Wild Caught Baby

[amErika]

I just went to get Flukers freeze dried crickets, I dont know what happened. I squatted down to gaze at the BP babies and as the guy asked if there was anything he could get me I said one of those. My baby was $29.99 because it was imported from the grasslands of Africa he said and he does not garuantee it will feed. I know this may be a difficult baby to bring to adulthood but it cried "momma" when I looked at it, what was I to do? I have had it home for two days and I have some questions:

I bought f/t pinkies, the guy said it was eating them (he also said he had only had the baby for two weeks); when should I feed it and how many?
The caresheet says 60-65% humidity; what is the best way to attain this?
There was a thread about handling babies during their first weeks at home; how often/much is opitmal for smooth acclimation?
I have f/t fuzzies from Rat Cafe; how do I know when it will be able to take them?
I thought snakes had no vocal cords; how did it cry "momma"?

Any suggestions would be wonderful because this is my first BP and my first baby.

[addsig]

	Ball Python The Ball Python (Python regius), also known as the Royal Python, is a ground dwelling snake native to the savannahs and rain forests in western Africa, predominatly the countries of Ghana, Togo, and Benin.

	Frozen/Thawed A rodent or other prey item that is frozen and then thawed to be fed to a reptile or other animal.

[SnakePool]

It should take fuzzies now. The only time a ball python needs pinks is if it is REALLY small. I switched my baby ball over to f/t rat pinks as soon as she would take them. Now she pounds rat weanlings like there's no tommorrow. Although she likes her privacy while doing so. I just lay them on top of her and she will eat when she sees that I'm not around.

Good Luck with your baby.

I love baby regius.
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[Dr.Oviparous]

I've never owned a ball (python that is [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img] ) but I've always thought that the least amount of acclimation time for any herp is about a week. in this time I would only handle her when you have to. make sure you keep her away from the rest of the collection, and get her vet checked after the acclimation for any kind of parasites. it might be a longer time for her to get adjusted, wait to see what everybody else that knows more about balls than me. -Juggalo
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[Seany]

I'd also say give it fuzzies and make sure to give it lots of privacy while feeding. BP's are bad feeders at times, Wild Caught ones... even worse. Make sure to have her vet checked by a vet who knows his snakes and make sure to mention he's wild caught.
Enjoy him, they do make the greatest snakes!
[addsig]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE>make sure you keep her away from the rest of the collection -Juggalo</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>

Very wise words. Direct from Africa with all kinds of non-native microbes - any captive bred (or not born in Africa really) snake in your collection will be at risk if exposed to this snake. Quarantine it for at least 120 days.

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[SnakePool]

I don't think it was actually wild-caught from africa. From a farm in africa maybe but not wild-caught.

But yes keep it away from your collection, in another room preferably.

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[amErika]

OK. I am going to feed the baby these six pinkies I bought and then move to the fuzzies. How does two pinkies a week sound for three weeks and then one fuzzy every seven-ten days after that? How does feeding the baby after it has been here for seven days sound? What about humidity, how do you keep it at 60-65%?
And, thanks, it will be quarantined for three to six months and taken to the vet as soon as i get paid.

Pics coming soon
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[JC86]

Well when I bought my BP baby it was already on small adult mice, it had been on hoppers since it was born. I've been feeding my BP one appropriately sized meal every seven days, and he's on rat pups now.

If you are determined to get rid of the pinkies via him eating it, then that sounds about right, then I'd suggest going to hoppers (unless it's really small). Just remember the girth rule, stretch the mouse out and it shouldn't be any larger than the girth of the snake, and not much smaller.

Scott
[addsig]

	Ball Python The Ball Python (Python regius), also known as the Royal Python, is a ground dwelling snake native to the savannahs and rain forests in western Africa, predominatly the countries of Ghana, Togo, and Benin.

I'd start off with only 1 prey item in the first feeding. I like to make sure that they are going to keep it down np when I first get a snake here. After that ya can go with 2 prey items every 7 days and maintain such til it's like a year old about.

As for the humidity.. Just mist the cage some daily and keep the cover..covered up with something about 2/3rd the way. that works for me usually to keep humidity up some. You can also try placing a water bowl on the warm side of the cage for raising humidity too. Just make sure that you also provide water on the cool side for drinking as well.

GOOD luck with the new snake.
[addsig]

OH duh..Once ya run out of those pickies.. Move on to only 1 appropraitely sized prey item for the snake at a feeding as well. Don't offer a 2nd prey item unless the snake appears to be hunting for quite some time after eating the first one.
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[amErika]

OK I have had the baby for a week and I put it in a paper bag with the f/t pinkie and nothing. What now?

[addsig]

	Frozen/Thawed A rodent or other prey item that is frozen and then thawed to be fed to a reptile or other animal.

[XzyluM]

Humidity-50-60% is good. As for it not feeding, Royals are very picky feeders, especially from petstores. My Royal I got from the petstore is a very picky eater. As of yet, I haven't figured out any way to get it to eat. Try wiggling the prey item on tongs, might work like a charm.
[addsig]

What time of day/night? Or was it in the bag overnight?

Sometimes Royal pythons like the ambush tactic, where they can strike out at prey from the security of a hide box. Dangling the prey in front of the hide once the snake has been in the hide for 30 minutes or more...

you could also try braining the pinkie with a pin...

you could also try to get an annoyance strike by tapping the snake about a 1/3 of it's length down from it's head with the prey item.

I would separate each tactic by at least 3 days

What fails today, may work tomorrow, so the bag feeding might work next time...
[addsig]

Oh, maybe he's hungry for a steak and you're offering finger foods. Perhaps a larger (within reason) prey item might work (not knowing the snake's size)

Also, he might require (shudder) live prey, royals seem to be notorious for that...but I'd try all the other options first.

_________________
Rome did not build a great empire by having meetings, they did it by killing all who opposed them!

Jay

[amErika]

Ok, what if I get him a seperate feeding box with a hide in it, put him in there for half hour and then start the rat dance in front of the hide. How small of a feed box do they need? I know they like privacy and security. Is the size of the feed box crucial? And what is the best time of day? I tried at about 8pm.
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[XzyluM]

Depending on his size, get a rubbermaid container big enough so he has some room to move around in. Royals are noctural like most snakes and hunt at night. 8PM sounds like a good time to me.
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