questions i was hoping to have answered bout my ball?

[desiredlilthang]

um... ive been wanted a ball for the longest time. my aunt got me one for christmas and i have a few questions seeing how this is my first snake..

how much should i be feeding this baby.. he is a foot'ish long.. he can eat large mich with no strugle.. N my aunt said when he is grouchy, is usually when he is hungry but look it up anyway.. so i did some research and i come up with alot of different answers. so i was wondering how much to feed him. i just fed him one today and 5 days ago i fed him 2 mice, he still acted as if he wanted another but i wasnt sure.. so i said id wait a few days. the pet store she/we got him from had been feeding him 1 mouse every saturday. so am i over feeding him?

the poor thing also has mites! icky lil things, but i took him to the vet 4 days ago and they gave me some kind of spray to spray on him once a week for 2 weeks n then they should be gone. then after that spray him n his tank once every 3 weeks. the spray isnt working yet should i call and tell the vet or wait a lil while longer?

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[louise]

okay first off if he is under a year old feed him once a week. if he is over a year feed every 10-14 days. get him off mice and feed him a rat the size of his girth (largest part of the snake around) i hope you are feeding frozen thawed and not live.

second for mites go to walmart in the camping section and get repel permanone, it is in a yellow can with a blue lid. take the snake out of the enclosure and also the water dish. spray the tank really good and cover any openings and let it sit like that for a hour. after the hour is up uncover all openings at let air in it for an hour. then put snake and water back in. do this again in 2 weeks in case thier was eggs. if you use cyprus mulch always treat it with permanone befor using it. what is your substrate?

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[Sphynx]

You can also soak him in tepid water for about an hour....that will drown the mites that are on him...Good luck

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[desiredlilthang]

thank yall very much..

[NMpyguy]

good luck with the new ball. they are amazing in my eyes.

[desiredlilthang]

thank yall very much.. oh yes my substrate.. this is the kind of beding/flooring right? ok if so, i use aspen. i do the soaking method round about each day for him, but not that long.

could the mites be coming from the aspen?

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[Sphynx]

YES, they could be in the aspen....bake it in the oven before you use it to kill any mites that may be in it

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[Jem_Scout]

And do NOT use the microwave to thaw your rats and mice. Thaw them in warm water! And even if you think they're thawed enough, feel the belly for coolness.... and if still cool, thaw longer.

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

Try not to soak him everyday since balls are easily stressed and that may be too often. When he gets stressed out then he will not eat. I would just keep him on news paper or paper towels to make sure that the substrate isn't adding any more mites the the current problem.

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[desiredlilthang]

err... i dont use thawed mice... the pet store was feeding him live ones... they wont cause him harm right?