1st time feeding

[neo8175]

I bought my first snake, a baby ball pastel python, on sunday and was surprised he ate the first time I fed him. I've heard that baby BP's can be difficult to feed sometimes. The reptile store said he was feeding on frozen fuzzes. I waited until yesterday to feed him so he could get used to his tank for a few days. I fed him in a separate container lined with a paper towel and a hide so he felt comfortable. It was at night, 8-ish and in a dim lit room. Once I put him in the container, he immediately went into the hide. I warmed up a fuzzy using hot water and waive it in front of the hide and he immediately grabbed it. So I'm happy I didn't have a hard time feeding him. The consensus is I should wait 2 days before handling him so he can digest his food. Is it ok to handle him afterwards or should i wait longer so he gets used to his environment? When you do handle them, do you guys do it in a quiet room or anywhere? I have a 2 yr old son that's curious to see him but I don't want him to be scared since he's a baby. Thanks.

Also, temps are 87* under his hide. 78* ambient. 63% humidity.


Dave

[Morris Reese]

Yes, wait about two days for him to digest before handling. With a new young snake I would keep it quiet and not too much movement in the beginning. As your snake adjusts a bit to being out and handled you can introduce more activity with him. Ball pythons are skiddish around quick movement. Keep your motions slow and he will adjust just fine.

[Rob]

Again this is where people just differ in opinion. I dont think it's a big deal to handle your snake shortly after especially if its not stessed out. I just general wait a day before handing again.

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[bcr229]

You could bump him up to 89-90*F under his hide. Also, hopefully fuzzy = rat fuzzy, as a mouse fuzzy is a very small meal. Hatchling BP's usually start on mouse hoppers.

[neo8175]

I'll increase the temp a little bit but it was a mouse hopper. Also, do you guys place your temp. probe that is under the hide flush against the tank. I have the probe taped to the glass but not the front tip of the probe. I'm using a zoo-med temp probe. I want to get accurate readings on his hide. I have the hydrofarm thermostat set at 91* but the probe under the hide is reading 85-87.

[bcr229]

I'll increase the temp a little bit but it was a mouse hopper. Also, do you guys place your temp. probe that is under the hide flush against the tank. I have the probe taped to the glass but not the front tip of the probe. I'm using a zoo-med temp probe. I want to get accurate readings on his hide. I have the hydrofarm thermostat set at 91* but the probe under the hide is reading 85-87.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...48#post1412648

Your thermometer probe can simply rest on top of the warm side under the substrate in contact with the glass on the bottom of the tank. Your thermostat probe should be sandwiched between the UTH and the bottom of the tank on the underside/outside of the tank.