new to ball pythons

[otniel01]

so i just got a baby normal ball python the other night from petco, i got everything i need but a thermometer.....i just have one problem...this morning i picked up the snake and he was moving VERY slow compared to the day before, almost like he was tired and didnt want to move.

is this a problem or normal?

[otniel01]

yes i know i need to buy a thermo, and next question is....the guy mentioned not leaving the heat lamp on all day, is this true....i was very skeptical of turning it off....i have a small heating pad btw

[cutler07]

well i leave my heat lamp on all day till i go to bed. because i have a heating pad under there rock.

but for your other question, for moving slowly i believe thats normal cuz my lil BP out of the 3 moves sometimes slow. and hes in perfect condition.

but if im wrong people will correct me

[otniel01]

well i leave my heat lamp on all day till i go to bed. because i have a heating pad under there rock.

but for your other question, for moving slowly i believe thats normal cuz my lil BP out of the 3 moves sometimes slow. and hes in perfect condition.

but if im wrong people will correct me

thanks for the info, and wow looking at your sig, you have an anacaonda, how big?? lol

[cutler07]

hes only 3ft atm.

but hes the MOST NICEST snake i have besides my BP's and my burmese pythons

[rabernet]

Honestly, until you get your digital thermometer, you can't know if you'll need supplemental lighting for heat or not.

Once you get it, you need to make sure you keep the warm side 90-94 degrees all the time, and the cool side 80-84 degrees all the time.

[NightLad]

so i just got a baby normal ball python the other night from petco, i got everything i need but a thermometer.....i just have one problem...this morning i picked up the snake and he was moving VERY slow compared to the day before, almost like he was tired and didnt want to move.

is this a problem or normal?

What time of the day were you handling him? (Assuming it’s a 'him'.) Ball Pythons are nocturnal, so if you were playing with him in the morning, he may have been sleepy. Try later at night, around 10-11, but remember to keep the handling limited to 5-20min at most while he is still new. Its also advised to leave them completely alone for the first week while they get used to their new environment. A happy BP will curl up in his/her hide all day long and venture out at night. If they are slithering all around their tank during the day, it can be a sign that they are stressed and not feeling safe so they want to escape. That is normal when you first get one, but they should settle down in a few days. If not, make sure the environment you have made is meeting his needs.

BPs are not usually fast-moving snakes. When they are more relaxed, I would assume they move slowly because they are not feeling threatened and gripped with the urge to flee for a safe place.

Remember they are a lot more scared of us than we are of them, so it will take a while for your new friend to understand that you don’t want to eat him when you pick him up. After all, to a snake we probably look like these monstrous heat-signatures that smell funny! Let him get to know you slowly and in time he may even come over and crawl in your hand when you want to pick him up.

Good luck, and pictures are always welcome!

Oh, and heed the excellent advice on temperatures/humidity settings found here and in other threads.

[kurgan]

well i leave my heat lamp on all day till i go to bed. because i have a heating pad under there rock.

but for your other question, for moving slowly i believe thats normal cuz my lil BP out of the 3 moves sometimes slow. and hes in perfect condition.

but if im wrong people will correct me

A few points to bear in mind:

-If you are using a lamp for heating then it should be on all the time but it must be a proper heat lamp that emits no light visible to the snake. Any light emitting visible spectrum will stress the snake if it is not shut off at night. Temps should not fluctuate day or night - you either need the head lamp on or you don't.

-A decent digital thermometer is not an optional extra you can wait for - you need one and you need it now.

-That heat pad needs connecting to a thermostat to not risk burning the snake.

-A slightly sluggish BP is probably just a sign he's asleep - a good thing in a new set up. Try and keep them handling to a minimum at first (ideally none for a week) to let him settle in.

Welcome to the world of BPs - we'd love to see a picture of your new arrival and his set up. There's a wealth of information to help you in the guides but we need more information on your set up.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

otniel01 You MUST know your temps it is very important, I would suggest you to get a Digital thermometer/hygrometer to have an accurate measurement of your temps and humidity.

As for supplemental heating (primary source being a UTH) it will depends on whether or not you are able to provide proper constant temps of 90-94 on the warm side and 80-84 on the cool side at all time.

Any heat source must be plug into a thermostat to maintain proper temps and avoid over-heating.

Right now you need to leave your BP alone, no handling for at least a week. Once a week has passed attempt to offer food, if you are successful you will be able to handle your BP 48 hours after feeding.

In the mean time

Make sure they are 80-84 on the cool side, 90-94 on the warm side, of course this mean you need to have an accurate reading provided by a digital thermometer/hygrometer.

Check your humidity and make sure it is between 50%-60%

Make sure the enclosure is in a low traffic area.

Make sure your enclosure is the appropriated size, an enclosure that is too big can be overwhelming, and can cause stress overtime.

Make sure your hides are tight enough so your BP can snug in, all sides must be touching your BP's body (Avoid log hides as they do not really provide enough security for a BP).

Oh and