New purchase. Heating Questions. With BP Pics!

[BPnuB]

I've read a lot of stuff on feeding ball pythons and it seems like it is a preference thing.

I would like my wife to be able to feed the snakes when I'm not around. I'm not going to ask her to take them out of their enclosure to feed them. The previous owner put the mice in the enclosure in a small bowl. Is there a better method?

When I am around to feed the snakes would it be best to remove them from their enclosure despite feeding them in their enclosures other times?

[Mangiapane85]

I'm a firm believer snakes should be fed in their own enclosures. .. I do it with all six of my snakes and I've never been bitten. Just use tongs on feeding days and when you go to handle them, grab them from behind to where they don't have an angle on you to snap. And always make sure your hands are soapy clean!


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[Stewart_Reptiles]

I've read a lot of stuff on feeding ball pythons and it seems like it is a preference thing.

I would like my wife to be able to feed the snakes when I'm not around. I'm not going to ask her to take them out of their enclosure to feed them. The previous owner put the mice in the enclosure in a small bowl. Is there a better method?

When I am around to feed the snakes would it be best to remove them from their enclosure despite feeding them in their enclosures other times?

Feeding outside the enclosure is asking to get tagged, moving a snake in feeding mode is never a good idea.

When feeding in the enclosure if fed live you should just drop the prey in the enclosure (obviously make sure the prey is not too big make sure it is well hydrated and we'll fed before being offered, it will also help to keep the feeder near the enclosure for 30 min to an hour before offering), do not place the prey in a bowl and place the bowl in the enclosure, if you do the snake will go for your hand.

If feeding f/t use tongs.

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[BPnuB]

Feeding outside the enclosure didn't make any sense at all. He ate the mouse in a cardboard box and then I was confused as to how to get him back into the enclosure without handling him. I ended up tilting the box over trying to get him to slide out. Fortunately he fled out the box into his home and I didn't have to just dump him.

So going forward I'll feed f/t with tongs while they are in their enclosure. Is there a best time of day to feed or is it snake dependent?

[Mangiapane85]

Ball pythons= feed at night time or close to night time in the dark.

Edit: I don't mean pitch black dark. I just mean kind of dark. I just fed all of my snakes at 11:30 in the morning but with the lights off. They all ate, like they always do.

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[BPnuB]

I think I just spooked the banana by removing him from his enclosure to feed him. I went ahead and fed both this evening once their moonlights came on. They both violently took their mouse off tongs. Startled me pretty good. I need longer tweezers. I believe mine are 12".

Still need to weigh the snakes and figure out what type of mice to order. Maybe tomorrow evening..

[BPnuB]

Weighed the albino earlier - 16.6oz. I weighed a mouse and it came in at .8oz. The previous owner was feeding one mouse every 4 days. The mouse is half his body width at its widest point. Any feeding advice?

The banana is 12.4oz if I remember correctly.

Also - these snakes cannot behave any differently. The albino is all over the place when I take him out. The banana acts terrified to even move. Is this just personality differences or do I have a problem? Both enclosure setups are as alike as they can be. Same fixtures, furniture, etc.

Also the albino is out his hide as soon as the day light goes out. I've never seen the banana with his body outside the hide. He will have his head out his hide at night.

[Mangiapane85]

We all work in grams. What is this "ounce" that you speak of? Lol

And each snake is its own individual. But with proper and consistent handling they all start to get a little more active when taken out. In my experience anyway.


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[PitOnTheProwl]

470g Albino
351g Banana

Change your scale LoL

[BPnuB]

There is a reptile show this weekend - I have a bunch of items I plan to pick up while I'm there.

I believe the previous owner was feeding mice. Should I be worried about buying bulk rats? I don't want to get a bunch of rats and then learn the snakes would much prefer to stick with mice.

Also - It seems like I need rat weanlings or XL mice. Mice seem to be cheaper. Can't find an good explanation for why this is the case beyond the convenience of size. Can someone explain which would be preferred and confirm the sizes I mentioned are correct for my BPs?