Intro and Questions

Hello! My name's Janelle. A friend purchased an aquarium off craigslist, and the sellers said, "By the way, it comes with a free ball python." I kid you not. So he asked me if I want it. I'm not new to reptiles, or even to snakes. I have an 8yo male kenyan sand boa, a young bearded dragon, and my teenage son has a leopard gecko. (We also have a Texas brown tarantula.) My experience with ball pythons, however, is limited to occasional snake-sitting for a friend in college. I know nothing about this snake except that it's 5-6 years old and three feet long. So I'm guessing he's a male.
My house is a fairly busy one with quite a large family. I'm home all day, and I homeschool, so the kids are home all day, too. I'm afraid this guy is going to be quite shocked by the changes.

I'm trying to talk my husband into letting us set the aquarium up in our bedroom. It's typically more quiet in here. But the only spot would be right under the TV. Would that drive him crazy? Should I let him settle in for a while or begin handling him right away? I have no idea what his temperament is like. I also don't know when he last ate. Should I give him some time to settle in before I feed him? How long? I already have a tank the same size he was in (a 75-gallon), and we'll be getting all his decor and things (we may get his entire tank and just give our friend our tank, but I'm not sure he'll want to do that).

I've done a crash-course on husbandry. Thankfully, it's fairly simple.

Any other tips I haven't thought of would be helpful. I'm excited, yet nervous for his sake.

A location with the least amount of foot traffic helps. You can cover the sides of the tank to help him settle down. I would recommend going as far as covering the entire tank with a towel or pillow case if you do not plan to use lights.

Imo I would quarantine him in a tub before moving him to the tank. For one, it will be a whole lot easier to disinfect and lightweight enough to move it around in case you decided the first location is not good. With that said, I would keep him in a different room or far away from your Kenyan boa until quarantine is over, which 90 days minimum is the recommended time.

No handling until he eats consistently for about 2-3 meals.

I am not sure what the feeding schedule would be for an older bp. I read the recommendation for adults are every 10 days but I think it also depends heavily on the current weight of your snake (Is it underweight?), breeding season or simply most snakes around this time are fasting for the winter.

Congrats on your new addition.

Thanks for the info. We'll get him set up in my bedroom, then. I can even close the door to minimize the noise and excitement. Also, it keeps him out of the rooms with any of the other pets.

How soon should I try to feed him? (He'll be here tomorrow night.) Should I feed him in a separate tub, outside of his tank, whenever I do feed him? I feed my boa in a paper lunch sack inside his tank so he can crawl out whenever he's ready--without being handled--and he also can't ingest any of his aspen. I have a feeling my new python won't fit in a lunch sack. :D I also don't know what substrate they currently have in his tank. I'm hoping to pick up some coconut or aspen tonight and start him fresh and clean.

Thanks again!

Read the caresheets here and do yourself a favor do not house a 3 feet male in a 75 gallons tank, 30 gallons is more than enough for a male and will be a lot easier as far as temps and humidity go and keep in mind that BP are not like other species but very easily stressed and if you combined that with husbandry that are not met to a T you could end up with more than you bargained for.

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Originally Posted by Janelle

Thanks for the info. We'll get him set up in my bedroom, then. I can even close the door to minimize the noise and excitement. Also, it keeps him out of the rooms with any of the other pets.

How soon should I try to feed him? (He'll be here tomorrow night.) Should I feed him in a separate tub, outside of his tank, whenever I do feed him? I feed my boa in a paper lunch sack inside his tank so he can crawl out whenever he's ready--without being handled--and he also can't ingest any of his aspen. I have a feeling my new python won't fit in a lunch sack. :D I also don't know what substrate they currently have in his tank. I'm hoping to pick up some coconut or aspen tonight and start him fresh and clean.

Thanks again!

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Like Deborah said, you will need to do your homework tonight if possible and her suggestion of a smaller tank will help your snake. I would not feed him until he settles down ONE week after his arrival. If he eats it, I would follow what the caresheets says regarding feeding schedules for adults which is definitely not every 7 days. If he refuses, check your husbandry again, then wait 1 or 2 weeks to try again. No handling until he eats consistently.

Please do not feed in separate areas. That will further stress your snake out causing a refusal.

Keeping humidity up in a glass tank is challenging. There are some ways to up the humidity including using substrate like coco fiber and cypress mulch. I don't recommend aspen in glass tanks for humidity required species like a bp because it will dry the tank up.

Thank you both! Unfortunately, I don't have a spare 30-gallon tank laying around, so I'll add that to my shopping list. He's been in a 75-gallon his entire life. Is there any special thing I need to do to ease his transition into a smaller tank?

I have cypress mulch already, so I'll throw that into the oven now to sanitize it. Is there anything special I should do to make sure he doesn't ingest substrate when he eats? Do most ball pythons do ok with frozen-thawed? I don't know what they've fed him in the past.

I also have no idea what the previous owners did for heat, or what all I'm getting with him. Is an under-tank mat or CHE preferred? I was thinking that until I can get him a smaller tank, I could maybe do an under tank heater under his water bowl to increase the humidity. I also have moss here, so I can do a moist hide.

Thank you for your help. I typically research extensively before getting a new pet. This one was kind of dropped on me suddenly. But if I didn't take him, they were going to "just put him down." I don't even want to think what that means.

You can use the larger tank (especially since he's used to it!) but just make sure there's plenty of hiding places. It will be a challenge to keep it warm
enough though, since BPs need it warm; I'd insulate the sides, back & bottom, & maybe the bottom of the front too...just leave a large "picture window".
In a large tank you'll need both UTH & RHP, I would guess, unless your house is kept really really warm. Keep in mind that nearer the floor is cooler too.

Your TV might bother him, depending on how loud* & how often you watch it. *snakes feel bass vibrations very well in the glass walls/floor of tanks.

What state are you in anyway? I have 2 spare 30 gallon tanks, & 2- 20 longs, lol...

Try to find out what previous owner fed him if you can. He probably wasn't a good eater or they'd have tried to sell him...but I'm just speculating...I know
how Craigslist is...:rolleyes: If I had to guess, they probably fed live...but I'd offer f/t first to see if he takes it. If they fed live but he wasn't eating, it might be
because he was too cold...or because he got injured & is now afraid of rodents. I hope you get lucky & guess right. You could also try a live rat crawler-
with eyes closed they do NOT bite back, only after they open their eyes). I'd have taken this snake in too, btw...I've taken in "my share" over the years.

Humid hides with damp moss are a great way to go, IMO. Feed IN the normal enclosure -moving them causes stress & increases your chance of getting a
"feeding bite" either before or after...put a "plate" down to help avoid ingestion of substrate. (can be paper plate, or regular, plastic or cardboard box lid etc)

:welcome:

Thank you! I'm in Missouri, near Kansas City. We decided to put him on a coffee table, still in my bedroom, but on a different wall than the television. Just have to rearrange the living room a little bit now. :)

How should I insulate the tank? Would something like cardboard work? Or blankets draped against all sides?

I found the original ad on Craigslist. It looks like the tank was maybe in a restaurant. Or maybe a bar? I can see a red light, so I'm assuming that is a heat lamp. I know red heat bulbs are a big no-no with beardies. :/ Other than that, you can't tell much of anything. Once the snake is safely out of their possession, I'll see if I can email them and ask them some questions. I don't want to upset them and have them change their minds and "put him down" before he's been picked up tomorrow, and not throw in the "free ball python" with the aquarium purchase. Based on the little bit of info my friend got, they didn't seem to be taking much interest in him. People are so strange.

Many things you can use to insulate a tank: poster boards (the kind with foam center, in black or white, @ Walmart+ other stores carry w/ school supplies)
are easy to cut & tape on, or corrugated cardboard, or even self-stick carpet tiles. Styrofoam (in sheets) is great but messy to cut...you can use cork (sold in
rolls) too, even packing-bubble sheets (incl. the kind with foil outside, aka "hot water heater blanket"). To make it look nicer, I like to first install nice scenery
on the back & sides of tanks, then the insulation, so you only see the scenery. ;) But there's nothing wrong with the plain poster- or card- board etc either.
Actual blankets would be awkward.

What a lucky snake, that you're making him so welcome. :gj: I fear he's been neglected, poor soul. (I'm in AR, not close neighbors, darn it!)

I personally don’t see anything wrong with the 75 gallon tank, particularly if you insulate it well and provide sufficient hides/cover. When I purchased my hatchlings earlier this year, I played musical cages. I had 2 empty 8’x30”x12” cages. So I moved my 28 year old adult male bp into one cage with a few hides (originally in a 32”x30”x12” cage). I keep minimalist enclosures for easy cleaning, particularly for my adult snakes, but always make sure they have a temperature gradient and hides for each zone. He has done very well in the large enclosure and I’ve seen him exploring on a number of occasions. That said, I plan on revamping my cage setup next year if all goes well and he will most likely end up in a 4’x2’x12” cage and I’ll sell off the 8’ cages.

All of my adult snakes are fed every 2 weeks. Depending on his weight and condition, you may need to feed more often to bring him up to weight, or less often if he’s been overfed. The quiet space will be good for the quarantine period and give you time to see what his personality is like. If he’s shy or a fussy feeder, you may need to keep him in a quiet area long term. Blocking off three sides with foam board will insulate and provide privacy. You can also use foam board or cardboard covered in foil over the screen top to help keep the heat and humidity in. As someone else mentioned, a moist hide is often welcome and well used.

Thank you all! I was just given a 40 gallon long tank, so it's 48" by 13". So that could make it easier to keep temps and humidity up. Is that wide enough for him? I need to quickly get it cleaned and ready.
I found out a bit more information. They say he has been fed twice a month, live medium-sized rats or 4 large mice, and that he eats them well. So should I stick with live for his first few feedings until he settles in, and then try f/t? I'd really prefer him to eat the f/t. I worry about injuries with live food, and f/t I can order in bulk and keep them on hand.
They say he used to be handled regularly and has a great temperament, but that they haven't taken any time to handle him lately. Apparently they're moving and can't or don't want to take him with them. When he gets here tonight, I hope to get a quick weight and measurement on him before we put him into his new tank. And snap a couple of good photos. Then I can leave him alone for a while.
Thank you all for the tips and encouragement. I love bp's, but I never thought I'd own one. Now that it's becoming a reality, I'm getting really excited to add him to our family.

Correction, it's a 55-gallon. it's 48 x 13 x 21.

Hey, I'm so glad you got more info on him. If that were me, knowing that he's eats well but has only been fed live, I'd offer a live rat crawler (eyes closed-
completely safe, they won't bite until eyes are open), & also have another small thawed rat on hand, ready to go immediately if & once he takes the live
"appetizer". That's the best of both worlds...'live' to be sure he takes it, & using his feeding response, he is more likely to accept the second (f/t) item.

This is the way to wean him off 'live' & show him that f/t is "edible" too; the combination of a rat pup + a small rat should roughly equal the "medium" he is
used to being fed. I wouldn't offer him any food right away though...wait a week or two, for him to settle in.

The narrow width tank for a BP isn't ideal & makes it harder to keep the heat in. Also, I would disinfect any used tank multiple times with different disinfectants
if that were me...it takes a while to do that, and so does setting up the tank as far as temps. go. If I were you, I'd keep this new snake in the tank he's coming
with for now, because a new tank will make it harder for him to settle in & feed for you. Remember, to a snake "new" is frightening & disorienting, & eating is
"job one". The spare tank is great for something later...

Thanks! I'll let him settle for a week or two and go with your feeding suggestion. That sounds ideal.
And thanks for the tank tips. I'm hoping to make this transition as easy as possible for him. My hubby probably won't want a spare tank lying around. He'll be afraid I may fill it with something else. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Janelle

Thanks! I'll let him settle for a week or two and go with your feeding suggestion. That sounds ideal.
And thanks for the tank tips. I'm hoping to make this transition as easy as possible for him. My hubby probably won't want a spare tank lying around. He'll be afraid I may fill it with something else. :rolleyes:

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:rofl: I was just returning to say that tank would be perfect for the rat snake you don't have yet! :rofl:

You'll probably be able to tell when your new snake is hungry...they often sit in their hide box, peeking out & ready to ambush
prey going past. He won't starve in 2 weeks time, he'll just be more likely to feed, as long as you give him privacy & NO handling
until he has fed easily for you (on schedule) for 2 or three times (for best results).

I was thinking a crestie might be nice, but a rat snake would work, too! :) Talked to my friend who is picking up the tank. Should be here sometime after 8:30 tonight. I'll let you guys know how things go. Thanks from the bottom of my heart. My new baby will thank you, too, I'm sure.

He is GORGEOUS!!!!! I didn't get a good weight on him. He wouldn't sit still. He's very active and stressed tonight. I was told they fed him last night, knowing he was getting moved today. :mad: He's in his hide right now, but keeps sticking the front 12 inches or so of his body out, sniffing around. I'm sure there are so many different smells here. He's super gentle. I had zero trouble handling him and picking him up (only as necessary to move him out of the bin into his tank). I already love him so much!

Gee, that was really dumb of them to feed him right before the move...but I suppose they thought they were doing a good thing. :rolleyes:

I'm glad he got there safe & sound...let him rest & relax (if that's possible for him?) Can you imagine how much more stressed he'd be in a different cage
right now? I wouldn't worry about taking pictures or getting his weight or anything...that could make him regurgitate his meal. Wait until he has digested
this meal, at the very least. (I'd wait until he soils his cage.)

Congratulations on your new beautiful ball python! :D

Thank you! I just saw him yawn. *swoon* He is so adorable.

Unfortunately, our friend who had bought his tank and brought him to us wanted to keep that tank he paid for, because it looked more pristine than the one we already had here. So we did end up having to switch him out, unfortunately. We kept all his hides and water dish and everything, hoping that it would make him more comfortable smelling like home as much as possible.

I couldn't have done this without you guys. I appreciate it so much. I'm sure I'll keep asking questions as I tweak things and try to get the environment perfect for him.

I love it when snakes yawn too. Sorry about the tank deal (I'd forgotten that it wasn't YOU that purchased the tank) so let's hope
it doesn't upset him too much. :( I agree about keeping his other stuff, at least for now.
By all means, ask questions...it makes us feel useful...:rofl:

Here's a quick update on our boy...who turned out to most likely be a girl. The previous owner had said she was about 3 feet long. Well, once she was settled in for a little while, she set out to explore and stretched out diagonally across the tank, with her tail still partially curled up. I'd have to say she's a good 4.5 feet long. So her name is Vera, in keeping with our Firefly theme (we already have reptiles named Malcolm, Simon, and Jayne). My very handy hubby quickly made her a temporary melamine lid to go on her tank and help keep heat and moisture in. He's developed quite the fondness for her and is talking about making her a custom enclosure, once she's more settled in and comfortable here. She has seemed very calm today, so I'm happy to see that her prior agitation seems to be lessened.

Here's a quick update on Vera. You guys were totally right that keeping temps and humidity in a 75 gallon tank wouldn't be easy. It didn't take us long to realize we didn't want to keep battling with that, and we moved her to a sterilite tub not long after we got her. She's been happily settling in and seemed to be hungry, so we decided to go ahead and try feeding her tonight. My husband really wanted to just try f/t, so we got her a rat and thawed it out near her tub today. Then I heated it up with a heat lamp. She was very interested in all the yummy rat smells and struck immediately. She just finished the meal, and I'm thrilled that she's settling in so nicely. We couldn't have done it all without your help, so many, many thanks.

So glad to hear she’s settling in well and feeding for you. You’ve just cleared the major hurdles with a rescue. :D