Hi all,

I've been reading on these forums for a couple of months now, trying to learn as much as possible before taking the plunge and acquiring a ball python, I visited many local reptile breeders and shops in a 50 mile radius of where I live and eventually found a lovely snake, although had a couple of worries from the get go with her.

So firstly I have an 18 month old female albino ball python, she's 800g, shop said she feeds regularly and she's good with handling. I have her set up in a 3ft wooden viv with glass sliding doors, she has 2 cork logs as hides that she loves, large water bowl, ceramic heater with bulb guard, digital thermometer on a dimmer setting and hygrometer. I have the cool side set at 82 in the day and the warm side sits around 92-95 maximum, then at night it drops to 78/79 on the cool side and mid to late 80's on the warm side.

When I first got her home, she was put into her new home, she went from a tub to a viv, and immediately found a cosy spot on the cool side under her hide, so I left her to it. About 5/6 hours later she was at the glass and I know saturday is her feeding day so I thought, why not? Let's give it a go, she ate like a champ, 1 rat straight down and left her to it.

Since then she mainly stayed hidden during the day, might come out for a drink every now and again, I also noticed when she's in her hide she's in a defensive position? Head pointing out in an S shape which I'm putting down to the stress of moving and having a big new house to explore. At night on the other hand is a different story, loves roaming around, seeing what's behind the plants, what's on the ceiling and in the corners, then last night I came in and she was chilling on top of her hide in a very loose ball watching the world go by.

i haven't handled her other than feeding her, I'm going to give it a go this weekend and see how she is.

Anyways that's me, my ball python and her set up. Any tips or pointers would be greatly appreciated.