New!

Hi all! I'm new to the forums and also new to the snake world. After a bit of research, and a friend who loves snakes, I purchased my first snake ever.

So far, I've been handling 'Slinky' several times a day. I do have a few questions though if anyone wouldn't mind helping me out. Also, as a first time owner, I'm sure I've made mistakes already, so be gentle!

1. I just fed my snake today, in a seperate container. He had no problem eating, (ive read that BPs are really finicky eaters). I wasn't told how old he (or she actually) was, so I was wondering if anyone could help me out with times to increase feeding amounts. And also, correct me if Im wrong, but you're supposed to feed them a mouse small enough to where you can hardly notice a lump, right?

2. He doesn't tend to 'bask' in the warmer part of his cage as I have seen other snakes do. Could he still possibley be getting used to his surroundings? I've got a heating pad underneath the cage and a head lamp above it. Any suggestions?

3. Is there anyway to tell how old he is, maybe by his length or something? Just curious..

Eh.. i had more but I've forgotten them already. I'll be sure to post when I remember. Thanks in advance for all of your help and advice!

Well, first of all Welcome! :welcome:

Next, it would be a lot easier to help you out if you gave us some basic info and pictures. What type of enclosure are you using? How big is it? What are your temps on the warm and cool sides? How do you measure those temps? What about humidity?

Did you start handling him as soon as you got him? If so, you should be waiting at least a week with no handling at all to allow him to get used to his new home and feel safe there.

As for the 'basking', they will move over there from time to time...usually when you aren't looking, and then move back to the cool side. If your temps are good, you shouldn't worry in that regard. :)

Predicting age of these guys is really really hard, but I'm sure you can get some estimates if you gave us his weight and length.

So, give us the rundown on enclosure, temps, heating, hides, and such and don't handle him for at least a week, and we'll try to make sure you're going in the right direction for a happy, healthy snake. :D

1. yep, feed a rodent about as big as the widest part of the snake's body. increase size as the snake grows.

2. like Argentra said, don't worry as long as your temps are right.

3. you can't tell age, but you can tell life stage. if it's a couple feet long, it's obviously still a youngin. anywhere from 3 to 5 feet could be full grown, depending on whether it's a male or female.

Ive attached some photos. I apologize tremendously for the quality.. can't seem to find the USB cable for my digital so these are from my phone.

I have a 20L aquarium with UTH and a bulb with a moonlight bulb on top (just switched). He's got aspen substrate, a heavy water bowl, two hides one in the warm spot, one in the cool. I just bought a digital thermometer/hygrometer so im giving it time to adjust in the cage.

I don't have anything to weigh him yet and I haven't measured him exactly just yet but he's approx a foot and a half long.

Um... am I forgetting anything you asked for? lol

Oh.. i know I should get a background but I haven't seen any big enough. Any suggestions on where to get one?

Pics:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...y32/Slinky.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...ey32/Cage2.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...ey32/cage1.jpg

Welcome to the site. For a background, I use this http://www.reptilesupply.com/product...oducts_id=1565 . It is alittle pricey but gives a really nice natural look. I have a 30 gallon tank that measures 36 inches long so I had to buy 2 18x24 inch backgrounds and cut them to fit. It really improves the look of the enclosure if you are wanting to go for a natural look.

:) Not bad... You might also think of adding some fake greenery for added security and looks.

As for background, you can use just plain aquarium background from pet stores, or you can do what I like to do and get some nice scrapbook paper from a craft store. It's usually 4 for $1 and the sheets are 12"x12"...perfect for a 20L tank. :) Just get 5 sheets and you're good to go. I use one pattern for the back and a different one for the sides for contrast. Then just put some cork board or foam insulating board outside that and it's all good.

Thanks everyone for such quick and helpful responses! :D

I thought of another question though:

Since I'm a learning first owner, I'm having a hard time distinguishing whether or not Slinky is getting irritated. He could just be coiling back into a ball but he always coils back into an S position. Its making me a little nervous. This happens when i first take him out. I suppose he's getting used to me handling him still (its been a week now, I stopped until today) but he'll usually warm up to me and start exploring. Its just that first couple of minutes where I'm unsure. Any insight for me?

Most ball pythons, especially younger ones, are very shy and also don't care for their heads to be touched. Most of them will relax and uncoil once used to calm, relaxed handling. Don't force the snake out of it's coil or come at it from above it's head. Some of ours will allow a nice gentle under the chin type rubbing. We have one in fact that will hook her head over your hand to get that rub feeling LOL but she's an almost mature female.

Just establish regular routines with the snake, same thing, done over and over. They can get used to very simple routines and see them as nothing to be defensive about.

yea I definitely don't touch his head. I guess Im just confused on relaxed/scared/defensive postures

Sorry I thought I would elaborate a bit. I was holding him before so I couldn't type that much.

I haven't been around snakes that much and I've been trying to find information on Ball Python behavior in general but I haven't found exactly what Im looking for yet. Like today, he just laid in my hand. Is that normal? Or is it normal for them to crawl around and explore. Or both? Do they always hiss before striking or when they get upset? Does the 'S' position always mean they're aggitated or could he just be resting that way?

Or if anyone has a link to any info like this I would love to read it!

This is going to be hard to describe since it's more about feeling but I'll try.

When I'm handling one of our snakes it's not so much about posture because they'll draw their head back into an S for a lot of other reasons than setting up a strike. Actually most of the time I've been struck at (only one time did it connect...I'm fast lol), I don't even see it actually coming. It's just a knowing that they're about to go and I move out of range or move the snake out of my range or use something to block the strike or redirect it. :)

It's more about a feeling, a tenseness to them that isn't the usual way they feel to me. Like their muscles are more tense or they are more alert...darn it all, it's really hard to put into words. A lot of it comes down to getting to know a snake and it's subtle and not so subtle cues. Every one of them are different. Here's an example to illustrate....

We have two adults here, one male, one female. They are both big hissers, always have been, likely always will be. They both hiss pretty much everytime you bug them. Neither has ever tried to bite. They just complain a lot about life I guess. I have other snakes that rarely act up but if one of them gives me a big, low toned hiss....I'd back up and respect that coming out of an adult BP that doesn't normally hiss at me. That sort of hiss tends to put the hair up on your arm a bit. :) It's all hissing, but it's different hisses from different snakes that mean different things to me so I react differently...make sense?

Thanks for trying to explain anyway! It really did help! I just need more time learning his moods before I can say I suppose. :D Thank you!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

This is going to be hard to describe since it's more about feeling but I'll try.

When I'm handling one of our snakes it's not so much about posture because they'll draw their head back into an S for a lot of other reasons than setting up a strike. Actually most of the time I've been struck at (only one time did it connect...I'm fast lol), I don't even see it actually coming. It's just a knowing that they're about to go and I move out of range or move the snake out of my range or use something to block the strike or redirect it. :)

It's more about a feeling, a tenseness to them that isn't the usual way they feel to me. Like their muscles are more tense or they are more alert...darn it all, it's really hard to put into words. A lot of it comes down to getting to know a snake and it's subtle and not so subtle cues. Every one of them are different. Here's an example to illustrate....

We have two adults here, one male, one female. They are both big hissers, always have been, likely always will be. They both hiss pretty much everytime you bug them. Neither has ever tried to bite. They just complain a lot about life I guess. I have other snakes that rarely act up but if one of them gives me a big, low toned hiss....I'd back up and respect that coming out of an adult BP that doesn't normally hiss at me. That sort of hiss tends to put the hair up on your arm a bit. :) It's all hissing, but it's different hisses from different snakes that mean different things to me so I react differently...make sense?

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I've been bitten by almost everything in a pet store. (Emerald tree boas, bp's, retics, any tarantula you can think of, skinks, rabbits, mice, rats.) But never any of my own snakes. The worst was when a 17 foot female retic had a problem getting a rabbit down and I had to coax it out. The second it regurged it it lunged at me and caught me on my underarm right near my armpit, and wrapped me up and droped me to the floor. Lucky for me the owner was close by. The perils of being a volunteer! That was the only one I never saw coming.