Any information or advice really.....

[desserjane]

Ok so I'm totally new to this.... I have two adult ball pythons. One is about 36" n the other about 41". I have never weighed them yet bc i don't have scales but know I need to purchase some (esp bc one of my chinchillas just had a baby too) I've had these for a few months now. They actually were for my fiance but he ended up getting a job out of town for months at a time soon after we got them and I m left to care for them. My main question is feeding....how do I know if I am over or under feeding them?? They have a 55 gallon aquarium as their main habitat and I use a 10 gallon tank to feed them. I usually feed them 4-5 feeder mice (typical pet store size mice) once every 7-10 days. They seem to be getting cage aggressive though and I'm unsure of why. I used to never have a problem with handling them and I never feed them in the main cage but they seem to be striking more often (if they don't strike, I get a feeling like they are going to n I get nervous) one of them actually bit my fiance right after a feeding (obvious to why kind of...) then the next week as I was cleaning the cage one struck at me but didn't bite me, and anymore if I move my hand along the outside of the tank they follow it intently and one actually struck the cage one time. Idk wut I am doing wrong or what may be wrong.... basically ayn advice about these snakes is welcome!!! I know the basics and what I Google when I need to know...I'm almost at the point I'm ready to get rid of them bc i have a small child and God forbid they happen to bite him one day id have a dead snake.....HELP PLEASE!!!

[Jeanne]

Well, 1st..they should each be in their own habitat/enclosure..not sharing a 55gallon. Which very big for even one ball by the way. I suggest moving them to their own separate enclosures w proper heating ETC.

What are you using to provide heat? Please tell us about your husbandry.

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[PokeyTheNinja]

You do not need a separate feeding enclosure. That actually tends to cause more stress and is an old wife's tale. You should be feeding a rat that is as big as the widest part of the ball python or 10% of their weight. I'm sure someone will post a chart. They aren't in the same enclosure I hope, as ball pythons are solitary animals. Your small child should not be around the snakes if the snakes are snippy, and they shouldn't be killed because of so. You need to confident when handling them and approach them in a way that they cannot snap at you. Ball pythons can be quite defensive, I don't blame them. I don't mean to belittle you when you say you know the basics... but what are their temps like and set up like? That could also be part of the attitude problem. Google can be your friend or your worst enemy.

[treaux]

Without more information, it's hard to tell what you should be feeding them. The easiest rule of thumb is to feed them rodents about the width of the widest part of your snake's body. For full grown snakes, this can mean a small or medium sized rat. If you are still feeding mice, switching to rats will make feeding them in the future much easier as they will only need one rat for a feeding. I typically feed a rat a week to all my BPs and err on the smaller side when it comes to the size of rodents.

As for housing, they should be housed separately and given a proper temperature gradient and hides. The easiest way to do this is actually in simple plastic tubs and there is a guide on how to do it here: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...e-Basics-*DUW*

There is tons of information on this forum if you want to learn more about your snakes. The husbandry forum is the best for getting their living conditions set up right.

As far as snakes biting, their bites are generally very benign and only happen for one of two reasons: feeding or fear. You will learn to recognize when your snake is in one of those states and there are plenty of techniques to snap them out of that mode, the easiest one being to pick them up from behind so they can't bite you. Lastly, if a snake bites someone, it's no reason to kill it. That's just inhumane and cruel. If you don't want your snakes, put them up for adoption or talk to your local herp society about surrendering them.

[desserjane]

My son isnt aloud around them. He is too little n too energetic. That alone makes me feel like it would make them uncomfortable therefore more aggressive. I also keep them in my bedroom away from the daily commotion of two dogs, a 19 month old, n normal activity throughout the house. I would never actually harm regardless if they bit or not. I know that they r only reacting to instinct n can not be blamed. i guess that was more of a smart crack without think about how it really sounded to others. Sorry if any one was offended. Yes they r both housed together, they were together when we got them so I assumed keeping them together was better....they r always coiled up together so I never thought anything of it. I have them in the 55 gallon aquarium because I was under the impression their enclosure should be long enough for them to lay out straight. My heat source is an under tank heater beneath their water bowl bc it seems like that helps keep the humidity up where it should be easier n more consistently. I havent had any luck with heat lamps (even on timers) n was told not to use a heat rock at all.

[desserjane]

I can not seem to find rats ANYWHERE. Just the feeder mice. 😞 I did not know they should be separated bc like I said they were together when I got them and I've seen snakes in pet stores in the same cage (I know not the best reference lol) but that is why I never gave it a second thought. I would like to learn more about everything about them bc i do like them. Those creepy eyes tho!! 😂😂 I swear when they look at me I feel like they r just waiting to strike even tho I know they most likely are not. I do handle them just not as much as I probably should. Any time I pick them up I do reach from behind gently n use the top of the cage to block their path from turning n biting me. Once I pick them up I'm fine with them (except I keep them from having the ability to bite me in the face bc I always feel like tht is where they r gonna strike me, idk y) I think it is honestly that they r defensive n scared bc I am in their comfort zone. When Chris got bit I think that was bc it was striking for another mouse bc it was shortly after feeding. Like I said in my last reply tho, I honestly would never harm them, I can't even kill a spider. Haha. I have considered letting them go for several reasons. One being I am still uncomfortable with them slightly and another being we recently bought an RV so I could travel a little more with my old man when he is out of town so tht our son can have his daddy. Im so torn with that tho. Like I wanna learn all about them n keep them healthy n happy but at the same time I feel guilty that they deserve better n more time/attention then I an offer. 😞

[Eric Alan]

I have considered letting them go for several reasons. One being I am still uncomfortable with them slightly and another being we recently bought an RV so I could travel a little more with my old man when he is out of town so tht our son can have his daddy. Im so torn with that tho. Like I wanna learn all about them n keep them healthy n happy but at the same time I feel guilty that they deserve better n more time/attention then I an offer. 😞

If that's how you feel already, then I think you know the right answer. No animal deserves less than anyone is able to offer.

[Willowy]

Well, snakes don't need time and attention like a dog. They need to be kept clean and well-cared for, but they have no emotional need for human contact. So don't worry about them in that regard. But if you feel like it's best to re-home them, that's fine too.

[desserjane]

Would you be able to suggest proper tank sizes?? Obviously the "snake person" that has been giving me my information is not as knowledgeable as she let on because everything seems to be wrong and i feel terrible. I knew they seemed "stressed" lately from what I have researched but couldn't figure out why. I am quickly learning why.... everything I was told seems to not be right. �� I am attached to all my animals, even the snakes, so I want to make sure they are all well cared for the best I can. I am willing to put forth the time and effort with the right know how....

[PitOnTheProwl]

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...s%29-Caresheet