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  1. #1
    Registered User enchantress62's Avatar
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    I Have Questions

    Baloo, my baby bp has been with me for 1 month. In that time she has only eaten 2 mice, 1 f/t and 1 live. I've tried various sizes and today I'm going to offer her a f/t hopper. What is the best food for her to eat? How do I tell if she is under weight or dehydrated? How important is it to buy a scale? I don't know how old she is because I got her at Petsmart and they didn't know anything about her, but my best guess is probably a couple months. What are the signs of shedding other then cloudy eyes? She has yet to shed for me but I suspect she's getting close since she hissed at me for the first time yesterday. I did buy a book which explains the basics but is lacking in details which only leaves me with more questions. All info, opinion, and/or advice is apreciated.

  2. #2
    BPnet Lifer Annarose15's Avatar
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    Re: I Have Questions

    Read up at the links below, and do a couple forum searches. There is a lot of information already on this site. Pay special attention to the threads at the top of each forum subject that are labeled "sticky" - the two links below are stickies from the BP Husbandry subject.

    http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...Husbandry-FAQs

    http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet
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    Driver (12-14-2011),thorblood666 (12-15-2011)

  4. #3
    BPnet Lifer Annarose15's Avatar
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    Re: I Have Questions

    Here's the sticky from "General BP's" on shedding:

    http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...edding-Process
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  5. #4
    Registered User enchantress62's Avatar
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    Re: I Have Questions

    Thanks, I will do that right now.

  6. #5
    Registered User Emily Hubbard's Avatar
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    If you provide us with a picture of her, we might be able to better help guess he age if you are curious. I would guess she is probably a little older than a couple months, there aren't a whole lot of october hatchlings, most are late summer.

    Do all the reading up that you can, these forums are great for getting multiple opinions and advice from people who have had snakes a long time, as well as other newbies looking for help. I am a newbie for sure, but I did two years of research before I finally bought my snake. I have stacks of books and did hours upon hours of google searches and YouTube videos.

    There are lots of resources, just make sure you get the basics down first, proper temps especially. I highly recommend only feeding f/t unless she absolutely refuses it multiple times and you have ruled out things like the prey not being warm enough or her temps not being right.
    0.1 - Normal ball python, Zola

  7. #6
    BPnet Veteran KatStoverReptiles's Avatar
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    Re: I Have Questions

    Your best bet IS to do forum searches and read caresheets, but because I'm unemployed right now and have the time, I'll give you MY answers to your questions.

    Quote Originally Posted by enchantress62 View Post
    Baloo, my baby bp has been with me for 1 month. In that time she has only eaten 2 mice, 1 f/t and 1 live. I've tried various sizes and today I'm going to offer her a f/t hopper. What is the best food for her to eat?

    Rats are generally considered to be more nutritious than mice, but BPs will thrive on mice just fine. They may grow slower, but will be just fine. The proper size prey item is either 10-15% of her body weight or slightly larger around than she is at her widest point. These two sizes are usually pretty close. I feed my younger snakes every 5 days. Anywhere in the every 4-7 day range would be OK.

    How do I tell if she is under weight or dehydrated?

    If she has sort've a "triangular" shape, or obviously, if you can see bones, she's under weight. BPs should have a sort've "plump" look to them. I'm not quite sure on dehydration as I don't think I've ever actually seen a dehydrated snake in person. All my snakes have access to water 24/7 and I do see them drink on occasion, (and they pee ALL THE TIME!) so I figure they're keeping themselves hydrated enough.

    My exception to this is when I go on vacation for more than overnight. I remove water bowls just so they can't spill them and have to sit on wet paper towels for a few days. They do just fine. I also remove water bowls from the tubs of my breeding females when they're paired with a male. They just make a mess.


    How important is it to buy a scale?

    I, personally, like to keep tabs on my snakes' weight to track their growth and to make sure my fasting animals aren't losing too much. They're not really that expensive (I think one can be had for around $10 at Walmart). But really its up to you.

    I don't know how old she is because I got her at Petsmart and they didn't know anything about her, but my best guess is probably a couple months. What are the signs of shedding other then cloudy eyes?

    The snake will take on a generally darker or dull appearance for a bit before it sheds. It may also refuse food. Also, if you keep shed records (I like iHerp.com for this) you will get a general baseline for how often they shed, and know to look for the signs when the time's getting close.

    She has yet to shed for me but I suspect she's getting close since she hissed at me for the first time yesterday.

    Yeah I wouldn't take hissing as a sign of an impending shed. Although some snakes do get a bit testy around shed time. I have some in my collection that hiss every time I open their tub. I also have some that I've never heard hiss...

    I did buy a book which explains the basics but is lacking in details which only leaves me with more questions. All info, opinion, and/or advice is apreciated.
    Hope I helped!!

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