First ball python

[Sue Glue]

Hi I am new to keeping snakes have just got my first ball python she is due to be fed today and I have got her food from the breeder conflicting messages do I feed her in her viv or separate place what is the best time to feed her. Also I know that I don't handle her for 2/3 days after eating but how much can she be handled after that to get her used to being handled. Any other information would be grateful to keep her healthy.

[blue roses]

I am also new to Ball Pythons, but i think i can help you out . First don't touch or feed your new snake for one week after getting her. This is her acclumation period. It will give her time to calm down and get use to her new enviornment. After the week you can offer her food. Its good the breeder supplied you with her first meal. use tongs and whether you feed in her viv or feed in a another bin is up to you. It can work both ways, but i found with my guy he likes eating in his own viv. I feed frozen thawed so i defrost in a baggy and make sure the food is dry and have not had a problem with him swallowing substrate. I find the best time to feed is very early in the morning before the sun comes up or at night just after sundown, i feed at sundown, when he is now active. Also if you try to feed out of the viv in another bin and he won't eat, give him a couple more days and try in his viv. My guy gets a little stressed when i feed him out of his viv, he will eat but it takes him longer and i have to cover him, but he is a pig and never misses a meal. I would wait 2 days after feeding to handle then depending on her age make the handling sessions short to start like 10-15 min. I can now sit with my guy on my arm for an hour and we watch old tv shows for an hour almost every day. Like with any animal, just have patience, not only with her but with yourself. Hope this helps answer your questions. Since i'm also fairly new any technecal questions or medical care questions will have to go to the experts here. I'm just knowledgeable on the basics.

[Sue Glue]

Thanx for the help she is 5 months old and I can already take her out and hold her for about 5 mins will try increasing this as I get more confident. Have decided to feed her in her viv as that is how the breeder fed her tonight will be her first feed hopefully for me bit nervous but think once I have done it once I will be ok

[BrianDallek]

Great advice above Id like to ad that i used to defrost my rats/mice in a platic bag in warm water. What i do now is take them out of the freezer in their bag about 4hrs before feeding. Then around 10-11pm when the snakes all are out and active i will give the rats a final warm up with a blowdryer. I use my infrared thermometer to get their body temps up to about 95degrees. My snakes almost never refuse a meal at this temp. I read somewhere that an active mouses body temp can reach 100 degrees. I think a common problem people do is not warming up their feeders to the right temperature. Sounds like your doing a great job with your snake though

[Sue Glue]

Thanx for all ur help will let u know later if she eats

[Sue Glue]

Just to say we had a successful first feed.

[MikeSilver]

Congrats on the first feeding. I was also concerned about this and im glad to hear it worked out for you.

[Sue Glue]

I was bit nervous have only had her a week so was not sure how she would react but went well. She has had a wee and a poo plus feeding since I have had her so hopefully she is settling in just got to build up my confidence when handling her now then can just enjoy our time together.