New bp owner, a few questions

[adum]

Ok, thanks for the feedback! Will get right on it :)

[adum]

And btw, whats your take about leaving him be for the first week or is it ok to handle him from now?

[The Serpent Merchant]

You need to leave him alone for the first week, then try feeding. I do not suggest handling him until he has 3 consecutive meals in him. handling can stress out a BP, stress can make a BP not eat... so you want to get him established and eating before you start handling him.

[Slim]

Still unsure about feeding him in his tank

There are no good reasons to feed a ball python outside the enclosure, and several good reasons not to. BPs do not get cage aggressive, and if you have a picky eater, moving them to a seperate tub is a sure fire way to have them refuse to eat.

Even if they do eat in a seperate tub, you still have to move a snake that has just fed and is still in feeding mode, back to the enclosure. That's a perfect scenario for getting bitten.

[adum]

You guys have convinced me, I'll feed him in his tank :)

Just handled him now for a bit by removing his hide to pick him up, all he did was just stay in a ball. Put him back in and he found his way back to his hide. I'll take your advice and feed him before handling him the next time (obviously waiting a day or 2 after he's fed)

Thanks!

[Tzeentch]

I have 11 snakes and have handled all of them since day one (and no quarantine, oh no!).

I had no problems with the first 10 eating on the first feeding, but my latest pick-up did not eat on her first time around. But I've only had her 11 days and I've picked her up 8 or 9 times.

But for you, as a first time owner, you should let him/her be for a week or so.

[Homegrownscales]

I tell folks no handling at all for three consecutive feedings. And when handling starts it should be kept at a minimum. Handling is just stress for a ball. The more they get handled the more stress they have. A stressed ball doesn't eat.
The advice you've been given is spot on and I highly suggest following it to a T.




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[Homegrownscales]

I have 11 snakes and have handled all of them since day one (and no quarantine, oh no!).

That is just silly....... One day perhaps you will learn how incredibly important it is to qt and why it is the most important part of having a collection.
I have watched multiple people lose ENTIRE collections even qting dilligently. To just not to it because of whatever dumb reasoning is playing with fire.

Back to your regular programming.......



Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com