New Ball Python

[AsRock]

Hello,

I am now a new owner to a Ball Python . I have allways wanted a snake since i was 5 and never was able to have one till now ( 25 years later ^^ ) Anyways.
Well there's a few questions i like to clear.

Q1. I have had the BP 2 days now and i am woundering if i should leave him\her allown for at least another day.

Q2. The shop was corrently feeding the snake on live pray ( Mice ) But i want to feed him\her on fresh dead pray like 2 ( NOT FROZEN )

Q3. As tomorrow (3/1/2004) it be about feeding time the shop said whot would be the best metherd(s). Allso was told to put the BP in a diferant place for feeding like a smaller tank or even a potato sack.

Q4. How\when can you sex a BP

Q5. How can i keep up the humidity with out having to keep going to the tank he\she is in and spraying the tank or over doing it.

Q6. The scalles are reall clearer and colourfull this mean he\she molted recently

Q7. The bowl i have is about 8in by 10in and but will only cover the snake about 2/3's this good enough

Q8. i use a heat mat (covers 1/3 of the tankand a normal light at the same side with a fake plant and a cut out part of the tree for hiding allso on the same side a night light 25watt and the other side with a branch and a 75watt basking light ( UVA ) with the bowl in the centre.

Q9. I use digital themo \ Hygro heat monitors i think these are the best possible

Probaly other questions but not at this time. Any suggestions and facts would be GREATLY appresiated

	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.

[NicoleRussell]

hey congrats!
I plan on getting one myself within the next couple of weeks....right now I'm more of a lizard person---but my snake interests are steadily growing So I will not offer any advice except to hang out and read the ball caresheet on this site----and wait for someone with more experience to answer this.
This site is really GREAT for snake care tips---hang out and watch the conversation you'll see
Welcome aboard!

[AnAcOnDaMaN]

Nicole, How far away is the Herp show from you? I would think 30-40 minutes tops? From where you are. Its about 15-20 mins from me. You can get the BP there?

	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.

[Ed_r]

First off Welcome to the site!!!

Q1 ) Usually let them settle in for about a week. Feel the snake out if it seems stressed, keep out of heavy traffic areas.

Q2 ) Not sure on your snakes size, but if you can switch it to rats as soon as possible you'll be much better off later. Depending if your BP was wild caught or captive bred, once they get used to mice they usually don't want to switch to rats. Your definately doing the right thing by wanting to switch to dead prey, even more preferably Frozen Thawed prey.

Q3 ) This depends on your snake. My BPs won't eat when i put them in a feed tote, but mine are skittish w/c animals. I have to feed mine in the cage, but they live on newspaper, not loose substrate.

Q4 ) Best way to sex is by Probing. Do not attempt this on your own, only let an experienced keeper or true herp vet do it. Severe damage to the snake can happen if not done right.

Q5 ) Depends what your using for caging. If an aquarium with a screen lid just keep a damp towel over the lid come shedding time. BPs really dont require allot of humidity. usually around 50% is more than enough

Q6 ) Yes the snake just shed its skin.

Q7 ) This is good. Idealy the snake should be able to completely submerge, but BPs normally don't do that unless in a shed.

Q8 ) The multiple heat sources are definately good. Be careful with the basking lamp and the climbing branch, if it is too hot on the basking spot he could get severely burned. Ideal temps should be right about 90-92 on the hot spot, and low 80s on the cool side.

Q9 ) Digital is the only way to go.

	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.

[gemisnake]

Q1. it is best to not overhandle any new snake until it adjusts to its new home. this doesnt mean you cant handle him at all, just give him a lot of alone time in the cage too.
Q2. live food should only be fed if you can take the time to watch closely and make sure the mouse doesnt hurt the snake, frozen or fresh killed is best. Sometimes it is hard to switch snakes to frozen but freshly killed is usually ok. I personally hit the mouse over the head (rather hard) with the end of my snake hook then drop it in the snake cage while it is still twitching but not alive, the snakes go for it if they are hungry. Kind of gruesome for some I guess but the snakes gotta eat!

Q3. 'I feed shyer animals such as ball pythons in their cage, for larger more dangerous constrictors it is recommended to feed in a different box so they dont strike at you when you open the cage. For a ball python I definately suggest feeding in the cage though.

Q4. You can sex them from the day they hatch by popping or probing. Only let somone with experience do this though. As they get older you can guess at the sex by looking at the spur size, but this isnt 100% accurate.

Q5. A big water dish helps humidity very well.

Q6. The scales will definately be brightest after a shed.

Q7. The water bowl sounds ok, if your snake seems to spend a lot of time in it then maybe get a bigger one. Or let your snake soak once in a while in a bigger tub and keep the dish mainly for drinking!

Q8. your heating sounds ok, good for you not to use a hotrock those are no good. As long as the temp is good keep the heating how you have it!

Q9. Excellent, a good way to monitor everything
HAVE FUN WITH YOUR BALL PYTHON, they are great snakes to work with, a lot of fun. Any qeustions or concerns pop up, this is a good place to ask. Have fun!!!!

[gemisnake]

ok, someone else answered too, I wasnt fast enough hehehehe the more info the better!

[LdyDrgn]

Just wanted to add: UV is not necessary. I would let the cool side be in the 75-78 range, but not lower than 75. In the wild they occupy rodent burrows to escape the heat during the day. Warm side doesn't need to be higher than 90.

Welcome to the site.

[morti]

Q1. I have had the BP 2 days now and i am woundering if i should leave him\her allown for at least another day.

I always reccomend leaving a new snake alone for between 3 days and a week with no handling to allow it to get used to it's environment and reduce stress.

Q2. The shop was corrently feeding the snake on live pray ( Mice ) But i want to feed him\her on fresh dead pray like 2 ( NOT FROZEN )

It is good that you want to switch to pre-killed prey, but why not Frozen/thawed? Feeding Frozen thawed is the best way to insure that your snake does not get any nasty parasites from the prey item. Definately don't feed live, but look into feeing frozen/thawed. Your snake will thank you.

Q3. As tomorrow (3/1/2004) it be about feeding time the shop said whot would be the best metherd(s). Allso was told to put the BP in a diferant place for feeding like a smaller tank or even a potato sack.

Many people reccomend that you feed your snake in a different enclosure from it's home. If you would like to do this, I would reccomend getting an opaque tupperware tub to feed the snake in. Offer the pre-killed or frozen/thawed feeder item using a pair of tongs or hemostats. If the snake will not take the prey imediately, leave the snake and the prey together in a dark place for a couple of hours.

Q4. How\when can you sex a BP

I would reccomend seeking out an experienced reptile enthusiast or reptile vet in your are that can probe or pop the snake to determine it's sex. This is not something that anyone can talk you through over the internet.

Q5. How can i keep up the humidity with out having to keep going to the tank he\she is in and spraying the tank or over doing it.

If you are using a screen top on the "tank" your best bet would be to cover 2/3 of the top with plexiglass or plastic wrap. This will hold the humidity in and not allow it to escape. I have gotten away from glass aquarium style tanks in favor of Boaphile Plastics enclosures as they hold humidity much better.

Q6. The scalles are reall clearer and colourfull this mean he\she molted recently

It would be difficult to say how recently your snake has shed. What you will want to watch for is when the snake's eyes turn a milky bluish color, it is going to shed soon.

Q7. The bowl i have is about 8in by 10in and but will only cover the snake about 2/3's this good enough

Sounds ok to me as long as it is big enough for the snake to fit in.

Q8. i use a heat mat (covers 1/3 of the tankand a normal light at the same side with a fake plant and a cut out part of the tree for hiding allso on the same side a night light 25watt and the other side with a branch and a 75watt basking light ( UVA ) with the bowl in the centre.

The heat mat is a good idea, but make sure that you have it on a thermostat to assure that it doesn't get too hot. The lights are really not required. Since these snake are nocturnal, they will not get any real benefit from uv lighting. I would just try to make sure that you have two hide-boxes for the snake... one on the cool side of the enclosure and one on the warm side. You can pretty well expect your snake to hide throughout the day and only come out at night.

Q9. I use digital themo \ Hygro heat monitors i think these are the best possible

I also use a degital thermometer and hygrometer. They are the best.

Welcome to Redtailboa.net and Let us know if you have any further questions!
-Your Sick Uncle Morti

	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.