New BP Owner. Advice requested!

[babylogan]

So my father got me an early X-Mas gift yesterday. I think I'll name him Logan, although I don't know if its a he or she >w< anyway I have just a few questions and concerns.

He was bought at a pet store and I don't know their methods of keeping BP but he came home in a cardboard box. He was pretty cold so I snuggled him under my neck for a while. He was incredibly tense which I believe is normal but I don't want to stress him out by holding him too much. As soon as he was warmed up I cleaned out a ten gallon tank for him with disinfectant and dish soap, laid down paper towel and then newspaper shreddings. I let him settle in the tank for about 10 minutes then threw a hopper in the tank. He grabbed it almost immediately so I left him be to eat. Once he had finished stomaching the rat, I put his tank up on my dresser and set up his heat source. As I wasn't exactly expecting him to come home so soon I put a 75W basking light in a lamp and laid it on the mesh screen top. He has about a quarter inch of water in his water dish on the cool side and an empty coffeecakes box i cut the flaps off of for him to hide in for the time being.

Now for the questions.

1. How often should I handle "Logan" for him to get used to being out and held? Its only been 24 hours since hes been home and I only took him out once(because he ate and I don't want him to regurgitate) when he tried to lash out in the tank.

2. When should I start handling him? I've been reading that he should be left in his tank for the first 48 hours but heres why I feel I should take him out.

I know balls are typically known for their mild temperament so I'm honestly shocked to see him lashing out so much. He lashed at my aunt twice already, almost nipped my uncles arm when he put him down, and he struck at the glass numerous times when i was getting clothes out of my dresser, he also nipped me once when I changed his water. We all move very slowly to not scare him. I opened the draws slowly to keep vibration to a minimum but he kept trying to strike me through the glass so I scooped him out of the tank, held him gently towards the head so as not to upset his belly and put some saliva on his head. I tucked him under my neck again and kissed his face(which he apparently loves he pushes into it) and he was much calmer. I also noticed that he is not trying to bite. He is simply nipping with his mouth, like warning shots, but he keeps doing it. I'm not sure what is factoring into his stress but I feel it is something with the set up so I did a little research.
Most places say to leave him be but I also found a care sheet that mentioned overhead lights being stressful for balls as they're nocturnal. He felt warm when I picked him up so I switched the light to a regular 40 watt bulb and pushed the light into the corner.

3. Should I keep using the 40W, switch back to the 75W or buy another UV light bulb like I have for my leopard geckos?

4. His tank is next to my 2 leopard geckos 20g long tank. I put an obstruction inbetween so he can't see them but could their scent also be stressing him out?

5. Should I mist his tank? The only other humidity reader I have is stuck to a tank thats too big for him :/ I'm going to try to pry it off. What should the humidity read as in the tank?


I know he isn't supposed to be handled after he eats for at least a day and a half. My aunt has 2 red tails so I know a few things. If I took him out I supported his head and tail and he shows no signs of regurgitating so that's not a problem. I'd like to get everything squared away by tomorrow I have to go to Maine for a couple days. Also just any basic advice you can give me that you feel any new owner should hear fire away! I'm all ears.

[200xth]

He sounds stressed. It's not the geckos that's doing it. He was picked up, moved to a new place, fed, moved to a new tank and some big giant creature keeps picking him up trying to eat him.

Setup the tank with proper heat and humidity, and go away to Maine for a couple of days. The time alone will let him digest his meal and acclimate a bit. When you get back, you can see how he's doing. If he's still striking and lashing, can figure out what to do then.

But for now, 2 days alone to digest and sit in his hide alone is what he needs/wants.

[Physician&Snakes]

So my father got me an early X-Mas gift yesterday. I think I'll name him Logan, although I don't know if its a he or she >w< anyway I have just a few questions and concerns.

He was bought at a pet store and I don't know their methods of keeping BP but he came home in a cardboard box. He was pretty cold so I snuggled him under my neck for a while. He was incredibly tense which I believe is normal but I don't want to stress him out by holding him too much. As soon as he was warmed up I cleaned out a ten gallon tank for him with disinfectant and dish soap, laid down paper towel and then newspaper shreddings. I let him settle in the tank for about 10 minutes then threw a hopper in the tank. He grabbed it almost immediately so I left him be to eat. Once he had finished stomaching the rat, I put his tank up on my dresser and set up his heat source. As I wasn't exactly expecting him to come home so soon I put a 75W basking light in a lamp and laid it on the mesh screen top. He has about a quarter inch of water in his water dish on the cool side and an empty coffeecakes box i cut the flaps off of for him to hide in for the time being.

Now for the questions.

1. How often should I handle "Logan" for him to get used to being out and held? Its only been 24 hours since hes been home and I only took him out once(because he ate and I don't want him to regurgitate) when he tried to lash out in the tank.

Give him a week to settle in then you may begin handeling a good 3-4 days a week for 10-20 minutes.

2. When should I start handling him? I've been reading that he should be left in his tank for the first 48 hours but heres why I feel I should take him out.

I know balls are typically known for their mild temperament so I'm honestly shocked to see him lashing out so much. He lashed at my aunt twice already, almost nipped my uncles arm when he put him down, and he struck at the glass numerous times when i was getting clothes out of my dresser, he also nipped me once when I changed his water. We all move very slowly to not scare him. I opened the draws slowly to keep vibration to a minimum but he kept trying to strike me through the glass so I scooped him out of the tank, held him gently towards the head so as not to upset his belly and put some saliva on his head. I tucked him under my neck again and kissed his face(which he apparently loves he pushes into it) and he was much calmer. I also noticed that he is not trying to bite. He is simply nipping with his mouth, like warning shots, but he keeps doing it. I'm not sure what is factoring into his stress but I feel it is something with the set up so I did a little research.
Most places say to leave him be but I also found a care sheet that mentioned overhead lights being stressful for balls as they're nocturnal. He felt warm when I picked him up so I switched the light to a regular 40 watt bulb and pushed the light into the corner.

You are likely moving TOO slow, something moving too fast and too slow is a predator, just go in with confidence and pick him up...you'll see improvement rather quickly.

3. Should I keep using the 40W, switch back to the 75W or buy another UV light bulb like I have for my leopard geckos?

What temps are you getting? Snakes do not require UVB lighting.

4. His tank is next to my 2 leopard geckos 20g long tank. I put an obstruction inbetween so he can't see them but could their scent also be stressing him out?

I doubt it so long as you are washing your hands and both enclosures are clean.

5. Should I mist his tank? The only other humidity reader I have is stuck to a tank thats too big for him :/ I'm going to try to pry it off. What should the humidity read as in the tank?

Good humidity is humidity that comes strong and goes easy. Let it hit near 80-100% in the morning and let the cage dry throughout the day, if you live someplace rather dry then you may also have to mist nightly. Personally I just saturate my substrates weekly...obviously you cannot do that with paper products, I recommend cypress mulch.


I know he isn't supposed to be handled after he eats for at least a day and a half. My aunt has 2 red tails so I know a few things. If I took him out I supported his head and tail and he shows no signs of regurgitating so that's not a problem. I'd like to get everything squared away by tomorrow I have to go to Maine for a couple days. Also just any basic advice you can give me that you feel any new owner should hear fire away! I'm all ears.

If that's a glass tank then close three sides off...everything else is in bold^^^.

[Crazymonkee]

I would not saturate the bedding... with experience it could probably be done... but not for someone starting out. I personally wouldn't do it anyway.
I would go with Eco earth or coco husk as a bedding and you may have to mist once a day. The lamp unfortunately dries everything out.
Coconut husk retains humidity well without needing saturation

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

[Naom9Anne]

New BP's should be left for a full week of no handling after you first get them to let them settle. This is a guideline, not a rule but a lot of us do follow that. This will (hopefully, although not always) help with better eating. Leave him alone and only handle if completely necessary in this time. Your BP will be stressed in a new home with new people, if this happened to you you would go defensive too!

I know it's a pain to have such a beautiful creature and not be able to handle him for a week but you'll have many years to love this guy, a week is nothing in comparison! Change his water in this time of course!

Do not handle for around 36-48 hours after a feed is also a guideline. I leave mine for 48hours before handling again.

A hide in the hot and cold end when you can snakes should not have to choose security over comfort. I have make hides out of plastic bowls by cutting in a door and using a lighter to smooth the edges. Remember changing the enclosure can cause stress too.

Glass tank should have three of the sides covered over

This is not set in stone but from research, this forum and a little of my own experience this is what I would suggest. The other guys are much better in husbandry than I am but handling queries etc and I'm your gal!

[babylogan]

thanks for the advice guys! Hopefully he's calmed down when I get home from maine.

in the mean time I have to remember "no touchie"

[Naom9Anne]

I am in the same boat! I have 4 new little babies and apart from changing the paper towels, as they had destroyed them, I'm not handling...sucks I know but a week isn't too bad, especially if you're going away for a few days, it'll fly by

[NYHC4LIFE8899]

I handle mine one time each time I handle them and that's prob round 3-4 days a week for like 10-20 mins a clip...at first when I got them,I held them day one a bit,hut let them be for about 5 days then handled,let him be another few days then fed and that's that. But I do check on my guys just about every day,just pick up the hide make sure they look good,healthy etc....then put the hide back on

[satomi325]

Rule of thumb is wait a week to allow the animal to settle before handling.

He's not aggressive. It just sounds like a distressed, frightened, insecure snake.
I suggest you cover 3 sides(sides and back) of the tank with a background or solid black paper. This will help to make your snake feel more secure. Big open spaces scare babies. And cluttering the enclosure with decorations, fake plants, or balled up paper will help too.