New Ball Python Owner

[BlissfulChaos]

I adopted my first ball python last night. It's female and was told she's about 4 years old. I'm guessing she's about full grown..(about 4.5') She shed last night and I'm going to be feeding her on Friday. I was told to put them in their new tank and don't mess with them for about a week so she can get used to it.....She seems a bit skitish, which in turn makes me skitish. The previous owner said she's never bitten him, but hey, anyone can say that lol. My questions are, can she tell when I feel skitish? Also, is a week long enough to let her get to know her surroundings before handling her? Also, should I feed her in her tank or out of it....I've read to feed them out of their tank but I'm affraid she's going to mistake my hand as food if I go to get her out....

[ballpythonluvr]

Congratulations on your new snake! It is ok to feel skittish about your snake. Chances are she will not bite you if you just gently lift her hide off of her and let her know you are there. You are doing the right thing by not handling her for at least a week. You will definitely want to feed her in the enclosure that she is in. No need to feed in a separate container, this could actually increase your chances of being bitten by her due to the stress of moving her for the feeding or also by her still being in feed mode when you go to move her back into her enclsoure. I was a little nervous at first too when I had my first snake. I can tell you this, I have been bitten by rats and mice and that hurts a lot, lol! I am not really afraid of being bitten by a snake. Ball python bites are said to only hurt a little bit and draw only a tiny bit of blood. Good Luck with your new snake!

[BlissfulChaos]

Thanks so much! Def a help!

[ballpythonluvr]

Thanks so much! Def a help!

You are most welcome!

[Xanadu]

Congrats on your new girl! I personally think they can tell if you are uncomfortable. I have seen mine held by someone who was scared and he in turn was more on the alert. Once he was given back to me he calmed down. that also raises a question of "do they know who their "mommy" is??" but in any case, its totally normal for you and she to be skiddish in the begining but once she gets settled and you get used to her things should be alright i think.

Also, i have heard that its best to fee them in a different enclousure. But i have never done that and have had no problems. however, I feed frozen mice to my snake so he has never had to be on the hunt in any real way. He knows when the tongs come out that its feeding time and if he doesnt act quickly or strikes at the reflection of the mouse in the side of the tank (because sometimes i think hes not so bright) i'll just tap his nose with the mouse and he'll get it. The rest of the time he doesn't care if I am rearranging his branch or filling his water bowl or otherwise messing around in his tank. I think as long as you keep it uniform (always in the tank, or always out of the tank) she will become accustomed to whatever you are doing and will go along with it.

Good luck with your new girl!

[BlissfulChaos]

Awesome! Yea I figured I'll let her be about a week. I'll feed her this weekend (going to do live for awhile just til I can get her schedule down). The previous owner said she's eats both, just don't want to waste frozen until I know how much and how often she eats. Then I'll give her a few more days and I'm gonna take her out lil by lil everyday. She shed the first night I had her. I think maybe this had something to do with her being kind of skitish. And since she was shedding she didn't do much roaming around the tank but last night she was all over the place. It was great She's a pretty big girl and I can't wait til she's settled Thanks so much for your input!

[Peeved kitten]

I prefer to feed my BP in a separate enclosure. Probably 90% (stat made up on the fly!) of BP bites are due to mishandling of food. NEVER handle mice/rats and then your bp, you'll smell like them!

Remember they don't perceive us the same way we perceive them. They see us as either predator or prey, the trick is to show you are neither. Move slowly and confidently, try not to flinch. Avoid going right for her head/mouth with your hand. I like to keep my hand flat and my fingers together, it gives them less small bite size targets.

It is easily believable that the prev. owner was never bitten. Bp's are really relaxed snakes, slow down calm down and try to think about what she is perceiving. I hope this helps you!

[Vypyrz]

Congrats on your new girl! I personally think they can tell if you are uncomfortable. I have seen mine held by someone who was scared and he in turn was more on the alert. Once he was given back to me he calmed down. that also raises a question of "do they know who their "mommy" is??" but in any case, its totally normal for you and she to be skiddish in the begining but once she gets settled and you get used to her things should be alright i think.

The reason animals can smell fear is because when we are scared or uneasy we release certain pheromones and that is what the animals are detecting. Snakes can probably feel the elevated hearbeat as well...

[BlissfulChaos]

After being around her the last 2 days and watching her roam in her tank, I no longer feel skitish. I actually can't wait to feed her this weekend so I can start to handle her next week!

[alexOATH]

CONGRATS! Glad you're feeling more comforatble around her.

I personally feed out of the enclosure so my snakes don't ingest any of their substrate. But thats just me.