Getting my first Ball Python :)

[Yaqcubper]

Hello Everyone!

I'm from Southern California and am getting my first Ball Python later on today or tomorrow. I am very very excited and can't wait! I've been reading up so much on snakes and Ball Pythons specifically that I've had dreams about rats lol.
I'm still not 100% sure on where I'm going feeding wise (live or F/T) so I figure I'm just going to ask what kind the snake has been fed and just take it from there!

I know that when I bring the snake home that I will have to wait a while before trying to handle it and get acquainted with it but I've heard conflicting wait times on that. Some people say wait a couple days while others say 1-2 weeks. If anyone could tell me how long they waited and what their snake's reactions were to them that would be awesome

[RestlessRobie]

We waited a week kinda and well we handeled him a little the first week and it took a little longer to get ours to eat properly but that was our fault. We didnt have the husbandry set up correctly needed smaller more enclosed hides. If I had it to do again I would have fed on day 3-5 and then waited a couple more days to handle at all. Best way to judge is watch your snake first couple days he will prolly roam his enclosure getting used to it. Then start using the hides when you see him poking his head out like he is watching for prey try feeding. I prefer F/T mainly for easy and keeping the prey from hurting the snake. We put the rat in the fridge the night before and reheat in warm water to about 100F then feed. I prefer to feed in a seperate container as this allows time to clean and stir the substrate but this is a preferance. I have yet to hear of a BP getting agressive beacuse they were fed in its enclosure. Usually Agression is caused by another issue. As fas as enclosure goes I prefer Aquariums I like to watch my snake but this has a slight downfall keeping humidty was dificult tille we covered most of the top with Plexi. Hope this is helpful and feel free to post other question we have a great group of longtime breeder/collectors that give some excellent advice. Made my life and my sons snakes life a lot easier thanks yet again BP.net you guys rock.
Robie

[wytchling]

Welcome

I got my first BP back in August and the folks here have been awesome about answering all my questions.

As far as handling mine, the place I got her from put her in a little cloth bag but there were loads of loose strings in it that she managed to tangle herself up in. So I ended up holding her on the hour drive home. She never acted stressed or defensive. But that's just my experience with my BP. I didn't know there was a wait time for handling when I got her. She acclimated to her enclosure just fine despite being handled from day one and has quite a "beastly" feeding response.

I think I just got lucky with her being so good about everything. Each snake is different and over time you'll figure out what your baby's personality is.

Congrats and again welcome to BP.net.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

[llovelace]

Welcome to BP.net

[Vypyrz]

Hello, and to BP.net...

[Yaqcubper]

Thank you guys so much.

I hope that I can provide a safe place for my snake but I know that no matter how much I read about how to care for it every snake is different and experience with it is going to be my best teacher. I just want to make sure I'm not being accidentally ignorant about anything lol

I'm off to pick out hideys and all that good stuff so I can have everything ready...Ahhh wish me luck!

I hope I get lucky too and get a good tempered snake, I'm not worried about being bit or anything just that it would be nice

[RestlessRobie]

Hehe I know how you feel my new snake arrives on tuesday and I am full of doubts wether or not I have the QT tanks set up right and will I be able to leave her alone for the first feew day will she Eat ETC and my sons BP is doing great we got him eating like a garbage disposal but still I worry

[Yaqcubper]

Hehe I know how you feel my new snake arrives on tuesday and I am full of doubts wether or not I have the QT tanks set up right and will I be able to leave her alone for the first feew day will she Eat ETC and my sons BP is doing great we got him eating like a garbage disposal but still I worry

I just got her all situated in her new tank Now the hard part, keeping my hands off her for a while! LOL My friends came with me and ended up getting two Rainbow Boas they're beautiful. I can already tell that I may not be satisfied with just one!

[RestlessRobie]

Yeah when we got the son his Normal I promised my wife and myself we would stop at one but 2 months later #2 is on the way

[SnakeKittyFishy]

Congrats on the new girl Gonna get up some pics of her for us? When I got mine I let him chill in his new home for about a week before I handled him. The first time I handled him he started peeing on me lol... but he has only done it twice since I got him and they both happened when I first got him. He's such a sweety now and tolerates all of my picture taking ^_^