Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My uncle is having to move, and wants us to adopt his female ball python. With cage and all. She is full grown, and they have always fed her in her cage. My uncle says she is very docile, but hasn't been handled much. I am going to look at her at lunch, but I am kinda thinking that she might intimidate my 7 & 14 year old, and they wont want to handle her, since she is already grown. We had a baby b/p that they handled all the time, but my daughter forgot to lock the lid back, and he has been missing for over a month now. My uncle said that she has a figure 8 on her back. I would be willing to trade her for a baby snake, does anyone know of someone in the DFW area that might do that?

FYI, don't give up on your baby yet. They can go a loooooong time without eating. Have you tried to find it? What have you done to find the missing snake, if you don't mind me asking?
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Rob Talkington

I have looked everywhere I think. I have pulled out the fridg., stove, entertainment center, looked under beds, looked in closets. Is there somewhere else I can look?

There are a couple of things you can try. You can spread some flour around before you go to bed. If he's up moving around you may see a trail.

You can take a bunch of plastic bags and put them places. Turn out all the lights and wait a while. If he moves you will hear the bags ruffle around.

I guess I'd set a bowl with some water down somewhere dark and put some plastic bags around. You may even try putting mouse on a plate as well. Listen for the bags to ruffle.

Just looking around may not be enough. They can get into some really surprising locations. If you can think of anywhere that may generate heat make sure you have looked there as well.

Good luck!!!
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Rob Talkington

He will only eat live mice. How would I lure him with a live mouseee?

I guess I'd get a frozen/thawed mouse and see if that will bring him in. The thing I wouldn't do is get yourself another snake without at least trying the methods mentioned above. Before you know it you will have two baby snakes and then may end up trying to get rid of one of those.

Also, you may want to see if your kids will handle the big ball. They are very docile and you might be surprised. It's probably worth a shot, anyway, before you decide you're getting rid of it.
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Rob Talkington

My uncle's girlfriend had just put a mouse in her cage, and she had missed it before I got there, I picked the snake up, and she seems pretty docile. She did make a small hissing sound while I was holding her, but it didn't scare me. I put her back in her cage, and got the mouse out of hiding, and she did get it, but after killing it, she had some of the aspen bedding in her mouth, and she did not eat the mouse. I watched her for a few minutes, and the mouse was still laying there when I left. Is this normal for them to kill it, and eat it later, or was it maybe because she has that awful bedding in her mouth?
I think the kids would handle her, if I can change her eating habits, to start eating in a seperate container. How do I go about that?

Well I wish I had more experience but I've only had my ball for about 8 mos. I can give you some suggs. that I would try, though.

I'd try to kill two stones with one bird here. Not only would I try to get her eating in a separate container, I'd try to get her switched to frozen/thawed at the same time.

I'd try to feed her every 2 weeks. I'd put her into the feeding container and would dangle the thawed and warmed up mouse from a pair of tongs in front of her a little. If there is no take I'd leave both the mouse and her in there for a good couple of hours. I'd also make sure there's a hide in the seperate container and a heat gradiant as well.

Eventually, she will get used to the feeding tank and hopefully end up taking the thawed mouse. I'd try this for a couple of months before even thinking about giving up. That is unless you see her losing any noticeable weight. If she starts losing a lot of weight I'd probably go back to live in the seperate container.

After you've got her switched to ft in a seperate container you can eventually get her onto rats!! Another fun challenge.

These are just my suggestions on the matter. Maybe someone else can come up with something better.
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Rob Talkington

Go for it. ball pythons are generally docile if they are well fed, and your kids will get used to it real fast. My little girl who is 2 years old loves all my snakes, and will hold the adult ball pythons, as well as a 7 foot centralian python. I am sure there is a breeder in your area that would love a female ball python in trade for a male baby if you decide to do that.
Justin J