I'm now a ball python owner.

Well I've had my cage set up now for about two weeks, and been getting tips from some of yall on what I need to do. I finally was able to maintain proper temps. Still working on the humidity so I don't have to mist as much. I'm working on changing my taped screen top for a plexiglass lid, and doing the home made humidifier. I got myself a female pastel ball python. I got her from pro exotics. Still tryin to think of a name. Maybe angel? I think that she is a very good looking pastel, very bright. She was hatched 12-23-08. When should I try to feed her? I know I should wait a week. I got her thursday, so should I wait till thursday to feed her? I don't know what her regular feeding day was. Anyways her are the pics. Thanks for all the help guys.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...y4-9-09005.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...y4-9-09028.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...y4-9-09025.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...y4-9-09020.jpg

Just leave her be in her new home, no handling for a week, on thursday night offer her a prey item 10-15% of her body weight

Beautiful snake, I agree, I would leave her alone for at least a week,just make sure she has fresh water etc.

cograts and good luck!

Beautiful pastel mate, looks like a great setup.

I would try to get her on rat pups. ;)

SHe is really pretty! I like your set up too

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Originally Posted by DutchHerp

Beautiful pastel mate, looks like a great setup.

I would try to get her on rat pups. ;)

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I have some adult females who would tell you that they are just fine being on mice. Their 2500+ gram bodies are quite happy on 3-4 large mice every 10 days or so.

Sometimes rat pups are easy to obtain, most times they're not. On a weight basis, mice and rats are exactly the same.

I like rat pups... ;)

www.bigcheeserodents.com has packs of 25 rat pups...

One rat pup is perfect size for my nearly 300g boy. ;)

:gj:She looks great! Setup looks nice too! :gj:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DutchHerp

I like rat pups... ;)

www.bigcheeserodents.com has packs of 25 rat pups...

One rat pup is perfect size for my nearly 300g boy. ;)

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I'm sure they taste perfectly fine. I've never had one. *snort*

One large mouse is a perfect size for a 500+ gram male. Bigger than a rat pup and I get mine for 15 cents a pop from American Rodent ;) You can like rat pups all you want.

The last shipment of "adult mice" I got from Mice Direct were rather small... less than 20g most of them.

I like to feed a little more than 10% of the snake's body weight... ah well, to each their own.

You're going to give a 100g rat to a 1000g Ball? That's good for a week or two of fasting.

The large adult mice I have are hairless, but they are huge. Probably 25-30g. Doesn't take many to fill up the snakes.

I've seen what rat pups can do to adult snakes when doing necropsies. Tons of fat enveloping the liver and the other organs. It's just not healthy looking.

Oh really?

Damn... I didn't know rats could have that effect.. :weirdface

I honestly thought that really large mice were mostly fat and could be bad for your snakes?

Do small/medium rats also have that effect?

I'm feeding my other BP small rats...

Really young rats/mice have alot of fat content. They need it for the energy and to stay warm. Weaned rats don't have as much fat content compared to their body weight. They're leaner. Older rats have a good bit of fat content too (which is why my boa gets one 3lb rabbit instead of 3-4 jumbo rats, much less fat content).

Retired breeder mice are pretty chunky, just like retired breeder rats.

The large mice I have seem to have alot of muscle mass and not a whole lot of fat. I've bought small/medium rats before and they didn't have much of a fat cover either(you can feel it in their skin and around their lymph nodes).

It's just my personal preference to feed mice. I can judge whether a snake has had enough and can vary the amount they get every week(especially the breeder males). The adult females are large with alot of lean muscle mass. They feel firm to the touch instead of squishy. The males are nice and lean as well. Big, fat males are lazy breeders, or won't breed at all. I cringe when I see 2,000g+ males, LOL. fatfatfat

I remember Adam saying a few times that you can tell if your snakes are eating too much by their feces. Large, frequent bowel movements equals tooo many groceries. :)

Well I feed her today with no problems.:D I think the mouse was to small thou. It was just a little smaller than the largest part of her. I don't think I can find live rat pups close to me. The only thing I can find is small hopper mice and large rats. I guess i'll just have to order some f/t. I might get some scales to weigh her and her prey. I think i've seen some where on her 10-15% of there body weight. Correct me if i'm wrong.