Just picked up my BP!!! Have one concern

[Drew]

Loing time lurker here.

So exciting, he is all settled into his new home. I can't wait to feed him and hold him!! He is only about 3 months old so still quiet small. He is basically just sitting where I set him in so I think he is a bit nervous.

I do have one concern though. I currently go to school and will be going home in about 3 weeks. I have to take the snake with me. How hard is this going to be on the snake? I just got hime today and in about 3 weeks I will be moving him 4 hours away. Then about a month later 4 hours back to school. He will be in the same enclosure at both locations. Will this be hard on the snake moving him that much in such a short time? Let me know what you guys think.

Any suggestions on moving him to keep him less stressed?

[JLC]

It could be somewhat difficult for your new little guy, but there are some things you can do to mitigate the stress...


Instead of keeping the snake in a big glass tank...get a small rubbermaid/sterelite plastic tub. Drill or melt (with a soldering iron) holes for ventilation and use an Under Tank Heater (hooked up to a thermostat or rheostat) for warmth. Keep it in a quiet, dark place and keep the handling to a minimum. I KNOW that will be hard to do, but handling is a considerable stress-factor. Once you're back at school for the new semester and you know your snake is settled and eating well....then you can start handling him more often.

For the trip...place the snake in a pillowcase turned inside-out, and tie the top securely closed. Then place it in a warm, snug box. He'll be perfectly safe in there until you can put him back in his own home.

Each time you move him, allow for a full week to acclimate to his new surroundings...which means NO handling at all except to provide fresh water and clean out any wastes if he makes a mess.

Hope that helps some!

[joepythons]

Loing time lurker here.

So exciting, he is all settled into his new home. I can't wait to feed him and hold him!! He is only about 3 months old so still quiet small. He is basically just sitting where I set him in so I think he is a bit nervous.

I do have one concern though. I currently go to school and will be going home in about 3 weeks. I have to take the snake with me. How hard is this going to be on the snake? I just got hime today and in about 3 weeks I will be moving him 4 hours away. Then about a month later 4 hours back to school. He will be in the same enclosure at both locations. Will this be hard on the snake moving him that much in such a short time? Let me know what you guys think.

Any suggestions on moving him to keep him less stressed?

Well depends on your temps outside,where are you located? If its a cold place you can buy several hand warmers to place in a tote with him inside a pillow case.The pillow case will reduce his stress as he will feel secure.Now the hand warmers only last a few hours and if you use them wrap a couple sheets of newspapers around them.Not sure if them crazy things get to hot if he touched them directly so i dont want him/her to get burned..I hope this helps ya.If you have any more questions ask away.

[joepythons]

Judy thanks for mentioning the holes in the tub i forgot

[Drew]

It could be somewhat difficult for your new little guy, but there are some things you can do to mitigate the stress...


Instead of keeping the snake in a big glass tank...get a small rubbermaid/sterelite plastic tub. Drill or melt (with a soldering iron) holes for ventilation and use an Under Tank Heater (hooked up to a thermostat or rheostat) for warmth. Keep it in a quiet, dark place and keep the handling to a minimum. I KNOW that will be hard to do, but handling is a considerable stress-factor. Once you're back at school for the new semester and you know your snake is settled and eating well....then you can start handling him more often.

For the trip...place the snake in a pillowcase turned inside-out, and tie the top securely closed. Then place it in a warm, snug box. He'll be perfectly safe in there until you can put him back in his own home.

Each time you move him, allow for a full week to acclimate to his new surroundings...which means NO handling at all except to provide fresh water and clean out any wastes if he makes a mess.

Hope that helps some!

Thank you for the quick replies. Yes he is in a glass tank, but I figured with sufficient hides he should be ok in it, unless you really suggest that I go the rubbermaid route. Its just that I already had this tank and spent all the time setting it up and purchasing stuff for it. But like I said if you really think I should go the rubbermaid route I will for the snake. (I would like to keep him in the glass tank though.)

Yeah when I picked him up the guy let me have a snake bag to put him in and I put him in a box as well. I guess I am just mostly concerned about the stress, but I guess I will see how he does and decide whether or not to get a rubbermaid.

[JLC]

Thank you for the quick replies. Yes he is in a glass tank, but I figured with sufficient hides he should be ok in it, unless you really suggest that I go the rubbermaid route. Its just that I already had this tank and spent all the time setting it up and purchasing stuff for it. But like I said if you really think I should go the rubbermaid route I will for the snake. (I would like to keep him in the glass tank though.)

Yeah when I picked him up the guy let me have a snake bag to put him in and I put him in a box as well. I guess I am just mostly concerned about the stress, but I guess I will see how he does and decide whether or not to get a rubbermaid.

Well....ball pythons come with a wide range of "personalities" (or snakealities, if you will! )....some are very laid back and don't seem to notice most of the typical stress-factors....some are extremely nervous and stress very easily at the slightest cause. Most fall somewhere in the middle, but typically lean more towards being easily stressed.

If you want to see if the glass tank works, then go for it. Again, to help decrease as many causes of stress as you can...you can try covering three sides of the enclosure with something opaque. Black paper would be good, or you can use those decorative tank-posters as well. That will help keep him from feeling too open and exposed by all that glass.

The best way to tell if your snake is feeling safe and secure is if he eats readily. If so...you're golden. If not....another trick you can try is to fill the tank with balls of loosely crumpled newspaper. This makes it more "den-like" and lets him crawl around and explore, while still feeling "surrounded" by his "den."

[Drew]

Well....ball pythons come with a wide range of "personalities" (or snakealities, if you will! )....some are very laid back and don't seem to notice most of the typical stress-factors....some are extremely nervous and stress very easily at the slightest cause. Most fall somewhere in the middle, but typically lean more towards being easily stressed.

If you want to see if the glass tank works, then go for it. Again, to help decrease as many causes of stress as you can...you can try covering three sides of the enclosure with something opaque. Black paper would be good, or you can use those decorative tank-posters as well. That will help keep him from feeling too open and exposed by all that glass.

The best way to tell if your snake is feeling safe and secure is if he eats readily. If so...you're golden. If not....another trick you can try is to fill the tank with balls of loosely crumpled newspaper. This makes it more "den-like" and lets him crawl around and explore, while still feeling "surrounded" by his "den."

Ok i think I will try covering 3 sides and maybe even the top half or so of the front side to make him feel more secure, and yeah I thought about trying the newspaper trick.

I havent fed him yet, I did see him get fed this past wednesday so I will likely try around then. Thanks for the advice, I hope he does well

[frankykeno]

Just remember not to feed him close to anytime you are moving him location to location. You don't want to be doing that while your snake is digesting a meal.