Simple Question

Hey everyone,
I just got my first ball python yesterday night and i have a question for all of you. I was wondering if I have to give my ball a bath every once in a while to make sure it gets enough water, and for complete shed. I will post a few pictures when he or she gets settled into her new cage. Thanks everyone.

Hi! :welcome: to BP.net! :handshake:


You should always keep a dish of fresh water in the cage with the snake. That will give the snake all the water it needs to drink. And if you keep the humidity at proper levels, you shoudln't have any trouble with sheds. (There are occassional exceptions to that rule, but you should wait and see if your snake is one of them before going out of your way to help with sheds.)

Just keep humidity between 50%-60% normally, and bump it up towards 70% during the week they are in shed.

Welcome to the forums! :welcome:

please read our care sheetCaresheet Link

Hi Bucko - welcome! I've never given any of my snakes a bath, unless is was to soak to get some shed off, but that's normally for the first shed with me. After that, they seem to be settled in and shed just fine!


Raj referred you to our caresheet - that should get you started! :welcome:

Perhaps it's just me, but the kids actually enjoy playing in the water. Ophelia will spend half an hour just swimming around the tub. O_O

I wouldn't recommend it for just anyone, and I'd check the caresheet.

(Note. I don't do that often.)

First of all thank you for the fast replies. Also i read the care sheet about 2 weeks ago to get ready for my python coming. I will have to bump my humidy up to 70% because he or she has the milky look to its eyes. I will try ang get a pictures of my cage setup tonight so you can suggest stuff i will need to put in. It is pretty basic at the moment. Hoping to get more stuff within this month.

Ok I have one more question that i did not see in the caresheet after i read it for the second time. How long should i wait before handling the snake? I have read caresheets that have said to wait anywhere from 3 days to 1 month. So i wanted to get a straigth answer from you guys.

There's no absolute rule about when to handle a new snake. A full week of peace and quite is a general rule of thumb. A very nervous/shy snake may require more time.


And you should always try to avoid handling your snake right after feeding for 36-48 hours. Excessive handling after a big meal can cause them to regurge, which can in turn have serious consequences.

Alright thank you very much JLC.
Well I have 6 days before i can handle him/her. I guess i will have to figure out what sex my snake is soon, so i can give it an apporiate name.

Welcome!!

Well I think my snake is finally calming down a bit, since the from the day i had her up until last night she really did not move that much. But last night she moved all around the cage.

Also I was wondering if putting a "waterfall" type thing in my cage would not give the cage too much humidy, because it is getting hard for me to keep the humidy up around 70% since she is shedding. Also I do put something over the top to help the humidy in. I find myself spraying the cage over around every 30 mins just to keep the humidy up.

Hi, Bucko and welcome!!!
I'm a new owner myself. I have had my BP for 5 days now.
But I can answer your question. Either cover half to 3/4 of the cage with plastic wrap (taped down) or go get a sheet of plexiglas that measures the same as the top of your tank, you can move it to let more of less of the humidity out. That is what we have done with ours. It works great.

I love the plexiglass solution:

http://www.onlinethingy.com/files/gr.../cleopic13.jpg

Have a look at the link to my sig for the Glass Viv Guide my fiance, Rick - Captain Overkill, wrote. =)

Also, how are you heating the cage? that could help us a lot to help you with your humidity problem.

I am heating my cage with an undertank heater and an overtank heater.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bucko

I am heating my cage with an undertank heater and an overtank heater.

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OK. is your OTH a light or a che? lights will take out more humidity than che's.

It is an OTH Heater.

OK guys i am getting kinda of concerned for my snake. Today while watching her roam around her cage, I saw that she has been opening her mouth a lot (around 3 times in 30 minutes). Is this a normal behavior. I have read caresheets that say this is a sign of respitory infection.

Welcome aboard:welcome: Bucko!!!!! You'll find a plethora of useful, if not humorous advice from the folks aroung here......we're just one big happy family!!!
(P.S.- your username reminds me of what my mom used to say to our dog when he was misbehaving...."now listen here bucko!!!!) LOL!!!

I was thinking in my post. Welcome aboard, Bucko. Glad to have you with us. (Am I allowed to say "us" now? Is that even allowed, me being a new member and all. Haha. Oh well.)