Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i was at a pet smart today and they had small ball pythons i bought one they wqhere 40 dollars,

he or she is about 15 or 16 inches long pretty skinny.,
they said they havent feed it for 2 weeks and that they had them for almost 2 months,

they gave me one frezed pinky,
once i got him home and set everyhting up he doesnt want to eat he is looking really skinny,

and i just want to make sure he will eat cause in 7 days i wont be able to return hi if he happens to be sick or anything,

i really wnted to get a young one or hatchling as there called because i wanted it growning up uised to humans,

if anyone can help with my questions that would be great,
someone even told me to get a small live mouse and put it in there i dont want it to bite the snake though.

well if anyone needs to see pics of the snake to answer any of my questions let me know.

oh i also have it in a 10 gallon tank with a 60 wat heat lamp and a hide box and a bowl of water big ewnough for it to submerge itself in.

You need to get a book on how to care for ball pythons. You need to get rid of the light and get an under tank heater. That light will get too hot and kill your snake. Your snake needs a water bowl, not a swimming pool. You need to buy a hide box that is just big enough for your snake to fit in (you can get a bigger one as it grows. Lastly, your snake doesn't need a frozen pinky. The typical sized baby ball python needs to eat a hopper or crawler mouse (those are the same thing, just depends on what they call it). You need to give your snake a week to acclimate to his new surroundings before you try to feed him. You will probably have to feed him a live mouse first, and then try to switch him to frozen/thawed.

hey thanks for replying,

do you think it will be safe to keep him after the seven days
even if he doesnt eat and what does a hopper look like i will go get one tommorow,

also will a heating pad do well under the cage, because i have the light on now but the python is behind the hide box i have in the cage,he is pretty cold i dont know if he is suppose to be, like you said i dont want my python to get to hot form the light but i asked a pet shop owenr and he said any kind of light would be good for around 8 hours a day just make sure there is a part of the cage where it stays cool.

cause its gets around 60 degrees here and night right now.

I sent you a personal message that goes to your email, read it and let me know how i can help you.

1. yes live mice will bite, but live can be neccessary at times, crush its jaw with pliers. and switch to f/t asap, cheaper and safer.

2. dont trust petshops, thier only in for the dollar. they will sell you sick snakes and give you wrongfull advice just for your money.

plus the ball you bought is probably wild caught and has been starved to keep it small and cute.

3. do as much research as you can, most of the questions asked by beginners could have been answered if they did some research.

im not calling you stupid, everyone is a beginner once
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jake

my addiction:
0.2 normal ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
0.1 amelenistic corn snake (maizy)
0.1 blizzard corn (blizz)
1.0 albino cal king (zeus)
0.0.1 wc garter (zim)
hybrid breeders association
hybrid haven

crush a live rodent's jaw with pliers? who came up with that barbaric "technique"? Ted Bundy?

that is amazingly cruel, sadistic, and completely unnecessary. don't tortue one animal to "benefit" another.

a new keeper is better off to do a complete round of homework and preparation on all aspects of husbandry and approach a new snake from an educated point of view. no crushing, or torture, necessary.
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

Uhhh yeah that seems a little brutal.......Why not just stand there and keep an eye on it? If it doesn't eat it before you have to leave it unsupervised pull it out, and feed it later.

Just my 2 cents
JT
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1.0 Pitbull "Nitro"
1.0 Ball Python "Mitch"
0.1 Mali Uromastyx "Alicia"

First of all, you need to wait at least a good 3 days (leaving your new ball completely ALONE so he can get comfortable in his new home) before trying to feed him.

If you really did get it from a Petsmart, that's totally new, because for the longest time they didn't sell snakes at all (which means they may not have much experience caring for them). A baby ball python can usually eat something larger than a pinky mouse, and ball pythons should never look skinny. They're very heavy-bodied and if your baby ball looks really skinny you may have to try a small live mouse. Frozen/Thawed food is always safer, nicer, and usually cheaper than live, but in extreme cases you sometimes have to feed live once or twice to get a snake to eat. (very small mice usually can't break the skin of a ball python during constriction, it's only if you leave the two animals alone together that the mouse might start nibbling, so just don't leave them unattended and only for about 30 minutes max.)

It's totally normal for a baby ball to eat a few live meals just to get started. Once the snake's metabolism picks up (right now it's probably slowed to conserve energy) it will start feeling hungry again. With very young skinny snakes there is a point of no return so you can't always be stubborn about not feeding live, and that's the reason Petsmart shouldn't sell ball pythons if they are still so morally opposed to live food.

Before you try this, you can also try putting your snake in a small plastic container with a frozen/thawed small mouse(or fuzzy mouse). Cover the container with a thick towel and leave him alone in the dark for about 40 minutes.

Hope some of this helps, if not, return the snake and try getting a healthy-looking one at Petco. There's a 15-day guarantee and their reptile specialist will have much more experience with ball pythons.

Good luck!
~kasey

thanks for the responce with the snake not eating for 2 weeks,

tommorow i am going to try to get the smallest live mouse i can without it being a pinky.

i will put it in with him for about a half hour hopefully he eats it i just dont want him to get used to eating live animals cause i dont plan on feeding him live ones all the time.

i got him for 40 bucks i thought it was a good deal but maybe i should return it i seen one about 10 inches bigger than him at another reliable pet store.

so i cant get him to eat tommorow i might just take him back.

You have another store to go to....
I would return it!
after you do.. do more research before getting another one.
When you go get a new one ask to see them feed it... if they refuse.. it probably is not eating.. tell them you will spend your money elswhere!

Your first mistake was shopping at Petsmart.
I hate that place.

If I were you, I would return that snake and buy one from the classifieds. Someone who actually knows about snakes.
But first, buy a book, or at least look up some care sheets online.

Petsmart employees will tell you all kinds of crap that has no value just to sell you stuff. (Like lights that aren't needed).
-----
"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)

i might have to take him back,
someone told me i should get a very small mouse that is alive and see if he eats it if he does he should be ok,

tommorow i am going to get one and then if it still doesnt eat i am going to take im back i know this place that has one about 10 inches bigger than him and there a family run buisness,

so i am just thinking of what to do ,

plus i got th snake on my credit card and you know pet smart they will make me wait 2 days to get my money back on my card.

If you do keep this mouse, I would suggest a few habitat alterations.

First. Ditch the glass tank. You're looking at crappy sheds. Buy a plastic sweater box from Walmart. Drill some holes in the side, and attach the heating pad to the bottom. It will hold temps and humidity MUCH better.

Second. Hides. I use plastic dishes that you put under flower pots as hides. They're low the ground and snug. Snakes like that. Plus...the biggest one is $1.99.

Third.
Try feeding him a small, live mouse, at night. Put the mouse in the box with him, leave the room and turn out the lights.
I wouldn't leave it longer then an hour.
I've noticed my snakes like to feed at night.
-----
"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)

*snake...not mouse. Haha
-----
"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)

put one on each side of the tank so they dont need to choose between safety and temperature.
-----
jake

my addiction:
0.2 normal ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
0.1 amelenistic corn snake (maizy)
0.1 blizzard corn (blizz)
1.0 albino cal king (zeus)
0.0.1 wc garter (zim)
hybrid breeders association
hybrid haven

Your snake needs:

A proper environment including proper temps (ambient in the mid 80s hot spot at 90*) underbelly heat is preferred, good humidity (hatchings do well around 75%) small tight fitting hide and darkness.

Alone time - don't try to feed it, don't be playing with it, don't bother it - if its in a high traffic area cover the tank. Leave it be for the next 3-5 days minimum.

When you do try to feed it try a hopper sized mouse/small adult mouse - if it's too small the snake may not bother with it. Feed at night - if you are feeding live monitor the feed - if after 15 minutes he's not interested in the mouse pull it out.

You'll likely need more than the 7 day period to get him settled and eating - if you have what it takes to tough it out then go for it - if you want it easy - then take him back now.

Good luck.
-----
Tosha
JET Pythons

thanks for the reply i might take him back tommorow and go to this family owned pet store they have one for ten bucks more
but he is about 6 inches bigger and a lot fatter,

i wouldnt want to mess around and have this snake die.

i wish i could get him to eat tommorow i might keep him i dont know how friendly a larger one will be.

plus i got him on my credit card and you know how that is they are going to make me what 2 days just to get my money back on the card.

If you end up keeping the ten gallon tank and you put the new snake in it, make sure you clean it well in case this snake is sick.
-----
"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)

Also be sure to treat for mites. Pet shops are known to not care! They will tell you it's "normal, like cats and dogs having fleas". No it is Not Normal and if a bad infestation occurs it could kill your snake.
I got one from petco (this guy Seemed to know what he was talking about, said He Had snakes of his own) ...Anyway... 30 days later I had a Mite problem... I got PAM and treated the tank... yes I have tanks and have no probs with temps or humidity So then I got another BP, from the same store, and treated and quarantined it. Have No mites (as of yet - only been 20 days - LoL).
Good Luck

what an interesting collection of partial and incomplete husbandry suggestions. feed live, use a sweaterbox, use a heat pad, use a light, crush the rodent...

those random suggestions don't begin to address the problems that this new keeper has. on a scale of 100, this keeper is starting at 1.

Toshamc had the best suggestion. take your snake back and get your money back. now.

just take it back. you are not even a LITTLE bit prepared to keep a snake. and there is NO rush. you don't HAVE to get another one from "family store" tomorrow, or even this week. the world will not end.

what does "family store" mean to you anyway? i have seen plenty of those stores sell equally poor quality reptiles. what you need is a CAPTIVE BRED, well started, HEALTHY ball python. there are many sources for such an animal.

BUT FIRST, go to the classifieds here and get one of the McCurley Ball python books (as little as $10). do your research, learn about the husbandry of a ball python. learn what is required of YOU, BEFORE you buy the snake. have your setup running and parameters met BEFORE you buy your snake.

there is MUCH more to it than "buy a sweaterbox, a heat pad, and put in a live mouse".

get the book, read it, then read it again and take notes. disregard other caresheets and experts that give you conflicting husbandry suggestions from the McCurley book. follow the book and you WILL have a solid, healthy start.

disregard, keep your current animal, and try to find your own way from this point, and you will have a dead snake, and be out $40 , in less than 12 weeks.

best of luck.
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

Alright i took that little hatchling back.

turns out i found another one probally about 2 foot long it is a ball python but it looks a litte more yellow than the others,

i checked it and it doesnt have any bumps or anything.

this one eats live small mice, but gradually i am going to get him to eat dead ones.

They told me she was captive bred but who knows how much they know i think i got a real nice deal she was only 40 dollars.

and is very friendly.

if anyone wants to see some pics let me know,

i seen how they had there cage set up so i am setting mine up lie that.

and i am going out to by a humidity checker so i can see what lvls it is in there.

i am very happy with this one unlike the baby i just couldnt deal with it because i wouldnt force feed it to eat andi heard sometimes thats what you have to do with hatchlings

wow.
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

You really need to read about ball pythons. I really don't agree with people who buy animals as impulse purchases and haven't done their research. Exotic animals require special care, it is not ok to get one and not be aware of what it needs to survive. I also just have to say, you mentioned that you wanted it to be young so that it would grow up to be friendly to humans...it isn't a puppy or a cat LOL. Snakes don't learn to be cuddly. Ball Pythons are docile as a species in general but snakes are snakes, they are purely instinctual beings, they don't bond with humans.
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~Kristen
Ontario, Canada
0.1 Normal Ball Python
1.2 Pastel Ball Python
0.2 Spider Ball Python

robyn
i do alot more reading here than writing. that being said , i think it's great that you give great advice so freely and selflessly. most people with your daily dose of reptile insanity wouldn't want to spend even one more minute than they have to addressing a total stranger's neophyte-related problems , especially since it's unlikely that individual will ever be a customer. you do it 'cause you really CARE , about the animals, and the people. it's refreshing to see. anyone who has ever dealt with your shop knows you are the go-to guy at pro exotics , you gotta really love what you do , it shows , in your service , and your animals , you're a true ambassador for your cause. i bought a 100 grammer little girl from you guys in december for my little girl's christmas present. a stout, juicy, little f/t eating beauty. she's over 350 g's now , and my kid is happy as any kid with a healthy , problem free , snake could be. i wish i could beat this into every soon-to-be snake owner's head : until YOU have experience , you need to go to someone who does. pay a little more for that person's experience, they've earned the right to charge for it, and you'll make that difference back tenfold with less agrivation. hopefully someone out there gets
it !
in the mean time , keep fightin' the good fight.
peace , ck