Help! I found a ball python in the wild

[Egapal]

Well I am curious straydog1980, are you hooked yet. If you want to keep your new buddy Kismet you have some changes you should make pretty soon so you can get her all settled in and ready for a meal.

First thing is first. I like to compare BP's to a much more dangerous animal. What you really need to be afraid of is kittens. Now if you can handle playing with kittens without being to scared you should have no problem with Kismet. Your new BP doesn't have retractable mini daggers on each foot and its teeth are nothing compared with the maw of 3 month old kitten. I mean Ball Pythons are to Cats what Cats are to tigers.

Ok so now that we have that in perspective, reach in to the tank and pick up kismet by the thickest part of her body and put her in a small box while you get rid of that sand. If you want cheap, easy and good go for newspaper, if you want something that looks more natural, you could get some http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...3&lmdn=Reptile its great for keeping your humidity up and might be a good option till you figure that part out. But really newspaper is great.

For a tank setup you have to worry about the 3 H's. Heat, Hides, and Humidity. Most people are pretty good about knowing their animal needs food and water. Water is easy, and food is easier if you have the 3 H's down. But lets hear your plans, before we bombard you with specifics.

[straydog1980]

Well I am curious straydog1980, are you hooked yet. If you want to keep your new buddy Kismet you have some changes you should make pretty soon so you can get her all settled in and ready for a meal.

First thing is first. I like to compare BP's to a much more dangerous animal. What you really need to be afraid of is kittens. Now if you can handle playing with kittens without being to scared you should have no problem with Kismet. Your new BP doesn't have retractable mini daggers on each foot and its teeth are nothing compared with the maw of 3 month old kitten. I mean Ball Pythons are to Cats what Cats are to tigers.

Ok so now that we have that in perspective, reach in to the tank and pick up kismet by the thickest part of her body and put her in a small box while you get rid of that sand. If you want cheap, easy and good go for newspaper, if you want something that looks more natural, you could get some http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...3&lmdn=Reptile its great for keeping your humidity up and might be a good option till you figure that part out. But really newspaper is great.

For a tank setup you have to worry about the 3 H's. Heat, Hides, and Humidity. Most people are pretty good about knowing their animal needs food and water. Water is easy, and food is easier if you have the 3 H's down. But lets hear your plans, before we bombard you with specifics.

well unfortunately my wife is not keen on having a snake in the house, and I can't keep him/her in my office for long. Luckily I have already found a home for him, at least temporarily! A member here has offered to take him off my hands!

It's really odd, because I've always been afraid of snakes, but for some reason I am getting attached to this one! Too bad the wife is nearly phobic

[Danounet]

well unfortunately my wife is not keen on having a snake in the house, and I can't keep him/her in my office for long. Luckily I have already found a home for him, at least temporarily! A member here has offered to take him off my hands!

It's really odd, because I've always been afraid of snakes, but for some reason I am getting attached to this one! Too bad the wife is nearly phobic

You can always try to convert your wife Although it doesnt always work.

That snakebytes episode... lol...

[Vypyrz]

You could always tell your wife, "You are right, honey. We should not keep this snake. I have found out that Ball Pythons are magical snakes and they have the ability to cast a spell on you that makes you fall in love with their cuteness and become addicted..." Which reminds me. I have a BP's Anonymous meeting tonight...

Even if you decide not to keep it, you are still to be commended for saving it's life and finding it a home. You should still participate on the forum because you can learn a ton on keeping and raising reptiles and may even find yourself with another one in the future...


Rob

[rabernet]

well unfortunately my wife is not keen on having a snake in the house, and I can't keep him/her in my office for long. Luckily I have already found a home for him, at least temporarily! A member here has offered to take him off my hands!

It's really odd, because I've always been afraid of snakes, but for some reason I am getting attached to this one! Too bad the wife is nearly phobic

Yup - Kismet will be joining my crew, at the very least temporarily (if a male) until a very nice permanent home can be found for him/her.

Of course....if you find yourself super attached to him/her, I COULD just foster him/her for you until you can talk the wife into letting you have him!

[Quiet Tempest]

Kudos to saving this ball!

[WingedWolfPsion]

You should have her hold him, when he's all balled up. Ball pythons are probably the least threatening snakes out there, and have cured many people of their fears.
Don't be afraid of being bitten. His natural reaction when you put your hand in will be to jerk back and hide his head. A strike occurs from a position where the neck is drawn back in an S, and the head is held elevated at high tension--you can actually see their little jaw muscles clench with the tension, lol. Ball pythons often jerk back with their neck in a low S defensively, and that shouldn't be confused for a strike position. He doesn't look very tense in your photos, so I doubt he's aggressive.

[Patricia]

This whole story brings such a smile to my face, both from your having it rescued in the first place and to Robin fostering it until your wife becomes OK with having it in the house (thinking positive thoughts here).

[trott]

Nice rescue and lucky snake.Most probably dont have a happy ending.
Until you get your heat mat and more suitable suplies , you can pick up a cheap maintenance lamp at home depot for like 5 bucks and a 40w red bulb at a pet store for some heat. You can use your room lighting for your day/night cycle for now. The big thing is getting your enclosure temps at least into the 80s til you get properly set up.
I would leve it alone for awhile and a fresh water bowl is a must.

[Covington]

This thread is great. It's like reading a book about a little lost snake just when do I get to read the part about the happy new life away from the soda machine (Translated: wife has been convinced to let you keep your new awesome, courageous, strong willed snake). Good luck and kudos to you for saving it