Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I think I am almost prepared for my new baby, I have the tank, top, UTH (cobra mat), 2 log hides, water bowl, thermometers, and I will be getting substrate soon. but I have 2 or 3 questions.
1. I am not afraid of snakes, but would be intimidated by a strike from my new pet. I picked ball pythons because of their reluctance to bite. If they do, how painfull is the hatchling bite?
2. I'm afraid that when buying mice, I will get too big of a mouse and choke my snake. Is this possible, will it not eat it if its too big?
3. I plan on atttending the NOVA show in Virginia next month. How can I make sure that I purchase a CH v. a very high priced WH. I hear that good CB babies can be $10.00 up to $60.00 Is there a way to tell them apart? I dont mind spending the money, but how can I be sure what I'm getting?

Sorry for the long post. Hope someone can answer for me.

1. their bites arent bad at all just little holes.

2.snakes cannot choke they will tell you the feeding regiment when you buy it when you see the snake is not staying fat enough for the week go up in size.

3.they will tell you if the ball is w/c or c/b. hope it works out best of luck.
happy herping

josh

Heehee....that's three questions!
1)A baby BPs bite is practically painless. It's more of a shock than anything else, a natural reaction is to gasp and pull away. I had my 1 year old BP strike me accidentally (I didn't wash my hands well after handling the rat, my bad) and it barely drew blood. My cats do more damage to me on a daily basis attacking my feet from under the dust ruffle of the bed.
2)A baby BP can usually take an adult mouse. Start small if you are worried, and see how it does. You'll be amazed at how much they can comfortably swallow. If they can't get it down, they will probably back off it. If that happens, I'd freeze it and save it for when it was a little bigger. No use wasting a good mouse.
3)They tell you at the shows when you are buying an animal if it is cbb or wc or ch. Personally, I would go for cbb (captive born and bred). There are enough people breeding BPs to provide us with animals as pets. I recently went to the NY show and purchased a baby BP for $25.00. She's a beautiful normal, but with some bright yellow and high white on the sides. A pretty future mate for my normal boy at home.

Good luck with your new baby. They are awesome animals, and great snakes to keep!
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1.1 Ball Python
0.0.1 corn snake
0.0.1 Bearded Dragon
0.0.2 fish
1.2 cats
3.1 kids
1.0 husband

The answer is correct that hatchlings can start straight on full adult mice. I know this because that is what I fed my hatchling and she is a great eater and growing very well.

The other thing is: She does back out of swallowing if the prey is too big. I once tried to feed her a pregnant mouse but she backed out half way through.

Another time I gave her a rat that my other BP didn't eat. She backed out of that one 1/3 of the way through. The rat was too big for her.

I let the snake decide if it is too big.

I chuckle when I hear people feeding their hatchlings fuzzies. . The can and will handle prey so much bigger.

Here is something else to think about: Don't even bother with mice. Start on fuzzy rats from the very beginning. Rats are very much more nutritious. Eventually when your BP gets to adult sized, if you are on mice, you will need 6 mice per meal at the very least.

I put together a list of reasons below to start rats from the very beginning. Enjoy:

1. If they become adults and have never had rats, you will most likely have a hard time getting them switched over to rats.

2. Rats are more nutritious.

3. Adult BP's will need at least 6 mice per meal (and that still wouldn't equal a large rat!).

4. Some people say that head size grows better on rats. That is to say: you may have a snake with a small head if you always feed mice. Some theorize it is because the head needs a rat's sized prey to stretch it to make it grow well.

cheers.
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Longtang. I like snakes and rats.

THank you all sooooo much for your advice! I did intend on buying a captive bred and born baby, I'm still new to the abreviations, so I probably used the wrong one.. (made in the USA I say.. ) I am lucky in a way I guess, I know the person that supplies feeders to pet stores in my area, so I know the feeders are healthy. I dont know that he breeds rats though, I'll have to ask. If not maybe I'll look into breeding them myself, I've had rats before. I will look into that. If I cant get rats every time, would mixing mice and rats when available hurt? Just wondering, anyone ever raised feeders outside (not in the winter)?? Thanks for all the great advice, I cant wait until the herp show. I'm so excited!