New baby ball Python, did I handle him too much?

[RideRed12]

I just purchased my first baby ball python today. He is only 2 months old and I probobly handled him for over an hour today. He was pretty active earlier this evening and now hes just hiding in his hide and its 1 in the morning. Why isnt he out looking around the cage like he was earlier?

P.S. I dont have a heater yet and the temperature is about 75 degrees farenheit, I got worried that he was too cold so I put a desk lamp under his cage and it got really hot, I dont know if it burned him or not. What do I do?

[hunter94]

Don't handle him at all for 5-7 days. 75 is WAY to cold for the warmest part of the tank you NEED a heater in there or he will get sick. Answer these questions for me.

What is the Humidity?
How big is his Enclosure?
Is his Enclosure Plastic or Glass?
Do you have any heat source at all?
What type of bedding are you using?
What kind of hide are you using?
How are you taking the temperature and humidity of his cage?

[llovelace]

1. Welcome to BP.net

2. Don't ever put a lamp to heat your snake EVER!

3. The snake will be fine until you get the proper heat pad NOT a heat rock

4. If he is in his hide he's comfy, now leave him be for at least 1 week, so he can
settle in, you don't want to stress him out & have him go off feed for 3 months
at such a young age.

5. Please take the time to read the many care sheets in the BP forums.

6. Any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask

[iCandiBallPythons]

you should never attempt to heat a snake like that without someway of measuring the temps, overheating can cause burns, neurological problems and death. Your temp is way low, a temporary fix would be to use a human heating pad if you have one around. Place the pad under one end of the enclosure and turn it on low, and try to pick up a stick on heat pad and a basic thermostat asap along with an accurite digital thermometer with probe. If he's hiding its a good thing, bp's spend most of their life in hiding. Leave him alone for a few days to settle in. Here's a link to a care sheet. http://ball-pythons.net/modules/Sect...warticle&id=59

[RideRed12]

I apreciate the quick replys, right now hes in a 15 Quart Sterilte container with a box for a hide that is just big enough for him to fit. Newspaper for substraight and a large waterbowl with distilled water in it. I did alot of research of the last month and though I had everything down. The Oportunity presented itself to buy a baby from a breeder for a good price and I took it partially prepared. But over the last month I didnt read anything about letting it settle of leaving it alone till after I got home. I purchased it 180 miles away because I had to go there for a doctors appt. anyway. When I got home a close frend wanted to see it and we heald it for about 20-30 min then he looked around his cage and was fine, but now he almost seems scared.

[llovelace]

No he's probably tired out, a BP in his hide is a happy BP, if he were out roaming around alot is a sign of stress

[iCandiBallPythons]

He'll be fine, he's just in a new place it'll take a bit of time to adjust, just get the proper heating equipment and he'll do fine. The rest of your setup is fine. Here's a link to a basic tstat- http://beanfarm.com/product_info.php...oducts_id=5685 most chain pet stores will carry a zoo med 500 stat also, here is a link to a heat pad-
http://beanfarm.com/product_info.php...oducts_id=5578 most pet stores also carry one made by zoo med

[RideRed12]

Oh good, Ive been waiting for this for almost ten years and I couldnt contain myself. I used to always hold baby BP's in pet stores when I was little but my parents would never allow it or spend the money. Now due to a motocross injury I am unable to work and have the time to enjoy his company. My 15 Year old dog died about a month ago and my dad refuses to get another dog because it hurt too much. So I decided to get a ball python and bring him to college and hopefully help me get past my dogs death. Anyway, now that you know my life story. lol My dad still doesnt know I got him, and Im just worried that I stressed out my baby BP too much and that he might be cold.

[hunter94]

I apreciate the quick replys, right now hes in a 15 Quart Sterilte container with a box for a hide that is just big enough for him to fit. Newspaper for substraight and a large waterbowl with distilled water in it. I did alot of research of the last month and though I had everything down. The Oportunity presented itself to buy a baby from a breeder for a good price and I took it partially prepared. But over the last month I didnt read anything about letting it settle of leaving it alone till after I got home. I purchased it 180 miles away because I had to go there for a doctors appt. anyway. When I got home a close frend wanted to see it and we heald it for about 20-30 min then he looked around his cage and was fine, but now he almost seems scared.

Every thing is good but the heating. The hiding is perfectly normal 90% of the time you will not see them out of there hide. If you need advice on heating, Under Tank Heating is the best way to go because they need a belly heat of 93 F to be able to digest their food properly make sure if you have a Heating Pad that it is hooked up to a Thermostat, some Heating Pads will exceed temperatures above 100 F which can get dangerous at times.

These are what the Temps and Humidity should be.

Under Tank Heater: 93 F
Cool Side: 78 F to 82 F
Ambient: 80 F
Humidity: 50% to 60%
Humidity While Shedding: 70% to 75%

Also I would like to Welcome you to BP.net I'm glad you have joined and are asking questions, the more research you do the easier it is to take care of the BP. Also I would suggest reading this if you already haven't.

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

[llovelace]

Sorry for the loss of your dog, are you going to be in a dorm for college? Dorms don't allow pets