First Ball Python!!

[Tirevy]

Just picked her up today at a reptile show. So happy! She's an '09 Normal, and looking great! I guess I just have a few starter questions:

So I have a UTH on one side. The water dish is partly over it to create some humidity. Do I really need a heat lamp as well? I have the UTH set a 87F currently.

Also, I know I should leave her for a while to get use to things. How long though?
Is a week okay, or longer?


Thanks for your help! And any other tips would be great!

[Alexandra V]

Just the UTH is fine, you really don't need the lamp. The temperature you have sounds pretty good for the heated side. As a general rule of thumb, you'll want it 10 degrees higher than the cool side (and you should make sure the cool side stays around 78-80)

A week is enough time to let her settle in, but you might want to wait until she eats a meal or two for you before you start to handle her, because that'll be a good indication that she's becoming more comfortable.

Congrats on the ball python! They're the best.

[Alexandra V]

Oh, and also, it might be best to be really careful when you're feeding her if she's on loose bedding, because you don't want her to eat any of it. And please don't use cedar!!

You can either just clear most of them away when you feed her and move the bedding back after, or you can just keep her on paper towels.

[Tirevy]

I was thinking of feeding her in a different place, like a tub or something. Just how I feed my Corn Snake.

And I'll probably use paper towels for now until I have enough to buy real bedding!

[Alexandra V]

I was thinking of feeding her in a different place, like a tub or something. Just how I feed my Corn Snake.

And I'll probably use paper towels for now until I have enough to buy real bedding!

Okay. You might want to try feeding in the enclosure the first couple of times (that's what I would do) before you start moving her to feed, so that you don't stress her out any more while she's adjusting

[SpartaDog]

^ I agree with this. Moving a snake to a separate feeding box (which I do as well) is really only a good idea once the snake is comfortable and handleable (unless, of course, you use a snake hook). Also, if you feed f/t, I recommend using feeder tongs instead of your finger. That way you won't get bitten. Obviously if you feed live, there's no need.