heating it? Using thermostats I hope ?

all snakes are beautiful in their own right ! Nothing lame about a normal! That’s where it all began and the “wild” type !

my only advice based on what you said would be to maybe handle every other day. Seems like she has calmed down a lot already but you don’t want to over do it.

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Congrats and welcome !

care to share more about your set up?

how are you heating it? Using thermostats I hope ?

all snakes are beautiful in their own right ! Nothing lame about a normal! That’s where it all began and the “wild” type !

my only advice based on what you said would be to maybe handle every other day. Seems like she has calmed down a lot already but you don’t want to over do it.

Welcome! Sounds like you're off to a great start!

You've hit on most of the important details that newbies miss (letting her settle in, keeping what the breeder offered for the first few meals to ensure she eats, short handling sessions to start, etc.). The one bit you didnt mention was how you measure temps and humidity, which folks on here strongly recommend digital thermometer/hygromteters and IR temp guns (all can be had for pretty cheap at Walmart or Amazon if you need to find them).

Don't worry about "only picking a normal", all BPs are wonderful and there is definitely appeal for the natural patterning. Im planning to get one as well somewhere down the road. The other way people describe them is as wild type. It sounds much cooler to me. :)

Glad to see another fellow Texan on here! Good to hear you enjoyed repticon, there were a lot of neat snakes there to see.

If you want to post pictures (which everyone here would love to see), you can use the app tapatalk. Free version works well and you can upload pictures easily with it.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Congrats on your new BP. My first snake was a beautiful normal BP. They're a great intro into the hobby. Sounds like your girl is settling in nicely and you all are off to a good start. Make sure your husbandry is dialed in and enjoy! Please share pics when you can. ;)

Congrats!! Welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of snake keeping!!

Sounds like you're off to a good start. Answering the questions above will help us help you though.

My only thought so far, is handling might be a bit rushed. I always advise new keepers to wait for the snake to eat three consecutive meals without refusal. Getting them eating well and consistently is of the utmost importance. And switching prey to F/T would be a new start so three consecutive meals without refusal starting with that meal.

I know it's tempting to want to spend time with your new pet, but their health should be prioritized over handling. You'll have 25+ years to handle your snake, let her get settled in And then start with 2-3 handling sessions a week for 10-20 minutes, gradually increasing time of handling sessions.

Other than that, sounds like you're off to a good start.

And there is nothing at all wrong with or boring about a normal. They are gorgeous animals just the way they were created. My first BP was a normal female back in 1999-2000ish. Gotta love the classics!!

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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

Congrats and welcome !

care to share more about your set up?

how are you heating it? Using thermostats I hope ?

all snakes are beautiful in their own right ! Nothing lame about a normal! That’s where it all began and the “wild” type !

my only advice based on what you said would be to maybe handle every other day. Seems like she has calmed down a lot already but you don’t want to over do it.

- - - Updated - - -

Congrats and welcome !

care to share more about your set up?

how are you heating it? Using thermostats I hope ?

all snakes are beautiful in their own right ! Nothing lame about a normal! That’s where it all began and the “wild” type !

my only advice based on what you said would be to maybe handle every other day. Seems like she has calmed down a lot already but you don’t want to over do it.

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Thank you!

I'm heating with a UTH pad; no thermostats (yet) but I do use a temp gun frequently to make sure it's not getting too hot, making sure to go through the top screen for a more accurate reading. The "cold" side is about 79/80 F and the "hot" side is 85.

I'll definitely cut down the time I spend with her. Thank you!

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Originally Posted by pretends2bnormal

Welcome! Sounds like you're off to a great start!

You've hit on most of the important details that newbies miss (letting her settle in, keeping what the breeder offered for the first few meals to ensure she eats, short handling sessions to start, etc.). The one bit you didnt mention was how you measure temps and humidity, which folks on here strongly recommend digital thermometer/hygromteters and IR temp guns (all can be had for pretty cheap at Walmart or Amazon if you need to find them).

Don't worry about "only picking a normal", all BPs are wonderful and there is definitely appeal for the natural patterning. Im planning to get one as well somewhere down the road. The other way people describe them is as wild type. It sounds much cooler to me. :)

Glad to see another fellow Texan on here! Good to hear you enjoyed repticon, there were a lot of neat snakes there to see.

If you want to post pictures (which everyone here would love to see), you can use the app tapatalk. Free version works well and you can upload pictures easily with it.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

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I do use a temp gun frequently, and I will definitely be getting a thermometer/hygrometer after I do some research about them. Thank you so much for the advice!

You might want to grab a thermostat ASAP. I would unplug the mat until you get one. I also have a female normal. Lovely snakes. I believe they actually look the best. Lol. Welcome.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

Congrats on your new BP. My first snake was a beautiful normal BP. They're a great intro into the hobby. Sounds like your girl is settling in nicely and you all are off to a good start. Make sure your husbandry is dialed in and enjoy! Please share pics when you can. ;)

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Thank you so much! Certainly will do, I want to show off her beauty wherever I can! :)

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Originally Posted by wolftrap

Thank you!

I'm heating with a UTH pad; no thermostats (yet) but I do use a temp gun frequently to make sure it's not getting too hot, making sure to go through the top screen for a more accurate reading. The "cold" side is about 79/80 F and the "hot" side is 85.

I'll definitely cut down the time I spend with her. Thank you!

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The screen will obscure the reading in my experience. Need to open the cage and measure the temp on the surface of the glass (I'm assuming you're using a tank).

I would get a thermostat ASAP and actually would consider not using the heat pad until you do. You don't know if there's a temp spike etc. It doesn't take long for the snake to get burned and once they do that's an unfortunate setback in their health and their acclimation. You can get relatively inexpensive on/off thermostats on Amazon for around $30 that will do the trick.

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Congrats!! Welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of snake keeping!!

Sounds like you're off to a good start. Answering the questions above will help us help you though.

My only thought so far, is handling might be a bit rushed. I always advise new keepers to wait for the snake to eat three consecutive meals without refusal. Getting them eating well and consistently is of the utmost importance. And switching prey to F/T would be a new start so three consecutive meals without refusal starting with that meal.

I know it's tempting to want to spend time with your new pet, but their health should be prioritized over handling. You'll have 25+ years to handle your snake, let her get settled in And then start with 2-3 handling sessions a week for 10-20 minutes, gradually increasing time of handling sessions.

Other than that, sounds like you're off to a good start.

And there is nothing at all wrong with or boring about a normal. They are gorgeous animals just the way they were created. My first BP was a normal female back in 1999-2000ish. Gotta love the classics!!

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Ah, that all makes sense... There are many sources of advice, so I'll definitely slow down with her handling and wait until she eats three consecutive F/T fuzzies. With the feeding response she's had so far, I have no doubts that she'll be fine with those meals, but I would much rather put my own wishes aside and make sure I'm giving her the best life possible!

Thank you so much for commenting and helping me out!

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Originally Posted by Newbie39

You might want to grab a thermostat ASAP. I would unplug the mat until you get one. I also have a female normal. Lovely snakes. I believe they actually look the best. Lol. Welcome.


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I'll go get one today to avoid any problems with the mat. Thank you so much for commenting and advising!

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Originally Posted by alittleFREE

The screen will obscure the reading in my experience. Need to open the cage and measure the temp on the surface of the glass (I'm assuming you're using a tank).

I would get a thermostat ASAP and actually would consider not using the heat pad until you do. You don't know if there's a temp spike etc. It doesn't take long for the snake to get burned and once they do that's an unfortunate setback in their health and their acclimation. You can get relatively inexpensive on/off thermostats on Amazon for around $30 that will do the trick.

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I will go grab a thermostat today, as well as a hygrometer. I had no idea that the heat pads were so unreliable, it's sort of scary. Thank you for the advice!

Sounds great!!!

And yeah, a thermostat is an absolute MUST. Those heat mats can spike to temps as high as 120 degrees and can cause serious burns, neurological issues and even death when unregulated. It's really a shame that they are sold without a thermostat really.

But you're doing things right! Keep learning, keep asking questions, keep applying what you learn (but always cross reference multiple sources) and read, read, read. The more you know about your pet, the better you can care for your pet

Keep up the good work!!! :gj:

Congrats on the new BP! Normals are a great introductory animal, and quite frankly I find them just as beautiful as many of the morphs out there! Some normal love is always appreciated. I started with one as well, and he has always been the sweetest thing! Welcome to the club, though I will warn you, it will only be a bit of time before you get bitten by the bug and want another!

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Originally Posted by wolftrap

Hey there everyone!

I'm a newcomer to the world of BPs, and I'm not leaving! I went to my very first reptile convention (Repticon in Texas), and after looking at every animal at least twice, the hubby and I decided to go home with a sweet normal female. I had been absorbing information about BPs and snakes in general for the past couple of months prior, and after playing with the husbandry a little, Kira was home! I know it's kind of lame to just have a normal, but really she is so pretty, and I'm a solid believer that there's no such thing as an ugly ball python.

I left her alone for the first week (besides picking her up a little bit before then to check for mites), and then it was time to feed her. The vendor had been feeding all of their animals live fuzzies, so I went to the feed store and picked out possibly the cutest little rat I'd ever seen, along with some frozen fuzzies because I planned on switching her to F/T. I was worried that she wouldn't eat on account of potentially bad husbandry or stress, but she killed and ate without a problem!

48 hours after I fed, I handled her a bit and she was NOT happy... hissed, made a show, kinda made an S shape so I left her alone until she had fed successfully twice, just to make sure that she was happy in her enclosure. The week passed and I tried thawing a frozen fuzzy, again worried that she wouldn't eat because I'd heard how difficult it can be to switch your BP from live to F/T... but after dangling for just a few seconds, she ate without any problems whatsoever!!

I just wanted to share my experience as a new owner, and maybe tell my story of the first couple of weeks and get some pointers about what I should be doing differently, etc. I am now handling Kira for about 10 minutes a day (48 hours after eating and watching for signs of shed, of course), and she is to the point where she will accept handling without hissing or making a show. This post might be boring to some, since I can't even post pictures, but I'm just so proud of my little danger noodle!! It's so difficult for me to find people who want to hear about Kira without wanting to kill her!

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Well Congrats & Welcome!! Just like everyone else Hakuna Matata on the Normal.. I’m sure many of us started with the infamous “wild caught “.. WELCOME!!

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Originally Posted by Slicercrush

Congrats on the new BP! Normals are a great introductory animal, and quite frankly I find them just as beautiful as many of the morphs out there! Some normal love is always appreciated. I started with one as well, and he has always been the sweetest thing! Welcome to the club, though I will warn you, it will only be a bit of time before you get bitten by the bug and want another!

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I hate to say, but I already want another one!! I'm definitely giving myself a pretty lengthy cool-down period though... I want to make sure that I do everything right for Kira before I load myself with more responsibility! :)

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Originally Posted by miechBIG

Well Congrats & Welcome!! Just like everyone else Hakuna Matata on the Normal.. I’m sure many of us started with the infamous “wild caught “.. WELCOME!!

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Thank you so much! The people on this forum have already made my danger noodle journey so much more comfortable and informed! :D

you've already received great advice, so i just want to join the welcome wagon: welcome!!!

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Originally Posted by wolftrap

I hate to say, but I already want another one!! I'm definitely giving myself a pretty lengthy cool-down period though... I want to make sure that I do everything right for Kira before I load myself with more responsibility!

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this is exactly what i did: i got my first beep—a hatchling albino male—in 2014, and i immediately knew i wanted another. but i waited almost 3 years before deciding i was ready for another one. over those 3 years, i had many typical issues and setbacks, but only when i was confident in my care and knowledge did i consider getting my second.

then shortly after, i got 4 more. and a corn snake. and a crested gecko. :)

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

you've already received great advice, so i just want to join the welcome wagon: welcome!!!

this is exactly what i did: i got my first beep—a hatchling albino male—in 2014, and i immediately knew i wanted another. but i waited almost 3 years before deciding i was ready for another one. over those 3 years, i had many typical issues and setbacks, but only when i was confident in my care and knowledge did i consider getting my second.

then shortly after, i got 4 more. and a corn snake. and a crested gecko. :)

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Geckos are amazing, and I would love one if you didn't have to feed them live crickets! I couldn't sleep in a house with a bunch of crickets, and God help me if they ever got loose...
But I would love to own a corn or a king someday!

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Originally Posted by wolftrap

Geckos are amazing, and I would love one if you didn't have to feed them live crickets! I couldn't sleep in a house with a bunch of crickets, and God help me if they ever got loose...
But I would love to own a corn or a king someday!

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i believe you're thinking leopard geckos! crested geckos basically eat fruit smoothies (Crested Gecko Diet formula)! you can offer them roaches on occasion tho, but they do not require them for a healthy and balanced diet in captivity. here's a video of my guy eating some fresh Pangea CGD: https://streamable.com/wbs3f

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

i believe you're thinking leopard geckos! crested geckos basically eat fruit smoothies (Crested Gecko Diet formula)! you can offer them roaches on occasion tho, but they do not require them for a healthy and balanced diet in captivity. here's a video of my guy eating some fresh Pangea CGD: https://streamable.com/wbs3f

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oh man, I had no idea about the crested gecko diet. do you have to treat geckos the same as new snakes when you introduce them into the house (quarantine)? your cresty is really adorable!!

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Originally Posted by wolftrap

oh man, I had no idea about the crested gecko diet. do you have to treat geckos the same as new snakes when you introduce them into the house (quarantine)? your cresty is really adorable!!

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he's the best. :) EDIT: here's his progression thread with lotsa pics!

i've had my guy for less than a year, so i'm still just a newbie to them and am no expert. however, i've read that the whole "leave them alone to destress for 5-7 days" does not really apply to these guys. when they're young, it's best to handle them regularly (like every other day) so they get used to you and your presence, as a nervous gecko that wants to jump away from you can cause problems when handling.

quarantine applies to any and all new animals, regardless of the species you keep and what species you're adding.

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Originally Posted by wolftrap

I hate to say, but I already want another one!! I'm definitely giving myself a pretty lengthy cool-down period though... I want to make sure that I do everything right for Kira before I load myself with more responsibility! :)

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Hahaha! Yup, snakes are like tattoos, I don't know many people with just one. Most people who get one want another pretty soon after.

Just my two cents: explore other species too. Lots of awesome snakes to choose from. But, if BPs are your favorite you certainly can't go wrong there.

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Originally Posted by wolftrap

I know it's kind of lame to just have a normal, but really she is so pretty, and I'm a solid believer that there's no such thing as an ugly ball python.

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Its not lame. "Wild" Types Are AWESOME!

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Hahaha! Yup, snakes are like tattoos, I don't know many people with just one. Most people who get one want another pretty soon after.

Just my two cents: explore other species too. Lots of awesome snakes to choose from. But, if BPs are your favorite you certainly can't go wrong there.

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As someone with four tattoos, I get that sentiment as well.... bahaha!

I actually went to Repticon to look at either corns or kings! The first snake I was really interested in was the African House Snake, but since they're pretty uncommon (maybe??) and the beeps are so popular I decided I couldn't go wrong. Maybe even something like a Burmese or a Retic would be really cool too, if I get to a more mature level of experience with the danger noodles!

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Originally Posted by Nz2500

Its not lame. "Wild" Types Are AWESOME!

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ain't nothing wrong with the classics!

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Hahaha! Yup, snakes are like tattoos, I don't know many people with just one. Most people who get one want another pretty soon after.

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Have several tattoos and they came in two’s and even three back to back.
Have three snakes over a short period of time and one more want(male sun-glow jungle Boa).
Lotsa truth in your statement.

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Originally Posted by wolftrap

As someone with four tattoos, I get that sentiment as well.... bahaha!

I actually went to Repticon to look at either corns or kings! The first snake I was really interested in was the African House Snake, but since they're pretty uncommon (maybe??) and the beeps are so popular I decided I couldn't go wrong. Maybe even something like a Burmese or a Retic would be really cool too, if I get to a more mature level of experience with the danger noodles!

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ain't nothing wrong with the classics!

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I'm a huge Kingsnake fan. Kings were what got me in to snakes. My current King, Django is my favorite snake I've ever kept. I've kept corns too, but no longer do, they're not my favorite, but still cool snakes.
But from me, you'll get a bite for Kings 100 times out of 100

Uploading some pics of Kira! The arial view is more accurate to her color. And yes, I thoroughly scrubbed the antler shed with soap and water before using it as decor. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b68a843c9b.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...5cb699a220.jpg

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She is a beauty!

Congratulations...Kira is a beauty! My first ball was also a normal....I’ve had him 26 years, he was about 2 when I got him. They are great snakes, regardless of morph, in my humble opinion. Snakes are addictive. :D I currently have 12, all just pets.

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Originally Posted by Dianne

Congratulations...Kira is a beauty! My first ball was also a normal....I’ve had him 26 years, he was about 2 when I got him. They are great snakes, regardless of morph, in my humble opinion. Snakes are addictive. :D I currently have 12, all just pets.

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Thank you! She's certainly been a pleasant introduction into snake keeping!

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https://www.amazon.com/iPower-Under-...nk+heating+pad

This comes with a thermostat.

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Originally Posted by BlacknBlue2

https://www.amazon.com/iPower-Under-...nk+heating+pad

This comes with a thermostat.

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Thank you for the link! Will definitely be purchasing...