Questions from a first time owner.

[stjimmy2009]

Hello, I have a 1 year old yellow belly male ball python. i have only had him for about a week now and he is my first snake.
First i'm having some issues with keeping the humidity up in my tank i spray it with water daily and leave a bowl of water in the tank but the humidity just wont stay. the past couple of days now my lil man a=has been acting strange. Staying in hiding at night when he was before going out and being very active. he also seems kind of on the edge. he has been taking random strikes at things aswell (hasnt done any damage yet) I also noticed a white ring around about half of his eye. it is only around the edge and almost halfway around the eyeball. im not sure what signs of shedding are but i know that its a pretty stressful time for a snake so i dont know if thats what his deal is or not. im also feeding him live mice which people tell me make him more aggressive. if you could help me out that would be great. AURYN and i will be happy.

[Cameron Lamb Exotics]

First of all welcome to Bp.net and congrats on your new and first snake. A good way to keep your humidity up is to put a larger bowl in the cage. You can also create a moist hide for him by adding moss to a hide and getting it nice and wet.
The ring around the eye sounds like a stuck eye cap from the previous shed. They usually come off the next go around if the humidity is right just keep an eye on it.

[sissysnakes]

Feeding live food will not make your snake more aggresive. I would watch when you feed him though and take the live feeder out if the snake doesnt take it after a few minutes (I wait 15).
Oh and welcome

[stjimmy2009]

I didn't think that feeding it live food would make it aggressive either. I do believe he is going through shed tho. His belly is turning pinkish, i think the casing on his eye is starting. He is way more timed now even more on than on the first day i brought him home. i did have him out for about an hour just now and he seemed fine. Should i just leave him alone during his shed, as i know it is stressful for him. And how long (apprx) will it take for a shed?
Thanx! i'm glad you are all helpful.

[Annarose15]

Another way to help maintain humidity is to cover 3/4 of the screen lid with plexiglass or plastic. Some people also suggest a damp towel, but that seems like more work to me (breeding ground for bacteria/mold if it isn't changed regularly). Regardless of the method you use, an open screen top allows your humidity to escape almost immediately.

It's up to you whether you leave him alone to shed. I handle mine unless their eyes are actually blue. However, if yours has been timid/strikey, then I would probably leave him alone because he sounds a little stressed already.