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New Baby Ball Question
I just bought a new baby spider yesterday and he is about 2-3 days old. I've never had a baby before so I'm not sure on the feeding. Could someone please give me some advice and tips on how, when and what to feed him. I would also like to have him eat frozen thawed, so I was also wondering if that was an option for his first feed. Thank you!!
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Re: New Baby Ball Question
That's a lot of money to spend on something that you aren't sure about how to care for...
Anyway set it up in a small enclosure with proper temps and humidity. Wait until it has gone through its first shed... (you might want to ask who you got it from if it has shed yet) then offer it a live rat pinky about a week later...
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Re: New Baby Ball Question
i agree with rapture and she has more hatchling experience (I have none), but you may need to wait more than a week for them to eat post shed but this is just what I've heard
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Re: New Baby Ball Question
I got my baby 3 weeks ago, she has eaten twice and is just now going through a shed(even ate in shed, silly thing).
I put her in a 6qt shoebox, one SMALL 4" clay pot saucer hide, water bowl and newspaper for substrate. Left her COMPLETELY alone for a week(just refilled water) and kept her in the bottom of my baby rack, in the dark. After that week was up, I offered her a small hopper mouse and she ate within about 15 minutes of it being in her tub. I prescented the area in front of her tub for about 30 minutes and then just dropped the mouse in, closed up the tub and left.
The next week(ok, about 6 days later as my hoppers were getting bigger), I offered her a larger hopper and she took that down in full opaque mode. I've only handled her once and that was when I needed to wash her water bowl and clean her tub.
Do not handle at all, and wait until the snake sheds before even offering a meal.
What size enclosure is it in? If it's a 10-gallon, I would downsize to a 6qt and just use a UTH.
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Re: New Baby Ball Question
My babies were offered food the day after their first shed and 1 out of 6 ate. The rest ate the next week. I use LIVE mouse fuzzies and rat pinkies for the first few meals. Keep them evenly warm 90 and secure with tight hides. And ask questions if you are not sure. Enjoy.
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Re: New Baby Ball Question
Who in the world sold you a 2 day old spider? Especially to someone with no experience starting a hatchling? I'm sorry, I'm not upset with you - I'm upset with the twit who sold it to you!
It's very unlikely that you'll get it to start on F/T. You'll need to find a source of rat pinks or hopper mice and feed her live to get her started. Wait until after her first shed.
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Re: New Baby Ball Question
Quote:
Originally Posted by rabernet
Who in the world sold you a 2 day old spider? Especially to someone with no experience starting a hatchling? I'm sorry, I'm not upset with you - I'm upset with the twit who sold it to you!
It's very unlikely that you'll get it to start on F/T. You'll need to find a source of rat pinks or hopper mice and feed her live to get her started. Wait until after her first shed.
ya...scratchin my head here a little....
u get it at a show?
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Re: New Baby Ball Question
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rapture
That's a lot of money to spend on something that you aren't sure about how to care for...
Anyway set it up in a small enclosure with proper temps and humidity. Wait until it has gone through its first shed... (you might want to ask who you got it from if it has shed yet) then offer it a live rat pinky about a week later...
Thank you for the concern about how much money I spent on my snake even though no one knows the circumstances on why the snake had to be given away after 3 days after hatching. Also thank you for the advice on the enclosures... now I know how to house the rest of my 10 b/p's....you are right ,I don't have the experience with hatchlings that young, that is why I was asking for the feeding advice, not your opinions on how you think or do not think I can care for b/p's.
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Re: New Baby Ball Question
easy there killer, asking for advice means asking for an opinion
and clearly you don't know how to care for something that young... hence the opinions and the advice, and the you asking, because clearly you don't know, so what's the problem? at least you asked advice instead of killing the thing, so don't get your knickers in a twist, they're helping you out
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Re: New Baby Ball Question
you really can't expect people to know your background and experience without telling them. the question you asked is something i knew the answer to before i ever got my first ball, so it's understandable that people would think you're a rookie at this. the way i see it, you can be defensive and rude or you can take the advice from others who have more experience.
i'm not trying to be rude or "put you in your place" this is just the situation as i see it. you asked for advice, so if i were you, i'd take it graciously
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Re: New Baby Ball Question
In all politeness, why would you buy such a small baby without demanding to have it fed before you bring it home? I would definately not want to spend $20, let alone $500-1K on a snake that was not reliably feeding, no matter what its age.
If it Was a rescue, all you hafta do is tell us; we are not bad people! We sit here for free online and take our time to help people with questions; it is not like we get paid in cash or something..
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Re: New Baby Ball Question
Quote:
Originally Posted by alilshadee
Thank you for the concern about how much money I spent on my snake even though no one knows the circumstances on why the snake had to be given away after 3 days after hatching.
Ok I'll try and help out here first of all did you buy the snake or was it given to you (this includes way cheep). I don't care about the price you paid. I care about the value the breeder placed on the animal. Example: a train wreck spinner or a kinked up ball, super small, or even slightly deformed means you got take for a fool and just gave the breeder your money for the privlage of messing with an animal that will only die. See a "breeder" is some one that has the animals best intrest in mind. Selling a three day old ball says I'm pushing these things as hard and fast as I can casue I have neither the time, space, money or experience to deal with hachlings and I'm in it for the money. Also if its not asking to much who did you get it from? We are a buyer and animal friendly group here and by leting us know who is doing business in this way we can then try and answer questions if they arise or even steer people clear of them if they are going to buy and are in your area. We do all this in the hope that your expeience will in the fature help some one else avoind the trouble your going through now.
Quote:
Also thank you for the advice on the enclosures... now I know how to house the rest of my 10 b/p's....you are right ,I don't have the experience with hatchlings that young, that is why I was asking for the feeding advice, not your opinions on how you think or do not think I can care for b/p's.
There are many tricks that will help getting a young ball started..Check this out for starts http://8ballpythons.com/journal/gett...ingseating.htm.
I hope this helps.
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Re: New Baby Ball Question
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ginevive
paid in cash or something..
WHAT!!! You mean this check I just got is no good. And to think I had been sitting here all day keeping careful track of my hours. :rolleye2:
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Re: New Baby Ball Question
Quote:
Originally Posted by lord jackel
WHAT!!! You mean this check I just got is no good. And to think I had been sitting here all day keeping careful track of my hours. :rolleye2:
I know... Phoney money... my bank threw it back at me and laughed. It kinda hurt my feelings...:tears:
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Re: New Baby Ball Question
Quote:
Originally Posted by alilshadee
Thank you for the concern about how much money I spent on my snake even though no one knows the circumstances on why the snake had to be given away after 3 days after hatching. Also thank you for the advice on the enclosures... now I know how to house the rest of my 10 b/p's....you are right ,I don't have the experience with hatchlings that young, that is why I was asking for the feeding advice, not your opinions on how you think or do not think I can care for b/p's.
You asked how to take care of a hatchling ball python and I told you. I'll remember to keep my advise to myself next time.
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Re: New Baby Ball Question
I apologize for offending anyone..I felt like I was being kinda attacked so again I apologize....I basically got handed a baby ball spider for free because the breeder is no longer with us and his mom gave me one..hence the 3 days old thing...you guys are right, I don't have the hatchling experience and I admit it..so any advice would be great because I will be recieving more here in a couple days.
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Re: New Baby Ball Question
Quote:
Originally Posted by rabernet
It's very unlikely that you'll get it to start on F/T. You'll need to find a source of rat pinks or hopper mice and feed her live to get her started. Wait until after her first shed.
The above is correct ( of course :bow: ) but it CAN be done - it's just a heck of a lot harder and infinately more frustrating on occasion. I had 3 hatchlings last november and started them all on F/T - but it took a long time;
they were hatched 21&22/11/06 -2 of them shed 1/12/06 and one retained.
I had a lot of problems geting any of them to start ( that's why you're better with live - at least most of them realise that is food) and used a lot of tricks and threw away a LOT of food.
One ate on 15/12/06, one on 14/1/07 and the last finally ate voluntarily on 19/4/07!
Now you don't need me to tell you that's a fairly horrible feeding record. If I'd had access to small enough live prey items I am certain thing's would have been a LOT better.
I hope you have no problems with your little spider and ask for any info you think might help. But, yeah starting the hatchlings can be tougher than keeping adults as you correctly guessed so have a good search on the forums for tips and tricks like those on Adams website and consider starting live if possible then trying to convert to F/T later.
Just my :2cent:
dr del
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