Just got bit

[Kaorte]

Your first mistake was handling him only a few days after getting him. He was probably a bit freaked out by the move. He was probably even more freaked out if you kept changing his setup. Each change you make to a setup can cause stress for the snake.

The second mistake was not yours but of the previous owners. Ball pythons should eat more often than once a month. The strike + coil leads me to believe that he is underfed and is just really really hungry.

Try giving him a small rat in one week. For that week, do not handle him. Wait 2 days after feeding him (you should always practice this) before attempting to handle him. The best time to handle them is when they are hiding. That means they feel safe and secure. Roaming is generally either stress or hunger. Neither would be a good time to handle your snake.

Make sure he has two identical tight fitting hides. Not half logs.

[Elise.m]

Kaorte summed it up really well. Don't handle him for a week, feed him, then two days after that try to handle him for about 10 mins. Each day for 10 mins til you feel more comfortable, then you can bump up the time.

Glad you came here and I'm glad he's in your care now, sounds like his previous owners weren't very educated about Ball Pythons.

[Bundu Boy]

Good advice all round there

On a separate note, what feedback is there from those that got bit? What do they say it feels like?

[cinderbird]

The people who had him before have a seperate clear plastic box with a lid with air holes. They would place the snake in his box and then drop the live rat into the box and close the lid. They did this to seperate feeding time from handling time. He wasnt taking frozen or prekilled from them. Hopefully we can get him out of the enclosure without getting eaten.

you dont need to put him in a separate enclosure, you're more likely to get bitten that way. Feed him in his regular enclosure, the myth that feeding them in their cages causes aggression or misplaced feeding responses is just that -- a myth--.

[Jasnik]

Thanks for all the advice, we should have come on here sooner. This is actually the first time he has gone into hiding, the rest of the time he would curl up and sleep outside of it or explore at night. Also worth noting we adopted his enclosure too, so that is at least familiar to him. Feeding in the tank sounds easier thanks for that.

As for does it hurt, yes!! only because he would not let go and was cutting the circulation from the hand.

Will keep you posted.

Jasnik.

[JLC]

Here's a resource that I think you'll find very helpful.

http://ball-pythons.net/modules/Sect...warticle&id=59

Welcome to BP.net!

[Jasnik]

Well I think I have a break the rules ball python.
He came out of his hide at about 6 and been out ever since.
Fully stretched out . Now he is resting on his log .
Head keeps moving about.

[MsPrada]

My girl comes out about 7-8ish, so 6 I dont think is bad. She comes out when its night outside, so its dark in the room and she goes back about 8, when it starts to get light outside.

Also, I dont know if you read this anywhere, but most people say a log isn't that good because the snake doesn't actually feel thightly closed in. They sleep in burrows in the wild, very small ones closed in on all sides, so naturally they should feel better closed in on all sides.

On a side note, you should show us pictures Thats always welcome. And a picture of the setup might bring about some more helpful insight.

Welcome to the wonderful world of balls

[Lolo76]

Well I think I have a break the rules ball python.
He came out of his hide at about 6 and been out ever since.
Fully stretched out . Now he is resting on his log .
Head keeps moving about.

He's probably ready for a meal... that's typical of a BP cruising for food, or he could just be "basking" which a few of mine do at night.

The others have given good advice already - definitely leave him alone for a week, increase feedings to every 7-14 days (I do weekly even with the 5-footer), make sure his habitat is proper (check the sticky threads), etc. And I don't think anyone mentioned this yet, so I'll also say that it's best NOT to use a separate feeding tub/container. Most people here feed their snakes in their enclosures, and it rarely causes a problem... some think it makes them mistake you for food on non-feeding days, but that's basically an old wive's tale. I have seven BPs who all eat in their tubs, and they've never mistaken me for food! I've only been bitten twice so far, and neither were feeding responses... once was because I bothered Delilah while opaque (she gets particularly cranky), and the other was when I startled my new baby Mojo & he was just being defensive. Both hurt less than a mosquito bite, LOL.

Anyway, welcome to the forum! You will find everything you need to know here, so it's definitely the right place to get acquainted with BP ownership... just be warned, they are more addictive than nicotine.

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

Like everyone else is saying.. Leave a new snake to settle for a few days before handling to ease stress of the move. Make sure the temps and humidity are correct. Offer the poor guy some food. He is underfed and most likely very hungry. Try to get him on a 7 to 10 day feeding schedule and feed the correct size rat. You may want to start out one size smaller because he hasnt been on the correct feeding schedule for so long. To avoid shocking his body and the possibility of regurgitation.

Good luck with him. If you just follow the advice everyone is giving you, you will be able to get him settled, fattened up and tame in no time.