Feeding and Housing... Need some advice

[Erolitha]

I got two ball pythons from my mother back in January. I know they are around 12 years old though I don't know if they are male or female. She had them for about 8 years and they have always been in the same cage. She also underfed them badly. They would get 2 mice every 3 weeks if she would remember. Sometimes they would go 2 months without being fed. When I got them I started to feed them 2 mice every 2 weeks and they have always eaten well. About 2 months ago I noticed that after their 2 mice each they continued searching around the tank instead of curling up in their hide. I started giving them 3 mice each and that seemed to be ok. Lately they have started following my movements outside the cage and rising up to the top of the cage to try to get to me during feeding time. Is this normal? Now even after 3 mice they still seem to be hungry. I would love to move to rats but I don't think they can swallow something much larger then the mice. How much should these two be eating? They are about 3 feet long and have each shed 3 times since I got them in January. I'm wondering how long I can keep them together in the same cage or if I will have to separate them. I am obviously still new and inexperienced with having them so any helpful info is appreciated. I just want to make sure I am taking care of them correctly and doing whats best for them.

Even after eating 2 adults and 3 smaller mice (the ones i'm breeding aren't full grown yet) as soon as I opened the cage they went from relaxed to what I call Can I eat something now?



Their cage normally looks like this

[Drako21]

Looks like you have a lot of stuff to work on here. First off I would put them in 2 different cages. Snakes are solitary animals and do better by themselves. They don't need "friends" or anything. Secondly it looks like you have a stick on thermometer, which are bad and do not work for a snake cage. You need at least 2 digital ones with probes(1 for hot side and one for cool side). The cold side probe should be close to the ground, which is where the snake spends its time. The hot side probe should be under the substrate right on top of the heating pad. Speaking of, do you have a heat pad at all? Ball pythons need belly heat, not basking light heat. You'll also need to hook the heating pad up to a thermostat to regulate it or it will be too hot and burn the snake.

Another thing it looks like you need is a hygrometer to measure the tank humidity. Also each snake tank needs hot and cold hides(which you have right now in this tank, but you're forcing them to be in one that they may not want since both can't be in the same at one time) If you're keeping both in this one tank(which I highly do not recommend), I would get 2 more hides so they can choose where they need to be. Another thing is your substrate is too thick, especially for a heat pad to be effective. You need no more than 1/2" or less of it.

They should definitely be able to take some kind of rat at this point. You need to get a rat that is about equal to the biggest part of their body. You can feed them one large meal every couple weeks instead of all the small ones.

[percypython14]

My 13 month old ball python seemed to have struggled eating his last rat his head flopped on the bottom of the tank and I was worried alot, he finally swallowed it then he started to rub his head on the branch he has can anyone shed some light on it please thaaanks james

[brock lesser]

Looks like you have a lot of stuff to work on here. First off I would put them in 2 different cages. Snakes are solitary animals and do better by themselves. They don't need "friends" or anything. Secondly it looks like you have a stick on thermometer, which are bad and do not work for a snake cage. You need at least 2 digital ones with probes(1 for hot side and one for cool side). The cold side probe should be close to the ground, which is where the snake spends its time. The hot side probe should be under the substrate right on top of the heating pad. Speaking of, do you have a heat pad at all? Ball pythons need belly heat, not basking light heat. You'll also need to hook the heating pad up to a thermostat to regulate it or it will be too hot and burn the snake.

Another thing it looks like you need is a hygrometer to measure the tank humidity. Also each snake tank needs hot and cold hides(which you have right now in this tank, but you're forcing them to be in one that they may not want since both can't be in the same at one time) If you're keeping both in this one tank(which I highly do not recommend), I would get 2 more hides so they can choose where they need to be. Another thing is your substrate is too thick, especially for a heat pad to be effective. You need no more than 1/2" or less of it.

They should definitely be able to take some kind of rat at this point. You need to get a rat that is about equal to the biggest part of their body. You can feed them one large meal every couple weeks instead of all the small ones.

Well said

My 13 month old ball python seemed to have struggled eating his last rat his head flopped on the bottom of the tank and I was worried alot, he finally swallowed it then he started to rub his head on the branch he has can anyone shed some light on it please thaaanks james

Please start your own thread so this one stays on topic.

[Erolitha]

Thank you for all the advice. I was thinking they were getting a bit too big to share that tank. They have been together for at least 8 years and were never aggressive towards each other before. They are starting to fight a bit during feeding time and that has me worried. They have always stayed in the same hide together no matter which side of the cage it is. I will get to work on getting another tank and all the thermometers. They do have a heating pad under the cage near the half log.

[CORBIN911]

Thank you for all the advice. I was thinking they were getting a bit too big to share that tank. They have been together for at least 8 years and were never aggressive towards each other before. They are starting to fight a bit during feeding time and that has me worried. They have always stayed in the same hide together no matter which side of the cage it is. I will get to work on getting another tank and all the thermometers. They do have a heating pad under the cage near the half log.

That is that bad part, It sounds like one is trying to dominate the other, by fallowing it around, and "pushing on it" They don't always strike or bite each other, but overwhelm and stress the other snake out! good on you for doing your best for them! I wish you luck =)

[Erolitha]

That is that bad part, It sounds like one is trying to dominate the other, by fallowing it around, and "pushing on it" They don't always strike or bite each other, but overwhelm and stress the other snake out! good on you for doing your best for them! I wish you luck =)

Ive heard that before but there isn't one that is more dominate then the other and they are not usually aggressive towards each other. These two have been together for so long I'm wondering if they are just that used to each other. They are always together and never seem nervous or upset. I've only been bitten once and that was when they were apart and I tried to pick one up while the other was shedding. They were both very laid back almost docile until recently. It's like they are extra hungry. I just wish I knew someone who could come take a look at them and make sure all their actions are normal. I've been worried about feeding them rats because I can see the white between their scales in their necks when they eat adult mice. Are you all sure a rat isn't too big for them? The rest if their body size seems fine for eating rats.

[Drako21]

Are you all sure a rat isn't too big for them? The rest if their body size seems fine for eating rats.

They will be fine with taking a rat. My 10 month old ball python is already taking a fuzzy rat and I will be upgrading his meals to a rat pup after these are gone. Your adults should be able to at least take a small or medium sized rat.