First week with a ball python .

[Uk2bx]

Spent the last month getting housing ready and up to temps , got the ball ( normal female het pied , 9 months old ) from a breader who had sold her last year and took her back as the owner couldn't keep her .
Very timid snake although it's my first so I'm not talking from experience , handled her every evening this week and she ate tonight ( 7 days since last meal ) . She had one large f/t mouse but I'm thinking next weekend I might go with a small rat , i don't have a scale to weigh her , she's about 2.5-3 feet long and quite girthy .
Tank is a exo terra 24x18x18 , aspen bedding , 2 hides one cool one hot , drift wood climbing (low) branch , both hides are covered with artificial greenery , 88-90 on the hot side 77-80 on the cool and the hot hide is 92-94 ish , humidity is 50 ish % but requires daily misting , large water dish and small bowl with wet paper towels on the hot side .
She's active in the late night but spends most of her time in the hot hide .
just wanted to say hi to the forum and to say thanks for the info I have found here , Jamie .

[Mike41793]

Sounds like you have everything perfect. From the size youre saying she is it sounds like she could take like 2 adult mice or 1 good size rat. I highly reccomend investing in a kitchen scale from walmart for $20. It takes the guesswork out of everything. A scale and a quality temp gun are 2 of my best investments so far for keeping my snakes lol.
Welcome to the forum btw!

[Uk2bx]

Thanks , it took a bit to get the temps good but the humidity is tricky , I will get a scale soon as I can , I do check the temps with a gun due to accuracy but have a acu rite digital in the tank .
When I handle her she reals back a little but hasn't tried to bite , she took the mouse right away , and I was wondering if I should thaw the rat together with a mouse so the rat is mouse scented ?

[DellaF]

Welcome to tbe forum and congrats on your first bp.

[snakeluvr#3]

Thanks , it took a bit to get the temps good but the humidity is tricky , I will get a scale soon as I can , I do check the temps with a gun due to accuracy but have a acu rite digital in the tank .
When I handle her she reals back a little but hasn't tried to bite , she took the mouse right away , and I was wondering if I should thaw the rat together with a mouse so the rat is mouse scented ?

Mine also seems to still reel back a but while holding too and also still starles very easily.. so far hasn't struck at me but there's been a few moments where I was kinda expecting it to happen I really hope he calms down some .. but then at the same time he will kinda chill out and really start exploring and so far hasn't ever sat still he really is always on the move

[simon17]

Yes dude welcome, I'm too still a nobbie and I have owned my BP for a year now, and being on this forum has really helped me with any question you may have, nothing sounds stupid when looking advise! Every day is still a learning day in my book,lol

Have you any pic's of her and her set up?

[Uk2bx]

I do have some pics on my phone , don't know how to get them from the phone to here , when I figure it out I will post some

[Mike41793]

When I handle her she reals back a little but hasn't tried to bite , she took the mouse right away , and I was wondering if I should thaw the rat together with a mouse so the rat is mouse scented ?

Some never grow out of this but most will calm down some with age. 2 of mine arent headshy at all whatsoever. But my cinny boy is still a fairly nervous lil dude. Sometimes i prefer him because i know i can turn away for a minute and he wont be halfway across the room lol. And if he starts squirming all i have to do is block him with my hand and he'll whip back. My other two would just bump into my hand or go around it paying no attention to it haha. My cinny boy also is my best, most aggressive, eater so it doesnt bother me lol.

[Slim]

Welcome to BP.net!

If the rat you plan to give her is no bigger around than her widest part, you can try offering it to her. The quicker you switch her over to rats, the easier it will be to find the correct size prey for her when she's an adult.

If she doesn't take to rats right away, you can still offer her a mouse and try the rat again at another feeding.

[Vypyrz]

Hello Jamie, and to BP.net...

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