Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So far, so good. I lost count of the weeks, but 1 shed & 4 mice later... & I have not even seen signs of posturing for a bite (not that I was expecting to be bitten).

I guess I should take him out & start feeding him in a diff enclosure so he gets used to not "hunting" in his cage?

He gets free run of the couch, coffee table & my lap.

It's official, I'm totally addicted!

Let it bite you...then you won't worry about it anymore.Seriously,first time i got tagged...i couldn't stop laughing.It's pathetic really...

Feed him in his enclosure,just don't poke your finger in his face before you pick him up any other time.
Ball pythons are ambush predators,so feeding in the cage is beneficial(specifically for trouble feeders.Which are common.)

Usually once you touch one..it has already decided not to look for food at the moment.

Good luck with your new critter!
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Charles

the first time I got tagged by my burms I wasnt laughing......
I completely agree though - once youve been bit then you are not always in the "dont get bit" mindset, and dont treat the snake like a hot tamale while handling.

It really is about the first time. I let my wife get bitten by a demon gopher hatchling...now she's not afraid of anything, even the bigger balls.
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Dale....dgoins222@yahoo.com
www.LibertyReptiles.com

I agree and disagree. The first time I was bitten was by a ball. I didn't even know it happened. I had to ask a friend that was watching. The second was a red-tail right across the palm of my hand. Three teeth in my hand from the reflex jerk. The third was a Mt.King. I learned what to look for before they strike. There is a destinct difference in holding the head steady to check things out and the hunt/kill posture of a strike. I just don't like getting bitten. Maybe I'm just a wimp that way.

Good luck with the balls though. I have had several and only bitten the one time.

I'd been bitten by most Michigan species way before even getting a Ball so was already familiar with "bite," but I still tend to react when I get struck at. . Have only been bitten by two Balls. The most recent being a hatchling pastel I just aquired . That one actually bled more than the firt one.

Quig
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Don't interupt me when I'm talkin' to myself

I have only been bitten twice and both times I knew it was coming. I can tell by the way they hold themselves. Even knowing the bites were coming it still startled me. They didnt hurt.I would rather get bitten by a ball then my puppy when he is playing.His teeth are sharp.
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1.0 Het for pied
0.1 Het for Pied
1.5 normal balls
1.1 bearded dragons
1.3 kids
1.0 husband
To many little critters list

check out this FAQ on container feeding. it is a illogical old myth that doesn't die...
Pro Exotics FAQ- Feeding in a separate container

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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

Ok. Tx. Just going by what I was told. I'll just keep putting the mice in his cage.

Haha,

I'd always listened to this feeding snakes outside their cage until my local Reptile Rescue gave me a nasty 6 foot burm to foster, (wanted to see what a big snake was like). I don't know why they gave my stupid a** a mean snake and never explained how to feed it. But that's also my bad and I was in. I'd never owned anything other than a corn at this point. This is around 6 years ago. Only problem was this guy would strike at you and hit the glass of his tank (75 its what he came with) when you even walked by. Once you pinned him and got him out he was somewhat mellow as long as activity was not happening directly in front of his face.

So I go to feed him the first time and I'm a complete idiot and all I have is maybe 4-5 huge f/t rats. I think he was very hungry. I pin him and take him out of the cage and proceed to throw him rats with a lid to a tuppermaid between him and myself. (my corns would eat out of my hand). All is going well until I run out of rats. He's coming at me looking for more so I pin him again and he wraps all around my arms. I had to call my roommate to help get him off. So I did some research online and found out that feeding large snakes out of their tank is an extremely stupid idea. They get all hyper and hungry. Good lessen to learn. I started feeding the burm in his cage and not handling him that day or the day after and I never had any future issues. He was still cranky but never tried to constrict me again.

Now I am down to 2 snakes and one I feed in his enclosure (somewhat shy ball) and the other eats in a bucket. (She's slower and it works). I am still afraid of her ingesting bedding. Some rumors die hard.

Anyway I'm sure we all have stupid stories of ignorance and I just thought I'd share mine. I find it somewhat amusing these days and I enjoy being amused.

If I understand correctly, if you get bitten, you were most likely doing something wrong. So far, this guy has been a lil sweetie. When I finally get tagged, I'll let you know. It can't be worse than a hollow point needle piercing or a tattoo, lol!

There must be some addtl tips to making a good lapsnake?

A certain way to pet them?

I noticed he seems to like hiding in my robe pocket & sitting on a fluffy blanket on the couch.

Maybe I'm asking the wrong question. Besides basking, a fat mouse, and a good soak in h20, what other things do your snakes enjoy? I want a happy snake.

I haven't noticed a preference in petting, but my snakes seem to appreciate being let out when they're out and about in their cage (appreciate meaning they continue moving when they're out instead of curling up in my pillowcase).

Try taking yours outside on nice sunny days for a lil bit. Sunshine never hurt and you'll be downright amazed at how gorgeous your snake looks in natural sunlight.

Taking your snake out regularly but not horribly often (every few days at most) will result in a relaxed snake that's accustomed to handling and people. Periscope (my baby) was a bit of a nut when I first brought her home last October, but she's calmed down considerably by now. She even seems to like having her picture taken - she lets me pose her and arrange her and will stay exactly where I put her until the camera gets shut off, and then she will resume exploring.

Balls are delightfully simple.

~jenny
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1.2 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, and Periscope)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
1.1 mice (Cute Girl Mousy and FuzzBucket)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
1.1 betta fishes (Vicious and Killer)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
1.25 chickens (Ugly the rooster and his harem)

I can answer this one! I've been bit by a snake with a bigger head and teeth than my ball pythons (a boa), and it's so much more painful to get my tattoo work. After the boa bit me I had to check to be sure, since it just felt like a small bee sting - yep, there was blood running down my knuckles, so I got fairly well bitten. Surprisingly little pain. Now when I get more tattoo work done, that's another story...
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1.0.0 Mexican Kingsnake, Vincent
1.0.0 277 Graybanded Kingsnake, Boris
1.0.0 Crockett Graybanded Kingsnake, Julien
1.1.0 Ball Pythons, Pete and Kali
1.0.0 Pastel Ball Python (Unnamed as yet)
2.2.0 Bearded Dragons, Bela, Spook, Sid Vicious & Ember
1.0.0 Pet Rat, Punkin
1.0.0 Pushy Lovebird Baxter
1.0.0 Goth-Punk Teenager

Hi ! I will agree on the talk about getting bit but as for the feeding ,no . I believe that if they will eat in a feeding tube it is the best way to go but not all will. so you do what you have to to get them to feed. Also you should evaluate each one on its own . What is good for one snake may not be good for another snake. So it is up to you , the keeper to make a evaluateted decision for each of your captives . There is more than one way to do things and one way is no better or worse than another if it works best for that animal .
So don’t be pushed let your animal tell you !! PS this is just my opinion and my observation THAKS David of DS Reptile Rescue

"don't be pushed, let your animal tell you!"

What animal is going to tell you 'I'd rather eat in this unfamiliar box where I can't hide and ambush as I am designed to do!'?

What benefits are there for feeding outside of the enclosure? Why put more stress on an already stressed out snake? To me it just seems much more like you're worried about how easy it is for you to feed the snake, as opposed to really letting the snake do what it wants to do.

I have a snake who only eats in the tub.

All three of my snakes eat in the feeding tub, and get excited and agitated when they realize where they are. My baby has actually snagged a jumbo mouse in the air before it even hit the ground a time or two (and it's not like the fatty is starving to death, either).

Shy snakes and problem feeders should be fed where they are most comfortable, but most "outgoing" snakes that I've encountered have eaten without any problems in a feeding bin. One memorable ball at work took a mouse, constricted it, and then began swallowing it all the while I was holding it (There's a story behind that).

Dave made an excellent point - feed where you and the snake are most comfortable. If you get a great feeding response when you feed in the cage, without any problems, then by all means, feed in the cage. That goes vice versa - if you get great results in a feeding tub, then use the tub.

Different people, different methods of feeding, what does it matter as long as the snake has its needs met?

~jenny
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1.2 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, and Periscope)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
1.1 mice (Cute Girl Mousy and FuzzBucket)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
1.1 betta fishes (Vicious and Killer)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
1.25 chickens (Ugly the rooster and his harem)

I don't understand where this thinking of feeding outside the cage/tub is better. Yes I understand that feeding in a tub can trigger feeding responces when removing a snake but once out it know's it won't be getting fed. However, when you feed outside the tub they can be conditioned that at any moment once I'm out, a nice tasty rat is going to come along triggering feeding responces at any given time. I don't know about you, but if I have a snake that is a super strong feeder, I'd rather it be in an enclosed environment when he's expecting food, not my lap.
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Josh & Krysty Hutto
J&K Reptiles

Various Ball Pythons:::

1.0 striped vanilla
1.0 spider
1.2 Citrus Ghost and hets
1.2 Albino and hets
2.3 het Pied
0.6 50% poss het pied
1.1 Pastel (male has additional gene going on with him)
a bunch of normal female breeders
a bunch of normal female holdbacks and several rescued normal males

0.1 columbian boa, she's a feeding monster, controls my
over production of rats, lol
0.1 brazilian rainbow boa, another rat eating monster
1.1 corns

a BAD dog is MADE not bred, support the American Pit Bull Terrier as the greatest breed of dogs on Earth!!!!!

Exactly!...This is the second half of the correction needed on this myth....Even if it isn't a ball that loses interest upon being handled,but rather a nice big adult female Redtail or Burm that gets the wrong idea during playtime!..That'll ruin your happy herping moment for sure.
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Charles

Only my experience. Every snake I have fed in a tub has been calm and friendly outside the tank. When they hit the plastic of the "kill box" it is usually obvious which ones are ready to eat. They start hunting for the first thing that moves.

Tame snake. Handel regularly. They will get to know you. Wash hands before handeling. My friend was bitten after eating burgers. No rat smell. They will tell you what they don't like. If they are head shy or don't like their tail touched.

My little guy is very head shy. It takes him 10 mins of being out b4 he will let me rub his head. He jerked his head/neck a lot the first few weeks I had him. He seems to be learning that he can trust me & does it way less now. His cage is on my desk by pc & he comes over to my corner & gives me a look so that I know he wants to come out. I'm really impressed with how well adjusted he seems so far. I keep the dogs & cats away though, that is another story.

No it is when you put them in the same feeding tub time and time agean thay know it is feed time .but to each his own. I saydo what works for each snake . PS. I have 8 that will only feed in there cage but every time you open them thay are looking for food.!! thanks David

I'm not really afraid of getting bit by my ball. It's just a flesh wound . I'd rather get bitten by her than my hognose! My hoggie could give me a swollen arm for a couple days if I let her get me.... though she's just a baby right now, I'd have to let her chew on me for a while to get her fangs in. Also, she's a lot less likely to get snappy at me. I'd have to smell like food really.

your arm gets swollen do to the toxec saliva ,you are probly elerjic to it . sorry for the spelling i'm in a herry.gota go David