Hey I'm just checkin in. I love your website, its exactly what I was looking for.

Last saturday I bought a ball python for the first time after reading a book on them. I raised numerous lizards over the years, but this is my first snake.

I bought a book called Ball Python Manual before I got the snake. It seems pretty informative, but I have to say your caresheet is a lot easier to read and more to the point.

I'll probably spend the next hour reading all the forums. I'm paranoid when it comes to new pets and I want to make sure my ball pythons well taken care of.

So far I have it in a 30 gallon tank. The BP is a male (bought from LLL Reptile in Oceanside, Ca). It's almost 3 feet in length, I don't know its age. Not sure if it was CB or imported, but according to LLL it sold to them as a prior pet. I fed it a large mouse yesterday and everything went smoothly. It seems pretty docile, and it seems to have gotten adjusted to its new environment pretty smoothly.

Speaking of which I have a few questions.

So far I don't see any signs of stress, but I'm used to reading lizards, not snakes. Any advice on what I should look for?

Also LLL staff told me to feed it mice at first, then small rats. Are rats better then mice to feed BP's? I've had conflicting reports on both.

I've purchased from LLL reptile in the past, and honestly they're the only reptile store around me I trust. They told me the snake was healthy and I believe them. I did notice on its body though, it seems to have some random dead scales that look like the shed didn't come off, is this normal for a snake?

Thanks in advance for your help, and again this is a great website. Go easy.

-Tray