Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I'm new. I'll be needing to learn everything since I just got a ball python for Father's Day. Man, I hope I don't kill this thing!!

He's about 18 inches long, I don't know how old, but he sure is friendly. He loves to crawl around on my arm and try to get up my sleve. I still haven't thought of an appropriate name, I'm sure that will come in time.

Hi ... nice snake.

So much for the "Ask Questions First" method! Too late now ...

You're going to want to buy The Ball Python Manual. It will be your main reference for caring for your BP. You should also read as many Caresheets on line as possible, but take them all with a grain of salt. Many contain erroneous information. Read caresheets written by experts ... check the websites of the major breeders who advertise on this forum.

That little BP of yours looks very young, IMO 1-2 months at most. Do you know if he's eaten? How many times he's shed?

Your BP is not "friendly" (you are anthromorphosizing ... placing human emotions on non-human beings). He is scared and he's trying to go into your shirt because its small and warm.

My advice for you, as for any other keeper with a baby snake, is to set up a small, warm enclosure with MANY hides at every stage in the thermal gradient and leave that snake alone for a month or so, until he's established himself as an eater and has become acclimated to his new home.

That snake should live for well over 20 yrs, so leaving him alone for the first month or 2 really won't impact your relationship with him. Don't bother him except for cage cleaning.

After he's eaten 4 or 5 consecutive meals, (roughly 1/week), and he appears to be comfortable in his environment, begin 10 minute handling sessions every few days. Slowly increase the time you hold him for, and the frequency of handling sessions.

Good luck,
Joel

PS: Buy the Ball Python Manual today! It's 10$ and will answer all your questions.
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2.5.1 Leopard Geckos
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.0 Blair's Phase Gray Banded Kingsnake
0.0.2 Crested Geckos

this may sound stupid, but can you pick that up at a local pet store?

I'm sure the PetCo's , PetSmarts and other large chains have a decent library. (I live in Quebec so none of those stores are available to me.)

A decent herp store will have some books, I'm sure.

You can also get it from many places online, including Amazon.com www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1882770285/qid=1087832209/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/002-3754803-3778463?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
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2.5.1 Leopard Geckos
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.0 Blair's Phase Gray Banded Kingsnake
0.0.2 Crested Geckos

I'll get some pics of the setup, but it's pretty basic right now. I have a 10 gallon aquarium with a heat pad under half. The bottom is lined with paper towels. There is a water-dish shaped rock with about 4 ounces of water in it and a cardboard box for a hide.

Keep in mind this was a gift from the family, so I haven't talked to the pet store yet. According to my wife, the pet store employee said the BP has been eating, and is due to eat at the end of the week. I asked if it should eat pinkies, she said she was told it would eat small mice.

She was also told we didn't need to wait to handle it, which is contrary to eveything I've read. She wasn't told anything about sheding.

What good are pets if you can't anthromorphosize?

Thanks for the advice!

I like the description of your enclosure ... I'm a very big fan of simple setups.

From my experience, and I'm sure others would agree, "pet store guys" know little to nothing about the animals they sell. They are the least reliable for information about a snake. The books, breeders, caresheets, and to a lesser extent forums etc are better.

If you could find out when and how many sheds, you'd get a better idea of how old he is and how his growth is coming. Odds are he's a CH 2004 baby, probably born in April.

Joel
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2.5.1 Leopard Geckos
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.0 Blair's Phase Gray Banded Kingsnake
0.0.2 Crested Geckos

If you're interested, I can email a word doc with various posts I've copied from forums like this.

What kind of setup (size, type, temps, substrate, hides, etc) does he have now? Unlike some of the 'easier' species (cornsnakes, etc) it's important to have things right for your snake before bringing them home as you increase your risk of feeding problems, illness, etc. Tell us what you're working with now (pics of the setup would be great)and we'll be happy to make suggestions.

You generally want to not handle or feed for at least a week to give them time to settle in. I'd also guess 1-2 months of age for your little one.

Congrats on your new friend!

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 "Chile"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

I'd love any info you can provide.
davispuppies@yahoo.com

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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 "Chile"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

Do you breed dogs?

What kind(s)?
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2.5.1 Leopard Geckos
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.0 Blair's Phase Gray Banded Kingsnake
0.0.2 Crested Geckos

You're the first to ask! I've had this address for five years because I want to breed basset hounds. It's just one of those projects I've never found time for. We do have sheep, chickens, ducks, geese, dogs, cats, and now a snake.

s
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
0.1 Red blood python (Rhianon)
1.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, and Bear)

My image Gallery

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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 "Chile"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

WHile you're sending. How about a cc to veefour@triad.rr.com ?

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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 "Chile"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

email it to me: tigergenesis@comcast.net

or post it here and I'll get it out to you.

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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 "Chile"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"