Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was given a ball python and i dont really know anything about snakes but i really enjoy him/her and want to make it as comfortable as possible so i have some questions for the veterans. I dont know how old it is but its around 3ft long and about as large around as a paper towel tube in the middle, maybe a little bigger. I have a "cage" with some half bark housing in it (looks too small for the snake) and a fake rock water bowl about 7inx5in round and around 1"-1 1/2" deep (also looks too small for the snake) and the aquarium is around 3 feet by 14" wide and about 12" tall/deep and around the water bowl is some brown bark type material and on the other side is straw type stuff, yellowish looking. The snake seems comfortable, but i just want to make sure. I hold it easily and it seems happy. It doesnt seem to hide except for when i dont have the light on it and it is cold, in which it goes under the dry stuff instead of the bark. Right now it is laying in the light and likes to lay in the sunlight in the morning. My questions are: It was fed a "hairless mice thing" about 2 weeks ago frozen then thawed (not by me) When does it eat next and can i feed it a small, live mouse? Do i need to get a bigger hiding spot for it? How hot do i need to keep the tank? It has 1 therm on each side of the tank.

lol sorry for the long post but i dont know about pythons and just need some beginners tips/info/opinions on what to do to make it comfortable. It seems cool to me right now, but i want to keep it that way. Thanks in advance.

As for housing and general care, these links should help you...

www.pinkladyconstrictors.com/ballpythonbasics.html

www.pinkladyconstrictors.com/enclosuresetup.html

As for feeding, a 3-foot adult should be able to take a small rat every week without a problem. Mice would be a little small, so if you choose to go with mice, you may need to feed 2-3 of them. The general rule of thumb is to feed a prey item that is the same width as the snake at it's widest point (middle section).

Congrats on the new snake, and good luck!
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~* Jen *~

Pink Lady Constrictors

first you should buy a book or at least read a caresheet.

you should replace the bedding with paper towel for a month or so.

give it a week and try feeding it a pre killed rat or mouse.

replace the bark hide with a cereal box

make sure to keep the temp around 80
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jake barney

my addiction:
1.1 normal ball pythons
0.2.1 corns
1.0 albino cal king
0.0.1 wc garter