New Ball Python... how long to become accustomed to surroundings?

[baazi1]

Hello BP.net!

We finally got our new Ball Python, she's a beauty! Adopted her from a reptile show in northern Cincinnati over the weekend. She's a little under 2ft long, skinny little thing

Anyway, at the show and when we took her out of her carry home cup, she was just fine and wonderful. Slithering along, saying hi to everyone. We put her in her new home and she went wild trying to find an escape route but mostly just checking out her new digs (we got her from a breeder who has 1100 or so snakes, I'm sure her new living environment is much nicer and larger than what she is used to.

Anyway, the heat lamp time came on around 6pm and she slithered her way to the top of the skull to bask in the heat, she seemed pretty excited. Around 8pm we decided to get her out and show her around. She stayed curled up in her ball and I could generally sense that maybe she wasn't wanting to be handled. My 8 year old held her fr a moment and gave her back to my wife and when the kiddo went to pet her again, she struck. Freaked him out, lol.

At this point, I could easily see how uncomfortable she was... all of us really, the way she was handled at the show, all of my fears concerning snakes went away. This is going to be easy, I said to myself, she a wonderful creature and I can't wait to care for her. Then as I saw her scared and wanting to go back to her home, I get a little freaked out. So did my wife, who was holding her. She gently walked over to the cage and as she was placing her towards the cage opening, the snake struck 3 times, very rapidly, at the heat lamp. N0 injury or harm, just a general, holy wow, wtf. LOL

I'm convinced we took her out to soon. She hadn't fed since Tuesday/Wednesday of last week and we took her off of her nice warm skull rock that I'm sure she was enjoying immensely.

Is that what we did wrong? Should we give her a week or so to get acclimated? Maybe give her some yummy mice before we handle her again?

Also, the cat and the dog... are their any concerns with them? The dog is very curious and can prop his front legs up to see inside the cage. The cat can obviously walk around the cage. I assume this is probably causing some agitation? Again, giving her some days to get used to her surroundings will probably do wonders.

Thanks for any advice!

[rockonjp76]

Leave her alone and let her be for a week, then try feeding her.

[ShaggyRS6]

I'm very new to ownership so there are plenty of people on here more qualified to give advice, but what I did was to let the snake settle in for an entire week. No handling. Feed after the week is up and no handling for 48 hours.

What I actually did was feed on day 6 because this then allows me to handle the snake on a weekend when I have more time. Unfortunately I was busy this weekend so I have still not handled my snake since I got her which will be 9 days today.

In terms of the dogs! What I have read is that snakes love the smell of fur. So I would wash my hands before handling the snake if you have dogs. I would also not let my dog anywhere near the snake as I would not want to stress it. My dogs would kill he snake in short order also.

[baazi1]

The breeder that we acquired the snake from fed them on Tuesday/Wednesday. Are you saying it best to not fee it until Friday or should we stick to the same Tuesday/Wednesday schedule?

[ShaggyRS6]

I would go with a week from when you got him. I went a day earlier just because I wanted that non handling period after you feed them to be over by the weekends if that makes sense.

I knew Monty was hungry as he was hunting around a lot the day before I fed him.

[GoingPostal]

Letting them settle in really is best for any pet. New environment, stress of travel, show, new people, lots of handling, it's overwhelming. Chances are this snake probably came from a tub setup also and now is completely exposed. I would plan to leave her alone until she has fed for a few times, change bedding and water if needed but no handling. You have decades to handle her. When you do take her out carefully and sit down with her, let her move around slowly as she wants to, not passing from person to person or moving around a lot. Do that for a few minutes a few times a week and you both will get more comfortable with it.

Putting some dark paper around the tank would be best so the snake doesn't get stressed by the other animals, I have other pets but my dogs are rarely allowed in the herp room and don't even know the snakes exist and the cat who hangs out in that room doesn't notice them either, they are raised above her eye level though. Ball pythons prefer dark tight enclosed spaces and they don't bask unless they are seeking heat very badly. Maybe your snake is just exploring but I would guess your hides aren't warm or secure enough, what are the temps and how are you testing them?

[NJxRinzler]

What they said ^

Could kill two birds with one stone and put some insulation foam board cut to size and painted black on all 3 sides, but the front. Will help keep heat in the tank as well as help the snake feel more secure by not being able to see outside the tank in those areas.

[baazi1]

I have a heating pad warm side. That thermostat is set to 90 and fluctuates from 88.9 to 91.4 (lowest and highest I've seen it). I have a digital thermometer with a probe sitting just above (on the inside) the heat pad and underneath the big hide. That reads about 85 degrees. The ceramic heat lamp is above the big hide and when it is on (couple of times a day, 6-7 hours a day, the thermometer reads about 89 degrees. I have a smaller, circular thermometer that is stuck to the cool side of the tank, its reading about 75 degrees. Humidity at the moment is between 50-55%.

I followed this thread with a few exceptions: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?201740-How-to-Setup-a-Glass-Tank-(20-long)-With-Pictures

Any suggestions or do you think this is appropriate?

[baazi1]

What they said ^

Could kill two birds with one stone and put some insulation foam board cut to size and painted black on all 3 sides, but the front. Will help keep heat in the tank as well as help the snake feel more secure by not being able to see outside the tank in those areas.

We added some wallpaper (jungle themed) around the 3 sides of tank. Just crash and schrubbery pictures, nothing too exciting, but it is darker now, hopefully will help keep the heat in some more

[ShaggyRS6]

Here is my setup - I am going to replace the log on the left. I have never seen the snake go in any of the other hides other than the middle one. He has basked on the log and stays there for about an hour when he need too.