Official 1st post, Ekans says hello!

[HospiceNHeartsRN]

I have been stalking for a couple of weeks as I though about buying, and subsequently bought and fell in love with, my first ball python. Her name is Ekans (like the pokemon... my 5 year old daughter picked the name). She is a Petsmart snake, and other than being a little underweight she is doing wonderfully! Petsmart said she is about 2 month old, and they had a tough time getting her to eat... but she ate like a champ for me twice so far and has gone from 65g to 74g in a week and a half (2 feedings).



She only balls up when I put her down







I love her colors!



Her belly is a little pink the last couple days, and she has several "loose" feeling scales. Im thinking we aren't too far from a shed.



She doesn't seem to realize she is supposed to be shy, or nocturnal... she spends about 70% of her time in her hides, but she also loves to climb her limb, especially for an hour or so after I get done handling her.

One last picture...



My 4 year old is crazy about her, and is very gentle. She doesn't even ball up when he holds her (with extensive assistance obviously...)

Anyway, that is our sweet girl Ek. Sorry for all the pictures, I'm just in love and think she is just about gorgeous you guys have been such a help to me so far, and I look forward to actually being involved in the forums now!

[Aercadia]

Never apologize for pics, they are our favorite things! ;) Your daughter has good taste (gen 1 for life) and I LOVE the expression on your 4 yr old!! Too cute~! Welcome to the hobby, and the community, and congrats on your first BP!

[HospiceNHeartsRN]

Oh yeah, both the kids are pokemon junkies! They have watched almost every episode of the cartoon and my daughter can name almost any gen 1 pokemon. Hubby and I are excited for her to get a little older so she can play with games

And thanks for the welcome seems to be a pretty awesome community around here!

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[Reinz]

Welcome to the forum H2RN.

That's a couple of good looking youngsters you have there!
I especially like the last pic!

[HospiceNHeartsRN]

Thank you!



And here is my baby girl with Ek. She is MUCH more timid around snakes than her brother, but still loves to hold her. She just always says "ok mom, I want to hold her... but please hold her head". So we hold her together. Again, obviously for very short periods of time with lots of help, and at first sign of stress from Ekans the kiddos know to back up and be quiet so they don't scare her. They are going to be awesome snake keepers when they get older!

[Aercadia]

Your kids are lucky! You sound like a great mom :)

[HospiceNHeartsRN]

Aw, thanks Aercadia! It's really my husband who is amazing. He hates snakes, but saw how much the kids and I fell in love with my sister's corn snake... so he surprised me big time and said we could get a BP! He won't come within 5 fete of her right now, but he will come around eventually

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[Reinz]

Looks like you are doing great with your THREE youngsters I see. I'm confident your fourth (hubby) will come around, just be patient with him and don't press him.

[AKA Dave]

Welcome to the addiction, I mean hobby! Congrats on your new addition.

Dave

[C2tcardin]

Our first BP was a pet store normal too and my 8 year old also named him Ekans! It wasn't until I typed it out on a label maker that I made the connection that it was snake spelled backwards.