New Ball Python!!

I've just gotten a baby ball python today! He's so good-looking and alert! I've got his habitat all set up. The heat pad is hooked up to a dimmer set to approx. 90 degrees (getting a thermo/hygro-meter tomorrow with a probe) and humidity in the 50 range. He's currently cruising around the cage. Here are two pics.

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...r/DSCN3036.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...r/DSCN3035.jpg

P.S. The little guy has spurs at the vent. Do boys and girls have these, or just boys (or just girls)?

Welcome aboard :welcome:!! Males and females can both have spurs. The best and most reliable way to sex a BP is by probing. Have your vet check him out and then with some training and some helpful pointers/ gentle experience, you can learn to do it.


Check out the websites caresheet. For tips and ideas, the search function for different threads is awesome!

Glad to have another BP poisen here.....BEWARE!! BPs are addictive. :D :D :D



RuLy

You might also pick up another hide, it looks as if you only one. You need to have two, one on the cool side and one on the warm side. Congrats on the new bp

very nice colors

LOVE the colors and pattern!

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Originally Posted by mj73

You might also pick up another hide, it looks as if you only one. You need to have two, one on the cool side and one on the warm side. Congrats on the new bp

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I know, thanks for the suggestion; I'm just waiting for one to be available (TP or paper towl roll, lol :D)

Thanks everyone!

Nice and congrats.

Thank you!

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Originally Posted by JasonGranger

I know, thanks for the suggestion; I'm just waiting for one to be available (TP or paper towl roll, lol :D)

Thanks everyone!

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The two hides should be identical. That way he doesn't have to chose security vs. comfort. He'll sacrifice one for the other. Less stressful if the hides are the same. :)

^^^ WHAT ARE HIDES??? like hide boxes??

the snake needs 2 of them??? i only have 1...

hey JasonGranger...whats that stuff u used as a substrate???...i might wanna get that...

He's using aspen bedding. And I suggest you get another hide for your BP. ;)

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Originally Posted by rmune0750

^^^ WHAT ARE HIDES??? like hide boxes??

the snake needs 2 of them??? i only have 1...

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Yep. Can be boxes, (but they'll get pretty groady quick) but something VERY snug for him will work.....margarine tub, the drip tray to a houseplant pot. Something small and can't be seen through. The open ended logs aren't very secure for the snake, and if he's still really small, he'll want to be hidden to feel safe.

:)

What a little cutie! I know it's been said, but great pattern!

What a cutie :) I love it when they stretch right up like that.


You might want to put more stuff inside as well, it looks kinda bare, and open and scary for a little BP. Maybe cover the glass sides and back with a towel or something. When I first came here I was given the wonderful advice to put lots of scrunched up newspaper inside the enclosure so the baby feels secure.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rmune0750

^^^ WHAT ARE HIDES??? like hide boxes??

the snake needs 2 of them??? i only have 1...

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Yeah hides are for them to curl up in. 2 should be provided, 1 at hot & one at cooler end.

he is lovley by the way, really nice markings

He is very nice! As others have already pointed out - he does need two hides - one on the warm side and one on the cool side. The one you have for him right now is too big for a snake that size, it won't provide a snug fit.


When I started with Kashmire, I also felt that bigger was probably better, when the opposite is true. Here's what I use now, and you can pick up a set of three of them at Dollar General for $1 and then solder out an entrance.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...aEnclosure.jpg

Congrats on the new ball. As you have been told they will get you hooked. You'll start with one and in 3 years want to start breeding them.. LOL welcome and again congrats.

isn't that the truth LOL - i think it's seeing all those cute faces coming out of eggs that gets you wanting to breed them!

congrats on your ball. you can also cover three of the side of that tank with fishtank backing. it'll look nice and make your snake feel safer.

also keeping up the humidity and temps can be tough with a tank - so make sure you cover half the screen.

and... as your ball gets bigger... that screen probably won't keep it in!

Hi and welcome to BPNet. I don't know if anyone has provided you with our caresheet for BP's so here's the link. Tons of great info there, a definite must read for new BP owners. :) http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules....warticle&id=52

Hides can be anything that is secure for your snake to hide in. Things like plastic containers from the dollar store, dog dishes, really anything that is not see through, is easy to clean (they will poop in there) and has an entrance either on the side or on the roof to get into. Paper products like boxes can work but tend to get gross really fast. One for each end and identical tends to work best.

Remember to let your new snake have a quiet first week with no handling or feeding (just remove feces/urates and refresh his water dish). This helps them settle in well to their new home with you.

Couple of hide examples:

Big heavy rubber dog dishes that we use for our bigger snakes.
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...irseinHide.jpg

These are what we have the baby BP using right now (though the baby in this pic is now a honking big year old male LOL). It's just the water overflow saucer from a terracotta planter.
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...bushKiller.jpg

Thank you for the suggestions...

Couldn't I just bury the log deeper in the aspen so there's less "open space" for him to be seen?

I do have a spare half-log, but I'll have to really clean it.