Yes! He ATE!

For the first time my baby BP ate! Here are some snapshots, o yeah and comment on the python as well! He was toying with it a lot, trying to figure out how to get it into his mouth, but in the end he successfully ate two! Yes!
Spud is a 100% Het. Albino Male BP. He is 2 weeks old.

http://i33.tinypic.com/2zz3ha1.jpg

http://i34.tinypic.com/14ajtww.jpg

http://i36.tinypic.com/2qup4dd.jpg

http://i35.tinypic.com/33beptd.jpg

http://i38.tinypic.com/24zho9d.jpg

Hope you enjoy the lovely pictures (heheheh, i did it with a video so the pics are kind a blurry and glassy cuz he was in his tank as he he eats, I am a better photographer, as you shall see later!)

Thanks for all, guys.

:)BPs FOREVER:)
1 Het. BP--Spud
Begginning of Mouse Colony

Don't use dirt for substrate! There are nasty organisms that live in dirt! Go to the Ball python Husbandry Forums and READ READ READ! I'm not trying to be mean or anything I'm just worried about your ball python. See how the dirt sticks to the mouse? That is not good!!! I use blank paper for my ball python. Also if no one has told you already Thaw the mouse at room temperature in a bag or in warm ( not hot) water in a bag. Do not thaw the mouse in water as most ball pythons will refuse to eat wet prey.

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Originally Posted by RoyalGuardian

Don't use dirt for substrate! There are nasty organisms that live in dirt! Go to the Ball python Husbandry Forums and READ READ READ! I'm not trying to be mean or anything I'm just worried about your ball python. See how the dirt sticks to the mouse? That is not good!!! I use blank paper for my ball python. Also if no one has told you already Thaw the mouse at room temperature in a bag or in warm ( not hot) water in a bag. Do not thaw the mouse in water as most ball pythons will refuse to eat wet prey.

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no that mouse was alive, the wetness is his saliva because it's his second time eating and it was rolling that thing around in the dirt because he was trying to get in his mouth. The dirt is not "wild" dirt, as well, it is stuff we bought that does not have any thing living in it or anything bad! It is made specifically for snakes and reptiles. I think it's actually healthy or something....

I understand your concern! I'm not mad, it's a good thing somebody cares about these snakes (oh yes, to get that dirt on the mouse it took a while and he was litterally ROLLING IT IN THE DIRT.)

:)BPs FOREVER:)
1 Het. BP Male---Spud
Mouse Colony

congrats!!

Hes not saying that your dirt is well... dirty, its just not for ball pythons. It is nearly impossible to clean( how the heck do you clean dirt?!) but also is a breeding ground for all kinds of things, and when he poops it just keeps on adding to it. It is also hard to keep the humidity down if it dos up. I cant really tell by the photos, but is it eco earth?

There should not be ANY on your prey, and they would not put enough saliva on the mouse to make it stick that much. Switch to paper towels, and also up the size of prey you are giving him;)

That's great!!

Also, do NOT believe anything the pet store tells you. They have no clue what they are talking about, no matter which pet store you go to. I lost my first BP because I took too much of what they said to heart. :(

Congratulations!! :D The fact that he's eating is always a good sign.

Just so everyone else is aware, the BP.net caresheet DOES list "coconut-husk based substrates" (e.g., Eco-Earth) as a safe substrate to use. However, I'd still probably switch it out - the stuff does tend to stick to prey items pretty easily, and it also makes noticing poops/urine/urates much more difficult.

You can use newspaper or paper towels, OR if you are looking for something nicer looking, go for aspen shavings (you can find this in the reptile section of most pet stores). It's attractive and safe, and it's very easy to tell when aspen is soiled or wet so you can change it faster.

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Originally Posted by icygirl

Congratulations!! :D The fact that he's eating is always a good sign.

Just so everyone else is aware, the BP.net caresheet DOES list "coconut-husk based substrates" (e.g., Eco-Earth) as a safe substrate to use. However, I'd still probably switch it out - the stuff does tend to stick to prey items pretty easily, and it also makes noticing poops/urine/urates much more difficult.

You can use newspaper or paper towels, OR if you are looking for something nicer looking, go for aspen shavings (you can find this in the reptile section of most pet stores). It's attractive and safe, and it's very easy to tell when aspen is soiled or wet so you can change it faster.

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Thanks guys! Wow! I will change it then. I recently looked under my hidebox (a log thing) and there was mold (NOT GOOD, getting a new hidebox), but not under the other wooden thing, but i think that IS aspen.

You didnt use the brick eco earth that you have to wet first did you:weirdface I hope not, I thought you were talking about the already expanded dry bags,

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

You didnt use the brick eco earth that you have to wet first did you:weirdface I hope not, I thought you were talking about the already expanded dry bags,

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yah i used the eco-earth u wet first, is that bad?

Uh, yeah, your tank is basically a mold/organism growing factory with that crap in there. Get it the heck out NOW and use newspaper or paper towels until you go get some aspen shavings.

the compressed eco-earth is fine as long as you let it fully dry before putting it in the tank. a lot of people use it for humidity control because it releases moisture into the air as it drys. the key is only having a small amount damp (not fully wet), otherwise you risk scale rot and the above mentioned mold problems. i used it for a while with no problems, and there are several people on this forum that use it, also with no problems.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

Hes not saying that your dirt is well... dirty, its just not for ball pythons. It is nearly impossible to clean( how the heck do you clean dirt?!) but also is a breeding ground for all kinds of things, and when he poops it just keeps on adding to it. It is also hard to keep the humidity down if it dos up. I cant really tell by the photos, but is it eco earth?

There should not be ANY on your prey, and they would not put enough saliva on the mouse to make it stick that much. Switch to paper towels, and also up the size of prey you are giving him;)

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I'm a girl...

I have my BP on Orchid bark. I don't feed her in her cage though. I feed her in a plastic storage container.