New To Forum

Hello everyone great site with alot of information hope to be around for a long time.I just bought my 2 boys a 3 month captive ball python.My whole family loves to hold and play with the python(ie on the bed and petting) the snake is Very docile and I can't help but to hold it evrytime I see him about in his tank.I have a 5 gallon plastic treptile tank with a heating pad under his wood log hiding spot and a basking lamp above his rock on the other side of the tank with white printing paper on the bottom of the tank.I bought the python at Petco where they were feeding it frozen pinkies and I tried to feed it thawed pinkie but all the python did was strike at it first then backed away from it and moved into his hiding spot.My question is should I wait a few weeks before feeding again(stress,new home,ect) or am I handling it too much.I kept the pinkie in the tank over night but nothing happened.Thanks for any info......

Hi there and welcome to the site :D

There are a lot of people on here that despise the information given by Petco employees because usually it's pretty inaccurate... That's what we're here for...we want to help you to make sure your boys are properly taken care of and live a long full life.

First of all..they probably said "yeah it's ok for them to be housed together"...not really. Please, 1 snake, 1 cage.

Next, is your heat pad inside the cage? should be on the outside bottom if so...

How are you keeping an eye on your temps/humidity? The analog gauges are Crap...yes with a capital "C"...Crap...

hit up Wal-mart and get a good Accurite thermometer...they run about 11 bucks and can monitor warm side temps, cool side temps, and humidity..all in that one unit :)

edit: whoops sorry i thought you said you bought 2 snakes...re-read your post and saw you only have one snake for your 2 boys :D...for future references then, 1 snake, 1 cage :D

Mine won't eat unless it's moving, so I have to dangle it for him. He either eats or he doesn't. And then I try again the next weekend. Personally I only get my guy out 48 hours after feedings, maybe 2x a week and then to clean, maintain, and feed. (I feed in a separate enclosure mostly because I have seen my f/t food explode and I would rather it happen in a different enclosure) He never really cruises his tank much though... spending most of his time in his hides. Does yours spend time in his hides or does he spend a lot of time cruising the tank? You'll get a lot of great info here... I know I have... welcome!♥

:welcome: firey person!!! :) I'm glad you're getting so much enjoyment from your new guy. Being a firstime snake owner is a real treat. However, you may want to reconsider a few things. First of all, if a person at Petco told you to feed him pinkies, that would be incorrect. A pinky would be fine for a baby cornsnake, but to even a baby BP, it wouldn't even be a mere appetizer. I would offer him small mice. Second, you may want to rethink his new enclosure. There are many great links on this site to enclosures that are right for your new lil guy,as well as DIYs. A must have piece of equipment you must have is a temp control device,and an accurate humidity gauge,both important tools for your new BP's home. Temps and humidity are very important, and must be controlled...by an accurrate device.Hope this has helped!

Everyone has so far given good advice. I have nothing to add to that. I just would like to say Welcome to the site and Hope you have many years of enjoyment with your little feller..

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Originally Posted by PYRo

My question is should I wait a few weeks before feeding again(stress,new home,ect) or am I handling it too much.I kept the pinkie in the tank over night but nothing happened.Thanks for any info......

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I take that back allow your little guy a week or two to settle in after you get your set-up corrected. Don't handle or try feeding, just watering and spot cleaning if needed. Then try to feed.

Thank you all very much I think I'm connecting to my little friend more than my kids are :) I am off to walmart to grab the temp control and humidity gauge.I will give another week to try and feed again,as I am typing right now the little one is around my neck just hanging around being adventurous.Is there a rule of thumb not to handle them too much??

Rule of thumb is generally 48 hrs after they've eaten...personally, I like to make sure they're on a steady feed schedule before handling too much.

Just a note, I understand how hard it is to not play with them (especially when you first get them) Some I handled everyday (I know I know) not a good idea and they started eating fine the first time i tried to feed, but had one that i had to give about a week without so much as peeking in to see if he was "okay" and he took off eating from that point. So in my opinion the to much handling is a matter of that particular snake. Just get all you husbandry set good and the rest will fall into place for you.

Welcome aboard! :handshake

Welcome to the forums! I hope you will come to us whenever you need any advice. :)

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Originally Posted by PYRo

Thank you all very much I think I'm connecting to my little friend more than my kids are :) I am off to walmart to grab the temp control and humidity gauge.I will give another week to try and feed again,as I am typing right now the little one is around my neck just hanging around being adventurous.Is there a rule of thumb not to handle them too much??

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My personal rule of thumb is to not handle them at all until they've got two good meals in them. They are such sensitive little creatures and go off feed so easily if stressed that I just don't like to take chances.
Not handling is the hardest thing about keeping, for me...(so far, knock on wood, LOL). I content myself with just watching for the first few weeks to give them a chance to acclimate.

Remember that being grabbed and carried through the air is something that they only expect from predators...being held is not something they like or want, but it is something they can become accustomed to over time. It's just a lot of stress to throw at a new baby all at once when it's not even eating yet.

Also, those half-log hides aren't secure enough for them...you want a good snug hide that completely covers him, with just a little hole on the side. Small plastic bowls or flowerpot saucers turned upside down work great. You want two identical hides, one on the cool side and one on the warm side so that he doesn't have to choose safety over being warm/cool enough.

It's always funny when grown-ups get a toy for their kids and wind up being more into it than the kids are! Be wary, these things are addictive. :D