Wanted to drop a note of thanks to the existing member base here as we just adopted a baby ball python, now named "Mickey", into our home. The information here has been invaluable to us getting set and ready.

He came to us via a friend who knew someone that bought the snake for their son, who had no interest and was afraid of it. In addition, they had no idea of how to care for it, and how long it would be part of their family. Another disposable pet...we were also told they had everything that was needed... right.

Well Mickey is now safe with us and after substrate change out (from pine to aspen), and the addition of hide, heat and humidity is already doing fine after only four hours. The housing he came with was not made for a ball at all (red exposed lamp for heat, pine shavings, no hide).

He is a sweetheart and is about a month or two old I am guessing (he is approx 16" long) and ate hardily which is a good sign. The previous owners were hesitant to feed him and their guess was he had not eaten in over a week. He is also mid-shed, so he "jumped" on the new hide to scratch that itch and we are monitoring the humidity to help.

We got some more work to do on the housing, but time (he came to us late today) and lack of a close open herp store, we did what we could at PetSmart.

I grew up wanting to be a herpetologist and have had many different animals over the years, though never a python. I am glad my 6 year old boy is excited over his new friend as he enjoys nature (Dad's a conservancy docent here in So Cal - so he can't help it..) and now we can't get him to bed.

Thanks again all!