New member, just saying Hello and THANKS!

[DaveR]

Good morning all! I am a new member here and have been spending A LOT of time researching...lol

Ill give you guys a bit of background on myself and my new pet ball python (normal)

I grew up on a farm in Ontario Canada, catching every snake I could find. I've caught everything from a regular gardener snake to a eastern fox snake, to a blue racer. I have always been fascinated with snakes, but none of my girlfriends were until now...lol Hence why I am finally a ball python owner!!

My new baby was posted on kijiji, on the to give or donate section. I called the guy who had her (? not sure what sex but for what ever reason I call her a girl?) and he told me she was to go to a good home. I talked to him for about 20 minutes asking him everything I could think of, and finally set up a time to pick her up. He told me he has had her for about a year and a half. When I showed up he had her in a 30g tank, with a 10g UTH, one hide (above the UTH), some decorations, and a water bowl. He had cypress substrate in there that was as dry as the Sahara. He told me he had been "starving" her so he could switch to F/T small rats and she was going to need food soon. I ran out to the pet store and grabbed a small feeder rat and some rat food in case she had no interest in it for a bit (stress from moving around). I grabbed her out of her home and placed her in a feeding tub, then held the rat about 2 feet away to see if she had any interest in eating yet....and she flew across the tub to get at it. So I stunned the rat and held it about 6 inches away from her head and before I could blink, she took it. YESSS!! She was not in good condition when I got her (under weight, dehydrated, bad shed still clinging) and her home was disgusting. There was at least 6 poops in there, and the water dish had a coat of slime in it. I replaced EVERYTHING.

So now she is in a new 30g I had, a 30g Zoo med UTH, big ceramic water dish, 2 identical hides (warm side cool side), aspen substrate, bog wood, pressurized mister (misted once a day when I change the water) digital themo/humidity gauge, day light set on a timer (6:10am - 6:30pm) and she is on a weekly feeding schedule until she is back up to weight and health (she has eaten twice for me so far with NO PROBLEMS...like a little piggy). Today is week three, which means its feeding day today. Ill grab some pictures of her after a few days so I don't upset her digesting and post them up. She has had a soak, and she is handled about once or twice a week right now.

So far I would have to say that this is the best pet I have ever had. Thank you all for the great information posted here, it has helped me out greatly!! I cant wait to share some photos of her and learn more about these amazing snakes! Not to mention get a couple more!! Cheers all!!

-DaveR

[seeya205]

It sound like she is in good hands! Congrats on the new pet!

[Big Gunns]

DaveR. When you come to this site and give "thanks". Big Gunns expects to be named and thanked personally. Just something you might want to remember.

[CoolioTiffany]

I'm so glad that you got this Ball python, she (or he) deserved a better home and a better owner. I'm sure she'll have a happy life with you

Did you ever get the stuck shed off?

[DaveR]

The stuck shed is almost all off. Just a few specs in a couple areas left. Ive increased her humidity to about 65-70% for most of the day and she has managed to rub most areas off herself on the bog wood over the evenings. Not to much came off in her soak, but I didn't really try to assist much off to keep her stress level down. I only wanted to help her loosen the old shed. I just spot clean the tank when I do my daily water change/mist.

I cant wait to show her off, pictures coming soon!

[bad-one]

Welcome - and how dare you not bring pics with you immediately! lol I'm just kidding, it sounds like you are doing great with you new lil one. She/he won't be your last ball python either

[Dianna]

Awesome story, sounds like your BP's lifestyle has made a great improvement

Pics pics pics!!!

[Kaorte]

Sounds like you are on the right track! You have come to the right place.

I just have a few suggestions that might help you a bit

Make sure you are using a reptile thermostat with the UTH. They can get hot enough to cause burns so you need to regulate it.

Make sure you use a thermometer with a probe to measure the temp of the UTH inside the enclosure right on the glass. You need to measure the hottest point in the tank that the snake can get too.

Feeding in a separate enclosure isn't really necessary. It might make your like easier to just feed in the home enclosure. You are more likely to get bit while moving the snake around when feeding time is near.

Hope this helps!