Hello from Florida

[Jamielvsaustin]

Hi all,
I'm joining today because this weekend we picked up a female ball python and I want to make sure I'm doing everything I can to take care of her properly. I know that the correct way, would have been to research first and then acquire...but in this case it didn't work like that. Her previous owner was seriously neglecting her. When we picked her up yesterday he "mentioned" that her cage hadn't been cleaned in a year and she would need to be fed very soon. We spoke to him approximately 3-4 weeks ago and at that time he'd just fed her...after about 3 months of not feeding her. I know they can go for quite some time without eating, but this just doesn't seem right. If she's not eating it should be because she doesn't want the food, not because it isn't being provided.

I worked at a pet store quite a few years ago (about 10) and so I have some experience with snakes...but I'm sure it's not nearly enough. I went out last night and bought Nature's Bark (says it comes from fir trees) along with some other stuff-basically it's the husks of coconuts. Is this stuff okay? What's ideal?

I do want to feed her tonight but I don't have a separate cage to put her in to feed. The pet store I was at last night didn't have anything I thought was big enough-any suggestions?

I have a ton of questions

Can I give her a bath? If she was in that cage for a year I'm sure she needs something. She has a water dish, but it is too small for her to completely soak in. Last night she was doing sections of her body at a time.

Can she be chipped? Spayed? Does she need vaccines?

I'm pretty sure I saw her yawn last night-do snakes do this?

How humid do I need to keep her?

The set up she came with seems pretty basic. I would like to improve it. The piece of log might have been good for her when she was little, but she can't fit all the way under it now...and the water dish seems too small. Do pythons like to hang on branches and such? There is a heating lamp, but its set directly on the metal mesh top. I don't really like that idea. Any ideas on a set up for that?

I was under the impression that heating rocks and pads were bad for them, that they could burn themselves...is it true or a myth?

I think that's all for now. I'm sure there will be more.

[Jamielvsaustin]

Anyone?

[mr. s]

People sometimes don't feel like reading a long post and answering tons of very newbie questions. BP.net is a great resource, but it is important to learn how to use it. Search for a caresheet online first, then another, then another, etc. Read read read everything you can first. I think all these questions can be answered there. Then if you do not understand something specifically, then search this sight. Then if you can't find it, you could ask and someone will be happy to give a quick response.

Yes, coconut is fine. I use it for all my snakes. Just make sure that it dries out before you add it to the enclosure or you could be causing humidity problems.

You can but a plastic tub from walmart to feed her in.

You CAN give her a bath, but not too regularly. Make sure the water is not too warm. Warm to us can be too hot for a snake.

Not sure what you are talking about chipped or sprayed. But this snake could definitely use a visit to the vet since the owner did not care about it and you probably have no idea how to identify problems.

Yes, they yawn, but this could be a respiratory infection too.

50% humidity normally, but up to 70% during shed.

Please take a look at care sheets and if you have specific questions about the information feel free to post another question.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules/...warticle&id=59

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...d.php?t=114021

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ight=enclosure

There is WAY too much to answer for each of these 'little' questions, but I hope this has covered the basics.
Welcome to the forum.
Cheers.

[Jamielvsaustin]

Not sure what you are talking about chipped or sprayed. But this snake could definitely use a visit to the vet since the owner did not care about it and you probably have no idea how to identify problems.

I was asking if a chip could be put in her like they are put in cats/dogs for identification/tracking purposes. And I was asking if she could be fixed-so that she can not reproduce. We're only her foster home, when she goes to someone after us I want to make sure they're not irresponsibly breeding her. I'm an owner of Pit Bulls, and this is a common problem. The reason for the chip would be if she was taken to the shelter or a rescue, they could contact us to tell us her new adopters dropped her off...and we could start the fostering process all over again.

I've definitely been reading up, on here and else where. I just was hoping for some short answers, or for someone to point me in the right direction.

Thank you very much for your help and I will continue to research.

[mr. s]

I have never heard of chips in snakes unless being tracked in the wild. Never heard of fixing a snake either. That is not really something you can control when selling. Maybe she would go to a responsible breeder too, who knows.
You are most welcome for the help!

[West Coast Jungle]

They do make chips, its actually required in your state for burmese and retics if i am not mistaken(could be wrong). As far as fixing her I dont think that is possible or necessary. Its not like dogs where irresponsible breeding has become an issue.

Welcome to BP Net by the way

You probably didnt get your questions answered because you are in the introduction section. Try the General Ball Python section and you should have some better luck. This section isnt viewed as much.

[Boanerges]

Welcome to BP.net
You can get chips in snakes
And I have never heard of someone getting their snake fixed. If it is even possible it might be very hard to find someone to do it and since it is not common I would imagine it would be VERY expensive.

[Jamielvsaustin]

Thank you all for your help!

I guess asking if she can be chipped and/or spayed shows how new to this I really am.

[Boanerges]

Thank you all for your help!

I guess asking if she can be chipped and/or spayed shows how new to this I really am.

Ask away, that is what we are here for!!! You have start some where and learn some how

[j_h_smith]

Hi all,
I'm joining today because this weekend we picked up a female ball python and I want to make sure I'm doing everything I can to take care of her properly. I know that the correct way, would have been to research first and then acquire...but in this case it didn't work like that. Her previous owner was seriously neglecting her. When we picked her up yesterday he "mentioned" that her cage hadn't been cleaned in a year and she would need to be fed very soon. We spoke to him approximately 3-4 weeks ago and at that time he'd just fed her...after about 3 months of not feeding her. I know they can go for quite some time without eating, but this just doesn't seem right. If she's not eating it should be because she doesn't want the food, not because it isn't being provided.

I worked at a pet store quite a few years ago (about 10) and so I have some experience with snakes...but I'm sure it's not nearly enough. I went out last night and bought Nature's Bark (says it comes from fir trees) along with some other stuff-basically it's the husks of coconuts. Is this stuff okay? What's ideal?

Newspaper or Aspen bedding is ideal. I would not use the coconut husks/dirt. Not the best stuff.

I do want to feed her tonight but I don't have a separate cage to put her in to feed. The pet store I was at last night didn't have anything I thought was big enough-any suggestions?

No need for a feeding cage. Some will say that everytime you remove the snake from it's habitat, it will think it's going to be fed. I believe most will tell you that feeding in her cage will be fine.

I have a ton of questions

Can I give her a bath? If she was in that cage for a year I'm sure she needs something. She has a water dish, but it is too small for her to completely soak in. Last night she was doing sections of her body at a time.

A snake does not need to be bathed. Sometime you will want to soak the snake in water if they are having a tough time shedding or haven't poo'd for some time. Other times, your snake can soak in it's water bowl if they are having issues. They could be dehydrated or mites.

Can she be chipped? Spayed? Does she need vaccines?

She can be chipped but I don't know why you'd want to spend the money. Keep her inside her cage and you'll never need a chip. If she gets out, she will more than likely stay in your house, so a chip wouldn't help. If you think she could be stolen, I would spend the money on better house locks than on a chip.

I'm pretty sure I saw her yawn last night-do snakes do this?

Well since you saw her yawn, then yes snakes do yawn. It's really a realigning of their jaws, or so say most people.

How humid do I need to keep her?

I would suggest you look up the husbandry caresheet for Ball Pythons. You will get a lot of your questions answered there.

The set up she came with seems pretty basic. I would like to improve it. The piece of log might have been good for her when she was little, but she can't fit all the way under it now...and the water dish seems too small.

Again look for the caresheets.

Do pythons like to hang on branches and such? There is a heating lamp, but its set directly on the metal mesh top. I don't really like that idea. Any ideas on a set up for that?

Again, the caresheet will tell you what you want to know. But get rid of the heat lamp and buy an under the tank heater. Buy a dimmer switch at Home Depot to control the output so you don't roast the snake.

I was under the impression that heating rocks and pads were bad for them, that they could burn themselves...is it true or a myth?

Caresheet. Heat rocks are a big no-no. UTH are the standard. They don't go into the cage, they go under the cage, thus UTH Under Tank Heater.

I think that's all for now. I'm sure there will be more.

Please read as much as you can find on this web page. There is a great deal of experience here, but you have to realize that some have been answering the same questions for many years. Read what you can, then read a little more. Then search topics. You will find most of what you will need here.

Good Luck!
Jim Smith