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Hey guys, I just bought a beautiful ball python today with nice dark orange markings. I was wondering what I should look for in these first few days. How often should I handle the ball. Right now he is about 20 inches long, in a 10 gallon, with a heat pad, overhead UV light, large water dish, and a long, with aspen bedding. Does all of that sound ok? Any help would be appreciated!

THANKS!

What are your warm side temps and cool side temps? You need to have at least one hide per side of the tank.

A lot of times it's recommended that you leave them alone (no handling or feeding) for a week - to let them acclimate.

that size tank won't last for long.

What did you name your new friend?
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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python "Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa "Gimli"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa "Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa "Arwen"
0.1 California Kingsnake "Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Indigo"
1.0 Snow Corn snake

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

I have a word document that is full of info from posts on various forums. I'd be happy to email it to you. Just drop me a note at:

tigergenesis@comcast.net
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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python "Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa "Gimli"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa "Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa "Arwen"
0.1 California Kingsnake "Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Indigo"
1.0 Snow Corn snake

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

I would suggest not using the UVB bulbs. I recently talked to someone on another forum who used UVB for her BP and it was terribly stressed and didn't feed. Also get two good hides.
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
0.1 Red blood python (???)
1.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, and Bear)

My image Gallery

I'm also new with Ball Pythons so let me ask a question about handling.

I left my new Ball alone for the 1st week but the times I put my hand in to change the water it Hissed when I got near it.
How does one handle Hissing Ball pythons? Should I still try to handle it or are hissing Balls pretty much a lost cause? I don't want to end up with a [bleep]y/Jittery adult Ball.
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0.0.2 Bearded Dragons(Ziggy and Stardust)
0.1.0 Ball Python(Not named yet)

Here is a very good way to make your BP more docile around people.
Week 1-5 minutes handleing everyday (except for days after feeding)
Week 2-10 Minutes handleing everyday (except for days after feeding)
Week 3-15 minutes handleing everyday (except for days after feeding)
After that handle as much as you want, your BP should be very docile after 3 weeks. That schedule also works for msot other herps.
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
0.1 Red blood python (???)
1.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, and Bear)

My image Gallery

That schedule looks like a winner.

I guess I'll just have to get used to the Hissing. I had 2 Red Tails a few years back and only one hissed at me. Not having patience at the time I took it back to the store. The one I kept never hissed at me.

Thanks!
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0.0.2 Bearded Dragons(Ziggy and Stardust)
0.1.0 Ball Python(Not named yet)

Just be sure not to be afraid of the BP if it does strike you it wont hurt...unless adult then just slight pain. It will strike and release unless you smell like rodents. Do not jerk back if timed right you can rip out teeth. If it bites you while being just let it and soon it will learn your not a threat and you wont let him go even if bit.
Just some of my personal tips..truthfully i have only had two agressive snakes and calmed down quickly.
Trust me puppies are worse.....LOL
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0.1 Leos
1.1 Corn snakes (1 Lav & 1 Ghost)
0.1 Banan California King
0.0.1 Childrens python
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow boa
1.0 Rat (as pet not food)
1.2 Ball pythons (1pastel 2 normals)
"whats with you and all those dang reptiles?"

To be honest I'm a bit nervous about being bit because I had a 5 to 6 ft Red Tail bite me and NOT let go. I've been bitten before by the same snake(Boa) when it was younger but this one time I was late with it's feeding and it wasn't too happy about that. That was few years ago and frankly I blame myself more than the snake because it was doing what snakes do.

Anyway, this Ball is young and small at this point so I've been mentally preparing myself for when it does finally strike. I know it won't hurt as much as shock me and I can deal with that. It's just part of being a snake owner.

Thanks
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0.0.2 Bearded Dragons(Ziggy and Stardust)
0.1.0 Ball Python(Not named yet)

UVB lighting is fine as long as you have appropriate hides for your BP to escape it. My BP has been with UVB lighting during the day since I got him.
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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python "Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa "Gimli"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa "Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa "Arwen"
0.1 California Kingsnake "Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Indigo"
1.0 Snow Corn snake

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

Congrats on your new pet, I'm sure you'll love it. But be careful, they're addictive. As stated in my subject line, a hide box is a must. And as far as handling, I wouldn't handle more than 15-20 minutes a week, after the first few feedings.

Good luck!

Paul Snyder
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Ball Pythons (albino het, banded, blackbacked, ghost, and normals) The Colonel, Kashmire, Sultan, Gypsy, Eva, Yumiko, Sita, Zen, Tezuka, Ryoma, Stitch, Dexter, Pharaoh, Sierra, Mokona, Jack, Gomez, and Zap

>>Hey guys, I just bought a beautiful ball python today with nice dark orange markings. I was wondering what I should look for in these first few days. How often should I handle the ball. Right now he is about 20 inches long, in a 10 gallon, with a heat pad, overhead UV light, large water dish, and a long, with aspen bedding. Does all of that sound ok? Any help would be appreciated!
>>
>>THANKS!

If it was a tiny baby the 10 would last about 6 months to a year. Depending on growth. At 20 inches you are about in need of a bigger tank with much more growth. The worse thing is that you really can't get great temp gradients in a tank that small. It helps if your room isn't too cool. If the ambient is too cool and the pad hot it is likely to sit on the heat all the time....possibly burn itself....then is when you need to up ambients. The UTH helps. But get a good thermometer and KNOW your temps. Lose the UVlight. It is expensive and worthless to the snake. Nice only for viewing.
I would leave the snake totally alone until it eats at least 3 times....three weeks consistently. Then move to handling it for short times well (2days)after a meal. I personally ignore a snake the hisses or strikes and just pick it up anyway. Worse can happen is it bites you and learns you aren't gonna react and you are not gonna hurt it. It isn't the end of the world. DON'T put it back if it bites or musks or something unpleasant. Put it back when it is calm and nice.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

Great post.

I've got to get over the hissing. LOL! I love my Ball too much not to give it a chance. People who don't have snakes can never understand how a person can love their snake just like a cat or dog. lol!

"Musking"?!
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0.0.2 Bearded Dragons(Ziggy and Stardust)
0.1.0 Ball Python(Not named yet)