Very soon to be new owner!

[withonor]

Recently I found out a couple of my coworkers have a ball python for a pet. When I showed interest the original owner said I could have it and all the supplies for free. She got the snake from a niece who couldn't take it during a move. They have had it for roughly two years. I read a lot of information on the caring for a ball python and that is near the same as what the care givers have described, which gives me confidence in how this snake was cared for. I love animals in general and during my lower grade education I had a subscription to Ranger Rick.

The python is 2-2.5" in diameter and about 3' long which to my untrained eye looked thick compared to length but seems healthy in contrast to pictures and notes I have seen on this website. The only possible negative to their care that I have found based on averages of what I have read is that the aquarium they used is small. The aquarium they have this snake in is about 30 gallons and from what I've read the recommended size is about 42 gallons. They didn't get a bigger tank because they weren't keen on keeping it permanently. It seems the smaller tank has kept the snake at a smaller size near 3' instead of growing towards the possible 6' size which for me is a good thing.

This python is 3-4 years old. Should I get it a bigger tank than 30 gallons? From what I've read they do most of their growing in the earlier years and now that it's at it's later years it's at it's maximum size so it should be comfortable in the aquarium size. They have a UTH and light bulbs for other situations.

My biggest question is about handling. I went to see the snake today and it was stretched out with only two bends to probe the top of the tank. It was close to feeding time so it was expecting food. The owners have fed him/her a medium/small rat at two week intervals. The owners have fed the snake on a payday calendar which is every two weeks. Some suggestions have said that 2-3 smaller mice in the same period is a good idea but I think that long period ingestion is the most important thing.

I may take it tomorrow night as I asked that it get fed today. I am expecting that the stress of changing environments will cause it to not want to eat.


Based on the the snakes actions and the owners normal actions, the snake will eat soon. Is it a good time to transition homes during this transition time?

[Karbon]

Actually, Ball Pythons don't really like large tanks and it's advised to stay with a smaller tank.

Tubs, which most people use if they have multiple snakes, are even smaller. Ball Pythons do better in a smaller enclosure.

I have a female Ball who is on the large size and is nearly 4 feet at only 1 year 9 months of age. I have her in a 20gallon long glass enclosure and she is doing very well.

I would say that there is no need at all to get a larger tank. A 30 gallon is more than adequit and may even be a little too big for that BP.

I'm sure you'll be very happy with the BP though! Good Luck!

[Bruceweb]

The smaller the space the better, if its a problem feeder it may well do better with you due to the change, like wise it may not, if they dont feed for a period its worth keeping in mind that they will, eventually..its very rare for a grown on royal to starve itself, it doesnt happen..just pick it up buddy & go with the flow, sure it wil all work out fine..good luck

[Kaorte]

!!

Well, sounds like the people who have the snake right now are doing a decent job but I am sure there is much more you could improve to make the snake happier

First off, tank size does not determine how big the snake gets. How much you feed it does. You could probably feed the snake a small rat once a week. That is the schedule my adults are on. From what you described, it sounds like the snake is of a healthy weight. It is very rare for a ball python to reach 6'. I think females will get about 5' at their peak. This snake also might be male, which means it will stay on the smaller side.

If the snake was just fed, wait at least two or three days before you move it to a new home. Moving is very stressful for the snake and could cause a meal regurgitation if you don't allow the food to digest enough. One week from move day, you can offer food again.


When you get the snake, you should post a picture of the setup on the forum and we can help you tweak it to meet the snakes needs

[withonor]

Thanks for the info.

I ended up bringing him home late last night. The previous owners didn't have time to feed him which probably worked out for the best. When I went to bed this morning the temperature was 70 degrees because I only had the UTH as a heat source and my room gets to about 65 degrees at night. The light fixtures they had don't produce any noticeable heat.

By mid-afternoon my room was really warm and it got to be 84 degrees in the tank but he stayed in his hide on the UTH all day. I went to Petco, Walmart and Petsmart looking for a CHE, digital temperature/humidity monitor and food. Just like the sticky in the husbandry section said, I found an Acurite temp/humidity monitor for $7. As for food, Petsmart didn't even have a cage for small rats and Petco was out. I started looking at the mice but they're quite small and I don't think a diet change would help with all the other changes.

Lastly the CHE... This was a quick lesson on having to find a pet shop that has more focus on reptiles. Petsmart and Petco have no selection and they both had the same CHEs but Petsmart was out of some. I went to Petsmart second and they had the 100W for the same price as Petco, $39.99(!!!!), so I got it there. Should have opened it before I bought it because I got home and it had burn marks on it and a chip broken off. Too late to go back there, I went to Petco which is closer and got the one they had. I couldn't let him go another cold night.

About an hour after I put the CHE up I went to check on the heat and he was out and roaming around so I took pictures, but there is some pretty bad glare. He's probably really hungry, he kept looking at me and flicking his tongue at the roof. My estimate is that he hasn't feed in about 2-1/2 weeks which I know isn't bad but it hasn't been his choice.

Here's some pictures: