new ball

[joeybratten]

hi,
I just got my first ball python, he is about 15-16" but I don't know how old he is,
the shop keeper said he was fed last friday on pinkies f/t but he looked thin so I tried to feed yesterday and today and he showed no interest at all,
One thing I would mention is he is really active, I was under the impression that balls were lazy, but this guy is all over the place.
Ive seen him drink water from his bowl which i didn't know snakes did,
and also he is going a blueish tint over his scaled which i've read is an indication of him gettin ready to shed, would this stop him from feeding?

this is my first snake so im just a little nervous about him.

[ballpythonluvr]

It sounds like your snake might be a bit stressed with all of the roaming around. It is getting ready to shed also. I would not attmept tp feed again unitl after the snake has shed. What kind of enclosure do you have the snake in? What are the tempertures on the warm and cool side? Are you using identical tight fitting hides?

[stevepoppers]

Feed him at least mouse hoppers. Any pinkies are too small.

He's testing the limits of his enclosure and this is normal for about the first week.

Wait at least a week to feed or handle him, then give him something that is about as big around as his widest point. or 10-15% or his body weight. You can offer while he's in shed. Some take it, some don't. Don't leave a live rodent in with him unsupervised.

Read the caresheet and any sticky that catches your eye. "Glass tank setup" is probably very relevant. I hope you have at least two identical very tight fitting hides, and some sort of under tank heater (UTH) regulated by a thermostat. Probes in the right place, digital thermometer and hygrometer (dials suck). Pet stores never give the right info.

It really sucks that most people come here knowing absolutely nothing. I did it myself, but it just sucks that that's the way it is. And we don't know what you know or think you know because petstores almost never know anything! Hatchlings eat mouse hoppers. No ball python should ever be fed pinkies because they don't need something so small! Some people have it mostly right, some have no freaking clue! The caresheet is slightly incomplete, so I have to offer the above information in addition to saying, "Read the caresheet."

Sorry about the little rant. Good luck.

[joeybratten]

I just got him on Monday so i'm assuming he is still stressed from coming from the shop, and i thought he was. I have a basking light oneside with UTH, i think it about 32 degrees on tht side, but im not sure about the cool side, the air in the middle of the tank at the top is 26 degrees, i dont have i identical hides, one is some cork bark pressd up agianst a rock on the warm side which he is in most of the time, and on the cool side i have a half coconut shell which i have never seen him in.

[theartofsolitude]

hi joey, what's the humidity of your enclosure. i believe they need 40% to 50% humidity on normal condition and around 60% when shedding.

i read somewhere that humidity also affects their appetite, increasing humidity to 40% to 50% can be helpful.

[stevepoppers]

50-60% normally. Higher during shedding if needed.

[theartofsolitude]

woops.. newbie mistake, i stand corrected, 50% to 60% normal and around 80% when shedding

[Brstin2flames]

I had the same problem as far as the pet store giving me bad info. They told me to feed mine pinkies when he really should have been on adult mice!

As far as the feeding goes, I'd definitely wait a week before offering him food, thats what I did with my new BP. I also made sure to pre-scent his enclosure for about 45 minutes before hand. I placed a partially defrosted mouse in a tupperware container with holes in it inside his tank so the snake could get the scent of it. Then after about 45 mins I offered him the prey and he took it no problem. Try that to maybe help get him in the mood to eat after about a week of letting him settle in.

Good luck!

[joeybratten]

thanks guys, just to clear it up i have knowledge of keeping exotic pets just no practical experience with snakes, and yes the pet shop gave bad info with the pinkies, i now have 2 identical hides on hot and cold side, and i have a UTH on a thermostat so thats all taken care of, he still seems over active but im going to leave him five days to a week then offer some food again and ill make sure to pre-scent

[Kaorte]

Covering the back and sides of the enclosure with dark paper will also help him feel more secure.