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Just got my first Ball Python. A few questions.
Hi all! So after a couple months of research, purchasing and setting everything up I finally purchased my first ball python. I had to purchase him from Petsmart because of my location and that was the only place to get him. I don't have a name or know the sex of him yet but I'll think of one soon! I put the box in the tank and he eventually crawled out and has been going around the tank for hours now. He went in his cool side and then came right back out. He's mainly been hanging along the glass on the sides and climbing up to the screen and the slides back down and has been doing this since he went into the tank. Could this be star-gazing? I did watch a video or two that was in the threads about star-gazing but I'm still concerned so I took a video of my snake. Here's the link to it - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vmRXJIacFY Could this be star-gazing or is he just exploring his new environment?
His temperatures are as follows - Cool side is 77-82F Hot side is 89-90F. Humidity depends on the time of day. It can go up to 70% for a little but is currently around 45% but I will mist this evening to raise it.
He's mainly just been hanging out on the sides where I have the leaves and things so there's cover. Only concern is the raising up to the lid.
Another quick question is should I feed Thursday or wait till Tuesday when it's been a week? The store gave me all his feeding logs since he came there. He's just been upped to 1 hopper mouse once a week and he was last fed Thursday. Should I try Thursday or just wait till Tuesday? Also from the video does his weight appear to be good?
Should I also feed in a separate container? At the store he was fed in a separate container and they just recommended I do the same although I was planning to feed in his enclosure because it would be easier and no stress to the snake.
I think that's all the questions for now but I'll definitely have more in the coming days. Thanks you all!
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Registered User
Re: Just got my first Ball Python. A few questions.
Hi. Welcome to the forum and congrats on your new snake. I had a few questions to ask because the glare in your video blocked a bit of the inside of your tank, and having more information will help us give you advice.
1- Do you have hides in your tank? You should have one hide for each side of the tank (warm and cool) that are both sized so that your BP is very snug in them. If it isn't snug enough then the snake will feel uncomfortable.
2- How are you measuring your temps? How is your tank heated?
The "star-gazing" could be due to his exploring, but it could also be due to temps being off. When I first got my BP he moved around a lot, and I found it was because he was stressed in his environment and was trying to escape. I had husbandry issues I had to fix before he would settle down or eat for me.
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Registered User
Re: Just got my first Ball Python. A few questions.
 Originally Posted by JoRandom
Hi. Welcome to the forum and congrats on your new snake. I had a few questions to ask because the glare in your video blocked a bit of the inside of your tank, and having more information will help us give you advice.
1- Do you have hides in your tank? You should have one hide for each side of the tank (warm and cool) that are both sized so that your BP is very snug in them. If it isn't snug enough then the snake will feel uncomfortable.
2- How are you measuring your temps? How is your tank heated?
The "star-gazing" could be due to his exploring, but it could also be due to temps being off. When I first got my BP he moved around a lot, and I found it was because he was stressed in his environment and was trying to escape. I had husbandry issues I had to fix before he would settle down or eat for me.
I have two identical hides that are the correct size and have one entrance. I have an UTH heating the hot side which is plugged into a hydrofarm thermostat set to 93F. I have an Exo-Terra digital thermometer/hygrometer with a probe postioned under the warm hide on the glass. On the cool side I have a 100W infrared bulb hooked up to a dimmer. I also have a Zoo-Med thermometer with a probe placed under the cool hide.
I just checked on him and found him laying against the glass on the warm side behind the warm hide among the vines. Didn't see him moving so I tore the construction paper off where he was and found him like this http://imgur.com/XpBkSAq I did get quite a scare but tapped on the glass twice and his tongue flicked out so I was very relieved. I'm assuming he's just sleeping now?
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Registered User
Re: Just got my first Ball Python. A few questions.
Yeah, so it sounds like your setup is good, guess he is just exploring, or he is a bit quirky
I wouldn't try feeding him till he has been settled into his new home for at least 7-10 days.
I honestly would feed in tank, that's just my opinion, less moving of the snake, so less stress and less likelihood of regurgitation. Just watch the substrate. Ingesting a bit of substrate is not harmful, but if a piece is too big or gets caught in the mouth at the wrong angle, etc, could mean bad news, so just keep an eye on the tank during feeding.
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Registered User
Re: Just got my first Ball Python. A few questions.
 Originally Posted by JoRandom
Yeah, so it sounds like your setup is good, guess he is just exploring, or he is a bit quirky
I wouldn't try feeding him till he has been settled into his new home for at least 7-10 days.
I honestly would feed in tank, that's just my opinion, less moving of the snake, so less stress and less likelihood of regurgitation. Just watch the substrate. Ingesting a bit of substrate is not harmful, but if a piece is too big or gets caught in the mouth at the wrong angle, etc, could mean bad news, so just keep an eye on the tank during feeding.
I'll try feeding him on Tuesday then. I just tapped on the glass again but no movement or tongue flick this time, even went in with a snake hook to move the vine near the back and still nothing. My biggest fear is finding him dead tonight or in the morning. They said he didn't use his hide much at the store and he's in a tight area that's dark so I'm guessing he found a place to sleep for now? Should I just leave him be and check on him later?
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Registered User
Re: Just got my first Ball Python. A few questions.
Yeah, he will be fine. No need to tap the glass. You probably don't even need a hook unless he has a tendency for being nippy or you aren't comfortable having your hands around him yet. That is just my opinion btw, use a hook if you feel. BPs don't generally move a lot. Plus they are nocturnal. He is probably sleeping. They are very much "Im just gonna chill here and not really move all day" kinda snakes. Kinda like me when I get home from exams.
Last edited by JoRandom; 04-15-2014 at 08:06 PM.
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Registered User
Re: Just got my first Ball Python. A few questions.
 Originally Posted by JoRandom
Yeah, he will be fine. BPs don't generally move a lot. Plus they are nocturnal. He is probably sleeping. They are very much "Im just gonna chill here and not really move all day" kinda snakes. Kinda like me when I get home from exams.
That's good that he's settling in then. That's exactly why I got a BP instead of a corn snake at first because I'd rather a lazy snake than one always active. Thanks for putting my mind at ease!
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Registered User
Re: Just got my first Ball Python. A few questions.
So how's snakey? Think of a name?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Registered User
Re: Just got my first Ball Python. A few questions.
 Originally Posted by JoRandom
So how's snakey? Think of a name?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Hi. I'm sorry to say but I decided to take him back. It's nothing against the snake or anything I just thought I was ready to take care of a reptile but I realized I'm not prepared to quite yet. I'm just starting to get over mental illnesses from the past year and figured I was well enough to take care of a pet but once I got him here I was a nervous wreck. I took him back now because I figured I wasn't prepared to take care of him and I didn't want to keep him and have him begin to suffer from lack of care. I felt it was the right decision and in both mine and the snakes best interest if I didn't keep him quite yet. I will keep all the supplies I have and focus on getting myself better over the next few months and then go out and see if I'm prepared to take care of one. I have been giving some thought into getting a corn snake in the next few months as it would be overall less stressful for me because they seem to be more hardier than BP's. I just figured I should let you know and this experience still hasn't put me off of reptiles. Thanks!
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