Questions about ball python care

[SmoothScales]

I am far from an expert, but I will offer what knowledge I can.

1) I have a screen lid on my tank and was wondering what is the best way to make sure the temp and humidity stays where it needs to

Temp should be controlled by a UTH (with thermostat!) and while the screen lid is not great for keeping in humidity, you can cover part of the top with foil to keep in humidity. Also, clear pvc can be used to make a nice cover. Make sure your water dish is under the side covered and that should keep your humidity in the appropriate range.

2) how often can I hold him?

As often as you would like, allowing for digestion time after feeding to reduce the risk of regurg. Some people say 24 hours, other 48.

3) i got him from pet smart ( I know bad) and he had injuries, should i take him to the vet to get him checked out?

Was the store aware of his injuries when you purchased him? If yes, they should provide vet service for him. Also, can you describe the injuries? (Pictures are worth 1000 words.)

4) I've had him for a couple of days and i haven't seen him poop or pee? Should i be worried? how will i know when he does?

Ball Pythons can hold their waste for quite some time. I have a female that will only poop every three weeks! It's nothing to be concerned about and depending on what type of substrate you are using, it will be quite obvious when they do. Could you provide a picture of your set up?

4) How long can he stay out of his cage for while handling him?

As long as you feel comfortable with.

5) Pet smart told us they fed him on Tuesday, we tried to offer him a frozen/thawed fuzzy on saturday night (last night) He tried to strike at it, missed and ended up knocking himself in the nose with the fuzzy and no longer seemed interested, is that normal?

You should leave the snake to settle for a week before offering food. Some snakes will give up quite easily when they have a failed attempt to strike. They can also strike to try to scare another creature into leaving them alone. In captivity, you may see this most often when they are getting ready to shed and aren't interested in the meal.

Question - From the picture (it may be the angle) he appears to have a bit of an overbite. Does he?

6)we aren't going to feed him in his tank, but after he eats can we put him back in without worrying about regurgitation? or should we leave him in the separate container?

Why exactly aren't you going to feed him in his tank? I personally would never advocate for moving to feed, or feeding in a tub.

7) are regular vet visits necessary?

No. They don't get shots and boosters like dogs and cats.

8) he is a very sweet ball python! When he gets scared, or we make sudden movements by accident, he doest try and strike, and he's not an aggressive feeder either, he just hides is face, will he always be like that?

As he gets more socialized, he may loosen up. I've got some that you could do anything to and they won't ball up, but yet my Spinner Blast can be easily startled even though I've had him for much longer. (Although, I think that has more to do with him having the Spider gene.)