Information overload. Need help with a few questions.

[mgrover43]

The internet can be great for information but sometimes it get hard to sort through all the facts/opinions. I'm hoping you can help with a couple basic things for now.

1. How do you tell the different variations of the breed?
Since I bought him in a pet store ( a reputable local place not a chain) I assume he is a normal, but his coloring seems more vivid than most normals. Also, I would like to understand the variations that people talk about on here.

2. Feeding location.
This one confuses the crap out of me. Have him less than a week so I haven't found the sweet spot yet. I have read that feeding him in a separate location is best for a couple reasons including reducing risk of aggression (not associating you putting your hands in his tank with attacking food). Problem is, putting him in another container seems to scare him and he balled up and didn't want to eat.

Whats the best balance? Feeding him F/T (trying to, at least) so there's no risk of him getting bit.

3. Environmental regulation.
This one confuses me as well. I understand the need to monitor and regulate heat and humidity but am confused how to do it best. I need to get an Accurite indoor/outdoor unit but how do I place it? Does the unit itself go in the tank hot side on the glass at the substrate level with the probe running to the same spot on the cool side? People have mentioned the need to control the temp of the glass at the bottom of the tank under the substrate in case he burrows. I am currently using repti-bark so he hasn't really been able to displace it so am I concerned with where he is or where he could possibly go?

Hope some of this makes sense. As I've mentioned I am a newb to this but want to do right by my new baby.

Thanks in advance,
Mike

[rabernet]

Hi Mike! Welcome!

1) More than likely, he's a normal - they come in all shades and colorations, from very dark, to very brightly colored - my normals cover the spectrum. You can learn about the various mutations (not breeds) that we refer to as morphs, by visiting breeder sites, and looking at the pictures that members here post - it just takes time to learn them.

2) I never feed in a separate enclosure, for the very reason that you mentioned - some are very shy and being moved will put them off of feed. I feed in the enclosure, with the hides. I feed live, so I drop the live prey item in at the opposite end of the enclosure as the snake. Cage aggression is not as inherent in ball pythons, especially if you go into the enclosure to spot clean, change water, and get him/her out for handling. Since EVERY time you go in to the enclosure is not to just feed, there's no reason for them to make that association.

3) I mount the Accurite on the cool side at ground level using velcro to affix to the enclosure on the inside. That is your indoor temps or cool side temps. I take the probe and put it inside the warm side hide on top of the substrate, and measure those temps. That is your outdoor temps, or warm side temps.

I've personally not had issues with my guys burrowing if they were provided appropriately sized hides that are snug and touch them on all sides.

Hope this helps!

[BPelizabeth]

Ok...I am new too but let me tell you....there is soooooooooooo much info on this site that is awesome.

The variations - I assume that you are talking about the morphs?? There are different morphs in different colors that have been breed. There is a TON of threads and pictures. Welcome to the obssesion!!

Husbandry - again there are a ton of threads on this take a look at the care sheets that are available. The information is invaluable!! You should have 2 digital therm to tell you what your cool side is and what you warm side is. I am not sure if you are using a light or under the take heater (UTH). You should put the probe that comes with it down under the substrate that you are using. The actual reader should be on the outside so as not to get too much humidity to the unit itself. I just ran the cords through the mesh part of my aquarium. Also w aquariums...the humidity is a huge problem typically. So keep a good eye on that.

Feeding - I have read that you should feed outside the cage and then I have read allot from very experienced owners that you really don't need to do that. I can tell you that at first I feed outside of the cage and it was this HUGE process and quite frankly a pain in the butt. It stressed my snakes out and me too. I switched to feeding live in the cage and have had NO PROBLEMS with them later on thinking my hand was food. I feed with tongs and they grab it from the tongs. I give them anywhere from 24 to 48 hours before to handling them afterwards so that they can try to digest and not "stress" them out. If you handle them too soon after eating the could reguritate.

Ok also I did not see if you had hides...make sure you have 2 of the same hides. One on the cool side and one on the warm side. There are allot of threads to tell you how to make them instead of buying something expensive. They need to be small so that it hugs your python on all sides.

Ok....I think I answered all that I can! Again I cannot stress enough to look at the care sheets. This is (too me) one of the best sites for information as I have seen some with questionable advice and ppl that were very rude. Take a look at what you are reading and do your research..... and dont be afraid to ask goofey questions. The people on here are great!!!

[Karbon]

Well looking through this I can definitly help out with question 2.

For a while, my BP was eating outside his enclosure in a seperate tank but he always seemed a bit 'scared' at first. So! I started feeding him inside his enclosure and he seems to be eating much better.

I don't fear him biting me or striking at me because he never has, so I guess where you feed your BP really depends on where your BP feels comfortable feeding.

If he's not eating good in a seperate enclosure, just try in his enclosure but be careful of your hands until you know how he will respond.

There's a ton of info on these forums so i'm sure you'll find more than enough info here! Helped me out ALOT when I got my BP!

Good Luck!

[seeya205]

If you use a good substrate then feeding in the tank should not be a problem. Young snakes do best when fed in the enclosure!

[starfire]

Quick share: This is one of my favorite youtube videos... BHB's snakebytes tv listing many dazzling ball python morphs. Just to give you a peek at the possibilities. Warning: it'll make you swoon and drool uncontrollably.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGfQfrn8qIA&feature=PlayList&p=D184507E8238A80A&playnext=1&playnext_from =PL&index=21]"</a>

---Starfire

[mgrover43]

Quick share: This is one of my favorite youtube videos... BHB's snakebytes tv listing many dazzling ball python morphs. Just to give you a peek at the possibilities. Warning: it'll make you swoon and drool uncontrollably.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGfQfrn8qIA&feature=PlayList&p=D184507E8238A80A&playnext=1&playnext_from =PL&index=21]"</a>

---Starfire

Thanks.
That is awesome.

[mgrover43]

Thanks everyone!
Just had our first successful feeding!
Went beautifully with a live fuzzy fed in the tank after prescenting the room.
That's a big relief for me.

Now that he's eaten, is the 48 hrs before handling an absolute or does it depend on the snake? I know enough not to handle him right away, just want to know when is the earliest reasonable wait.

Thanks again,
Mike

"Baby" pictures
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...d.php?t=104944