Success!!

[UncleFester]

I've had Fester for 4 days now and he seems to be doing really well - really active and friendly towards me when I held him (I know, I didn't wait the week )... Anyway, when I got him he was on live mice hoppers and I couldn't get ahold of the person that I wanted to buy some frozen ones from, so I bought some frozen rat pinkies from someone else. I was excited, so I thought I'd try one tonight and..success!! He took it right away, it was extremely fast! I feel like such a proud snake mom :p He downed it within 10 minutes too. Pictures are below..they aren't great quality because I didn't want to disturb him.

Also, if he ate the rat that fast does that mean he could use another? Or is that a normal swallowing time?

Before...


During...

[RichsBallPythons]

Looking good but move him to rat fuzzies and or maybe rat pups depending on his weight.

[Kaorte]

Are you sure that was a rat pink and not a mouse pink? It looks really really small. I would go with a rat pup at that point.

Also, I know it is hard but don't hold him for a week or 48 hours after feeding. He needs to get used to his new home. Cruising is a sign that he isn't comfortable quite yet.

[steveboos]

Your doing a good job and we are aren't all here just to nit-pick everything you do. But i also agreed with the above posters, that snake could definitely eat a rat pup no problem Even mice fuzzies are a little small for him, thats why hes so skinny! I know you said you weren't able to get rats from the person you normally do but i could definitely see that ball python eat a smaller adult mouse or rat pup. Feed by girth, or 2-3 times their head size, that way you see a nice lump in there, but it doesn't seem like too much.

[UncleFester]

So he needs the next size up in rats? Should I feed the next one sooner than 7 days now?

Isn't the fact that he's eating a sign that he's comfortable? Just curious, I thought I was okay in handling him, but I'll stop if he is.

[UncleFester]

Your doing a good job and we are aren't all here just to nit-pick everything you do. But i also agreed with the above posters, that snake could definitely eat a rat pup no problem Even mice fuzzies are a little small for him, thats why hes so skinny! I know you said you weren't able to get rats from the person you normally do but i could definitely see that ball python eat a smaller adult mouse or rat pup. Feed by girth, or 2-3 times their head size, that way you see a nice lump in there, but it doesn't seem like too much.

I don't think you're nit-picking! I want to be told if I'm doing something wrong. I own lots of different animals, but snakes are very new to me.

I appreciate the advice.

[steveboos]

Well then welcome to the VERY addictive hobby of owning snakes. You know, morphs are VERY cool . Stop handling him for now, let him start to feel at home, think of it from his point of view. You were nice and warm hiding, someone picks you up moves you into a weird cool box, your bumping all over the place seeing all different temperature things and weird vibrations. Then someone puts you in a place you've never been and doesn't smell good at all. Now can you understand he wants to chill for a little?

[UncleFester]

I do understand. It's just hard to look at that face and not pick him up. But I won't.

What are some signs that he's settling in better that I can look for in a week or so?

[BallsUnlimited]

please do not handle him till hes settled in. This can cause unnecessary stress that can lead to a condition that you dont want to face. Leave him be for a week and then feed him a larger food item. He will gain his weight back after a couple feeds. Make sure hes hydrated and take it one step at a time. These bps can be very delicate so to speak when they are first moved to a new home.