Feeding a hatchling

[cordell]

So we bought a mouse from petco today. I set it on top of the BP cage for 30 minutes trying to get the smell in the BP cage. We then released it, nothing. I turned off the lights, nothing. I then grabbed our BP and held him for 10 minutes, she was cold to the touch, though the temp of the air is 85 degrees. Anyway once she was warm and flicking her tongue in my hand I set her back in the cage, BAM she hit the mouse almost right away! Obviously she was to cold, I have a 55 gallon aquarium, a ceramic heat bulb in the middle of the aquarium. The temp gauge is below the heater and says 86/87. Substrate is cypress mulch. Must I heat the substrate, or will she learn in time where to go and warm up? I am so happy she ate! Its funny to see a big blob in the middle of a small snake How many days until she can be handled again, I heard 2 days?

[angllady2]

Well,

First of all a 55 gallon is HUGE for a hatchling, I mean Godzilla huge. So that is part of the problem.

Second, just because it's 85 degrees under the only heat source, does not mean that enormous cage is anywhere near warm enough for that baby. A ball python needs a hot spot of at least 95 degrees in order to digest. As cold as your poor baby is, she'll have a very hard time digesting her food and it could easily make her sick.

So, yes you are going to have to give her a much better heat source or risk loosing her. If you plan on keeping her in such a big tank, you'll need a big heat mat under one side, and maybe a ceramic bulb as well to keep it steady at 93-95. Then move the other bulb to the opposite side to keep it at 85. And yes she needs at least 2 days before handling, but as cold as she is even that might not be long enough.

You should give her identical hides at each end to choose from, and really, really, really crowd that huge tank with fake plants and such to give her security.

Gale

[AkHerps]

I suggest moving her to a 10 gallon. It will be easier to heat, and make them feel more secure.

[cordell]

I added a second ceramic bulb I had, I use them to keep turtles who are a risk to hibernate warm during the winter. Who would have thought a 55 would be to big? I seen the formula for cage size but figured that is a bare minimum. I will add more plants, fake ones, to get more hiding areas for her travels. When I wake up in the middle of the night she is all over that cage! Then she posted up over one of the fake plant leafs. Her head was the only thing visible, I took this as her waiting in ambush, the reason I decided to feed today. This is only her 2nd day in the new environment, we got her friday about 4 pm, so she ate 24 hours after being brought home.

So she is like my turtles, needing heat to digest food. I will work on getting her habitat a little more snake friendly. My husbandry with our turtles is awesome, so the same will be done for our BP, "slither"

Right now, or since eating rather, she has been staying on the warmer side of her cage. I guess she knows she needs the heat. I see where ceramic bulbs can be bad once she gets a bit longer as they are sitting on top of the top, a metal screen. The bulb will heat the screen and her instinct to escape will have her all over the screen, possibly burning her

thanks

[Animals As Leaders]

I'm gonna say that the 55 is a bad idea as well...

A 40 gallon is probably the biggest tank you would need for a BP.

[cordell]

I'm gonna say that the 55 is a bad idea as well...

A 40 gallon is probably the biggest tank you would need for a BP.

What is the reasoning for this? Even as a adult a 55 is to big? What is the area they tend to stay in when in the wild? Like a box turtle tends to stay in the same football field area his whole life. What is the equivalent for a BP? My thoughts are a snake should be able to stretch out, personally I feel bad for the 15 foot snakes kept in a 4 X 4 box. Not trying to stir the pot but am I the only one who uses or wants to keep in a bigger cage?

[AkHerps]

In the wild ball pythons live in small little rodent burrows under ground. They don't like a lot of space, they like small spaces to make them feel secure.

[Egapal]

What is the reasoning for this? Even as a adult a 55 is to big? What is the area they tend to stay in when in the wild? Like a box turtle tends to stay in the same football field area his whole life. What is the equivalent for a BP? My thoughts are a snake should be able to stretch out, personally I feel bad for the 15 foot snakes kept in a 4 X 4 box. Not trying to stir the pot but am I the only one who uses or wants to keep in a bigger cage?

The reasoning for this is that you are having a hard time keeping your temperature correct in a 55 gallon aquarium. Chances are pretty good you are going to have problems with humidity as well. Ceramic heating elements tend to suck the humidity out of the air. You would have a much better time keeping the temperature and humidity correct if you had a 10 or 20 gallon aquarium or better yet a non aquarium solution. Your ball python will not get 15 feet long. Other snakes will and those snakes have specific husbandry needs. Ball pythons do not need as much space as other more active snakes. Our concern as keepers needs to be on giving the snake what it needs prioritized like the snake would. Your ball python wants security. I can tell you from my experience that my snake will choose safety over proper temperatures and humidity. That's why I make sure that my snake feels safe in two identical hides one "warm" and one "cool". If you can keep your temp and humidity proper then sure the more space the better. Nine times out of ten you will spend a lot of time trying and failing to keep a 55 gallon tank proper and your snake will suffer.

[cordell]

In the wild ball pythons live in small little rodent burrows under ground. They don't like a lot of space, they like small spaces to make them feel secure.

I understand the need for a tight fitting hide. What I dont understand is why you cant give them a little space to stretch out when out exploring. Just because it likes a small little tight hide doesnt mean he likes a cramped hunting ground.

[Egapal]

I understand the need for a tight fitting hide. What I dont understand is why you cant give them a little space to stretch out when out exploring. Just because it likes a small little tight hide doesnt mean he likes a cramped hunting ground.

Ball Pythons actually do like a cramped hunting ground. They will often find a rodent burrow, go inside, and eat what they find. Then sleep off their meal in the burrow.