Ball Python Questions

[gothkenny]

Question One:
I took the snake home and upon taking her out of the box I noticed that she had a couple raised scales. It almost looks like a bit of shed skin is stuck to one scale. That is on a couple of scales along the top of the snake. I'm not entirely sure if this is scale rot or just a raised scale. I truthfully don't know very much about either aside from scale rot being caused by slithering around in their own excriments. But the tank was completely clean of all excriments everytime I entered the store. Is this something I can clear-up by rubbing her back with water or should I take her to the vet and how much would taking her to the vet cost.

Question Two:
I also fed her the day after I took her home because they had fed her a week before and I read that you should feed a young adult once a week. The only problem is I think I fed too big of a mouse. She ate it fine and didn't regurgitate it but now she doesn't coil up in her half log. Instead she leaves the back portion of her body outside of the half log. Is she going to be okay?

Question Three:
I'm new to Ball Pythons so I don't know their attitude but do they not like their head to be touched? I used to handle my Corn Snakes frequently and I was able to lift their head by gently lifting it with my finger by the button of the head. Whenever I get close to my ball pythons head she pulls back.

Question Four:
How long should it take for them to feel at home. I know it stresses them out when you first bring them home because they are in a new environment but I just want to make sure that she will feel at home with no problem. Does anyone have any information on ways to make her more comfortable in the tank as well as being held?

Question one - A picture would help but most likely it is just a stuck shed. If you don't know how to deal with stuck sheds I think there is a sticky on it somewhere in the Ball Pythons section.

Question two - Well, it depends. This seems fine but it might be an indicater that his hide is too small. Either way, it does no damage and probably the snake didn't even realized he was partially out of his hide.

Question three - Most Ball Pythons are head-shy but you can slowly get them used to being touched on their heads. An easy way to do this is to touch them down on their 'neck' and ease your finger along their spine until you reach their head. If you do this a lot, I've found with my Ball Python, that they don't really mind you being near their head anymore.

Question four - You shouldn't hold them for at least a week, even better if you leave them alone for two, but it takes differing amounts for different snakes. Mine was fine after around a week while others could take a month to adjust. As for making them comfortable, just hold them lots and let him get used to you... and two identical hides are also loved. If you have a tank you could also put black paper around three sides to make them feel more comfortable.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Ball Pythons.