Hi all. I've been looking over the forums for a few weeks now, but you guys seemed so friendly, I just had to join and introduce myself. Just a quick rundown. I'm Jess, I'm 13 (I know, I know, I'm young. Hehe.) I live in suburb NY. Ok. So. Onto the parts that actually belong on this forum.
I got my ball python Sunday. He's two weeks old. Just a normal, male BP- Vibes is his name. I got him from a breeder at the Westchester Reptile Expo. I saw someone mention it before, tsk on me for not catching the name, the one who had snakes hatching right there at the expo. Anywho. I've got him in the Exo Terra glass terrarium. Its 24" x 18" x 24". Its a fairly large tank, but its pretty much all in the height. I've got it bedded with that fancy mud brick, Eco Earth compressed coconut fiber expandable substrate. It seems to be keeping the humidity great, and I just have to spritz it lightly with room-tempature water when its getting a little dry. I've got a large bowl, a cave and branch. Today when we go out, I'm having my mom run me over to our Petsmart for another hide, and then to WalMart for a digital thermometer. Right now, the heat sources are an extra small substrate heater underneath his warm hide, and a 50watt halogen lamp up top, (yes, I know it dries the air. I'm going to take a look see at the ceramic heat emitters today. Knowing PetSmart, though, they'll run me ragged with their prices) that I turn off 8PM and turn on 8AM.
I didn't want to feed him until Thursday or so, but he was getting very active, and struck for my hand when I reached in to get the water. So I fed him a frozen fuzzie. (Which was what had been what he was eating, the breeder said.) I was dangling it with those long tweezers for a while, and he struck it twice, but didn't grab either time. So I decided it would be best just to leave him be with it for a while, and take it out in the morning if he hadn't taken interest by then. From what I see, the fuzzies gone. He doesn't really show any incredibly defined lumps, but I'm pretty sure I see one. I can't really tell right now, though, because hes sleeping against his branch where its nice and shady.
I was thinking I'd start handling sometime next week, once hes accustomed to his cage. At the moment, if I come near it, he'll watch me and pull his head back like hes ready to strike. I don't think I'll mind being bitten if it happens, from what everyone says, its not incredibly painful. I'd just like to avoid it, if possible. No sense in breaking the skin if you don't need to. (:
Anyways, heres some pictures of the setup now, before I get that second hide and thermometer and all.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...p/100_2049.jpg
The cage in an overall view.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...p/100_2053.jpg
A closer view. Note the lock to keep out curious, grabby younger siblings.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...p/100_2051.jpg
The water bowl. I think I might need to downgrade to a smaller one.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...p/100_2050.jpg
The hide. The first day and a half, he just kind of kept away in here, after getting up to the top of the tank and needing to be rescued.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...p/100_2060.jpg
Vibes himself. I'd have more pictures, but he seemed pretty snarky that evening, and I decided not to stress him further with the flash.