First Time BP Owner

[Sarahintx]

I just brought home my baby ball python two days ago. She is very active so far. The breeder told me to leave her alone for the first week so she can get acclimated. I have gotten her everything she needs with the exception of food which I'll need next week. I have done some basic research on BPs but just looking for important tips I might have missed. Also wanted to mention some things about her behavior I want to make sure are normal. She likes to lift the top half of her body way up in the air.. Does this just mean she is checking out her surroundings? Also she likes to put herself in her water dish. As far as feeding goes I've read conflicting things about live or frozen. She was eating live with the breeder but I'm thinking of trying frozen because it is safer. Also I have read on here that getting bit is to be expected.. I hope that's not the case. But anyway I have enjoyed her so far and can't wait to see how big she will be one day. Also I read that I should establish a relationship with a reptile vet in case anything comes up in the future.. Do I need to take her for a checkup? If anyone has a general tip they want to share it would be appreciated. I have attached a pic from when I first brought her home.


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[MisterKyte]

The hard truth is, if it has a mouth then it will eventually bite you! In my opinion, snakes are no more or no less inclined to bite than any other animal but if you push them too much, they will defend themselves. Take it slow and learn to realize that if its hissing then it's not the best time to play.

As for the lifting bit, that's called "periscoping" and it's exactly what you think it is.

On live vs. F/T, I would suggest you try F/T first and maybe pre-killed if you get no dice on that, then go to live rat fuzzies/pups/weanlings (depending on the size of your BP) because they're much less intimidating than an adult mouse and typically can't do much harm when you're supervising the feeding.

Good luck!

[Gerardo]

I suggest that you try feeding her what she was eating with the breeder for the first few times then switch. Also an active BP might mean that there is something not ideal in the husbandry. Check temps and humidity. And feeding live vs frozen is more of a personal preference. Feeding live is safe if its done correctly and feeding frozen can be deadly if done incorrectly. And yes when she "stands up" she is just checking things out. Its called periscoping.

[MootWorm]

Welcome, and congrats on the new ball!! I agree with feeding her what she's been accustomed to for the first few times, then make the switch to your preferred feeding method. As for the soaking, it could be an indicator of mites. I'd do a thorough once over once she's settled in, look for tiny black specks on her body. I'm not sure what type of substrate you're using, but I like paper towels for the first few weeks so you can see if there are any hitch hikers. I don't think a vet visit is necessary unless she's having any type abnormal behaviors or symptoms. This just causes undue stress. I do think you should locate a good exotics vet and keep their information on hand just in case you have an emergency pop up. That way you won't have to scramble in addition to dealing with some unknown illness. Makes everything much easier IMO. Not trying to freak you out, I've never had to take my balls to the vet, but it's just an added reassurance

[Sarahintx]

Thanks for the responses, I really appreciate the advice. Can anyone tell me what they use to clean the inside of the tank? I want to spot-clean because there are some smudges on the inside. Also when I do a complete clean out what should I use?


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[MootWorm]

What kind of smudges? If it's just water marks on the glass, I use a damp paper towel. When you do a full clean, f10 vet disinfectant works wonders, or you can use a diluted bleach solution. You just have to make sure all the fumes have dissipated before putting any live animals in

[Sarahintx]

I am happy to report that I was successful in feeding my little girl (Karma) a f/t mouse yesterday. I put her in a separate tank, thawed the mouse then put it under the heat lamp for a minute. The second I placed it in with her she tackled it. I was a little worried because after I put her back in her home she curled up in the corner and stayed there. But now she is back out exploring so I guess she just needed time to digest. She's so fun to watch. I attached a pic of her from the other day.


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[Productmur]

Gorgeous normal you've got there. Nice white on her sides, and a pretty golden color. You know, sometimes the beauty of a simple normal gets lost among the wide array of morphs out there. Again, beautiful gal. :3

[Sarahintx]

Thank you! I think she's awesome. I got her from Bill Stegall at Phoenix Reptiles. I hope to get a BEL from him one day.


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[Naom9Anne]

Just a rule of thumb which is used here which may help you a little bit.

"A happy BP is a hiding BP" They're nocturnal creatures and it's a good sign if they stay in their hides. If you don't see her, don't worry! (Not sure if this has already been said but it's helpful for any new BP owner (Quite new to this myself))