new to ball pythons

[NightLad]

so i just got a baby normal ball python the other night from petco, i got everything i need but a thermometer.....i just have one problem...this morning i picked up the snake and he was moving VERY slow compared to the day before, almost like he was tired and didnt want to move.

is this a problem or normal?

What time of the day were you handling him? (Assuming it’s a 'him'.) Ball Pythons are nocturnal, so if you were playing with him in the morning, he may have been sleepy. Try later at night, around 10-11, but remember to keep the handling limited to 5-20min at most while he is still new. Its also advised to leave them completely alone for the first week while they get used to their new environment. A happy BP will curl up in his/her hide all day long and venture out at night. If they are slithering all around their tank during the day, it can be a sign that they are stressed and not feeling safe so they want to escape. That is normal when you first get one, but they should settle down in a few days. If not, make sure the environment you have made is meeting his needs.

BPs are not usually fast-moving snakes. When they are more relaxed, I would assume they move slowly because they are not feeling threatened and gripped with the urge to flee for a safe place.

Remember they are a lot more scared of us than we are of them, so it will take a while for your new friend to understand that you don’t want to eat him when you pick him up. After all, to a snake we probably look like these monstrous heat-signatures that smell funny! Let him get to know you slowly and in time he may even come over and crawl in your hand when you want to pick him up.

Good luck, and pictures are always welcome!

Oh, and heed the excellent advice on temperatures/humidity settings found here and in other threads.