Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My husband just got me a ball python for a gift. I love it the pet store said it is to young to know the sex but to me she looks at least 6 months to a year. I think she is a female but dont know four sure. If anyone has any tips for me I would love to know. Like how often to feed he. My friend who had a couple said one a week. But how can you tell if that is enogh?

Thanks

the guy at the pet store doesn't know what he's talking about. Often, snakes are sexed when they are in their first week. The only time a snake cannot be sexed is when it is still in the egg. Find a locally owned pet store that knows how to sex a snake and ask them to do it. You could also bring the snake to a reptile show and ask anyone who works with large constrictors if they would mind probing your snake to determine gender. Most of the vendors at shows are quite friendly and extremely helpful. If you're only keeping the snake as a pet, the gender won't really matter. If you decide you want to breed it, then you would need to know so you can find it a mate.

Another option would be to take some very clear photos of the tail of the snake, especially underneath, and post them in the ball python forum. I'm not too familiar with them, but many species can be sexed visually by experienced breeders.

As far as feeding, select a food item roughly the diameter of the largest part of the snake's body. I always use something a bit smaller in girth. Get frozen mice or rats from your local pet store and thaw them out with warm water. Once COMPLETELY thawed, feed your snake by wiggling the thawed rodent with a pair of tongs. Let your snake set the feeding schedule. It knows when it's hungry better than we do. Give it a few thawed mice or rats. When it's no longer hungry, it'll lose interest.

If the snake is small, it might eat 2-3 times a week. As it grows larger it's metabolism will slow down. My brother's ball python only eats every couple of months.

Once you figure out what size rodents your snake can eat and how much, I would advise ordering a bunch of frozen mice and rats online. You can get enough to last months or even a year and keep them in your freezer. It's much cheaper and more convenient that way.
-----
1.0.0 Great Plains Ratsnake
1.0.0 Corn, Lavender Aztec het for Amel
1.0.0 Ghost Sonoran Gohper
1.0.0 Black Bassador Retriever
2.1.0 Godchildren, 1 Evil, 2 possible hets
0.1.0 Girlfriend, WC, Adventure Chick Phase

Thanks, for the info we breed mice thats why we use a seprate tank for feeding. I have tried to post a pic in here of her. But cant figure it out. I just do know how to find out if there are any reptile shows coming my way or not.

Most of the reptile shows in the nation are listed here:

http://www.kingsnake.com/events.html

As far as feeding schedule: With the exception of my adult carpet python, I feed all of my snakes as often (and as much) as they'll eat. Every so often one will over do it and regurge, but it doesn't happen often.
-----
---
http://www.mikefoux.com
http://www.cafepress.com/shedz

1.2.0 Hondurans Het Amel
1.1.0 Hondurans Anery, Het Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo, Het Anery
0.2.0 Pueblans
1.0.0 Pueblan Hypo
0.1.0 Corn Bloodred
0.0.1 GBK Blair's Phase
1.0.0 California King
0.1.0 California King Blue-eyed Blond
0.0.1 Speckled King WC
0.0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1.0 Ball, Normal
1.0.0 San Diego Gopher, Poss. Het Applegate
0.0.1 Sulcata
0.1.0 Wife, Caucasius Mexicana

Trolligans and the others have given good advice. Remember though, Ball python's don't have as fast a metabolism as some other types of snakes do. If yours is a couple feet long or so, which it should be from what you said, I would feed it a good sized meal almost the diameter of it's widest point at mid-body about every seven days or so, and keep only ONE side of the enclosure at about 85 degrees, using an under tank heat source, the other side can be upper 70's, but DO NOT GUESS at the temps!, use an accurate thermometer down on the substrate of the cage. You don't EVER want a snake to regurgitate, or this could very likely lead to a domino effect of terrible things that are VERY serious.
Do yourself(and the snake) a huge favor, and get an inexpensive book on Ball Python's(sold at most any pet store). This will be invaluable to the well being of the animal, and you can refer to it at will whenever you want to. This is MUCH better than not being sure about it's care, and then have problems arise. The most inportant thing in snake care in my opinion, is preventing any problem from ever being an issue in the first place. Most snakes are very easy to maintain, but there are definitely a few key things that must be addressed to keep them healthy and problem free. A good inexpensive book will allow you to do this very easily.

good luck!, ~Doug

-----
"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"