Reptile & Amphibian Forums

He was born in July, he was eating f/t mice. I got him at a reptile show on Oct. 9th, and other then cleaning his h20, never bothered him. But whenever I go near the tank and he is out (of his hide) he strikes at me, (at the glass!) and the rest of the time stares me down. I tried feeding the sat after I got him, and again during the week. He pooped in his cage, so I know he was eating. He just gets so defensive when I try to feed him... I even put paper over his aspen and left the mouse on it, infront of his hide.. no go.

Also, I was thinking of switching him from a 10 gallon tank to a large rubbermaid, and prefereances? I also have a 55 gallon rectangular tank, (well 2, my BTS is in the other). Thanks for your time!

Now there is a second hide by his water dish, and a rock near his plastic flower pot vase. Also, a 60 watt bulb above the flower bot hide, since his UTH wasn't getting the temps high enough.
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0.0.1 Chrysemys picta picta (Eastern Painted Turtle)
0.0.1 Teliqua gigas (Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink)
0.2.0 Eublepharis macularius (Leopard Geckos)
0.0.1 Nerodia sipedon (Northern Water Snake)
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus (Crested Geckos)
0.0.1 Python regius (Ball Python)
?.?.? Assorted goldfish, minnows and guppies
1.0.0 Ferret
1.1.0 Cats
1.0.0 Aussie Cattle Dog/ Border Collie Mix

ditch the glass tank! just buy a shallow rubbermaid. my albino wont eat in anything but a rubbermaid. (he has his own special feeding "box" that doesnt get used for anything except his mealtimes.

as for his eating, maybe he is stressed, you say hes new to you...wait and try again. i have a breeder female i bought from a guy who only kept her for a pet and for the first month (while she was in the glass tank) she struck at the glass many times.

check temps.
check humidity.
check noise/light in the room. (i have one that wont eat unless its quiet, and the lights are dimmed)
dont handle him for a few days.

(i am sure you have heard all this before!)
just trying to help.

""Also, a 60 watt bulb above the flower bot hide, since his UTH wasn't getting the temps high enough.""

If you are using a dome light over a 10 gallon tank with a 60 watt bulb then it may be possible he is to hot.

I once tried out bulb wattage levels with different size aquariums ranging from 10 to 55 gallon.The 60watt kept a ten gallon around 108 to 112 degrees(without a heat pad).
This is with the room temperatures averaging around 74-77 degrees.

Good luck
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3.12 Ball Pythons
0.1 Mutant Thayeri

i just got a hatchling ball a couple weeks ago..it strikes at me alot...but it also eats very well.....it should calm down when it gets a little older.....the other comments are excellent also...the right conditions make all the difference

Jason

My room temp is low 60, my mom is cheap person, she says put a sweater on whne I tell her to raise the heat Humididty is good, temps seem fine, as he aslways is in a differnt hide/part of the tank. So go with the rubbermaids then?

But what is the prefered temps? I keep reading different numbers from differnt care sites... thanks for helping guys!
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0.0.1 Chrysemys picta picta (Eastern Painted Turtle)
0.0.1 Teliqua gigas (Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink)
0.2.0 Eublepharis macularius (Leopard Geckos)
0.0.1 Nerodia sipedon (Northern Water Snake)
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus (Crested Geckos)
0.0.1 Python regius (Ball Python)
?.?.? Assorted goldfish, minnows and guppies
1.0.0 Ferret
1.1.0 Cats
1.0.0 Aussie Cattle Dog/ Border Collie Mix

the temps need to be between 85 and 90...what temps do you have now.....also how old is the snake

The temps should vary, but not just between 85 and 90. Look at the weather in Benin, Togo, etc. Balls spend most of their lives in small burrows, probably around 80 degrees. They should be offered a range from 75 to 90. It is my suspicion (encouraged, no doubt, by the advice of far more experienced keepers) that many people keep their balls, and pythons in general, too hot.

i guess i should have clarified...i meant the warm side should be between 85 and 90...i keep mine about 85

He's probably hungery and sees you as a warm body (heat sensing pits) But doesn't see the cold room temperature mouse. Try heating up the mouse and preset it on tongs.

Mark

>>He was born in July, he was eating f/t mice. I got him at a reptile show on Oct. 9th, and other then cleaning his h20, never bothered him. But whenever I go near the tank and he is out (of his hide) he strikes at me, (at the glass!) and the rest of the time stares me down. I tried feeding the sat after I got him, and again during the week. He pooped in his cage, so I know he was eating. He just gets so defensive when I try to feed him... I even put paper over his aspen and left the mouse on it, infront of his hide.. no go.
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>>Also, I was thinking of switching him from a 10 gallon tank to a large rubbermaid, and prefereances? I also have a 55 gallon rectangular tank, (well 2, my BTS is in the other). Thanks for your time!
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>>Now there is a second hide by his water dish, and a rock near his plastic flower pot vase. Also, a 60 watt bulb above the flower bot hide, since his UTH wasn't getting the temps high enough.
>>-----
>>0.0.1 Chrysemys picta picta (Eastern Painted Turtle)
>>0.0.1 Teliqua gigas (Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink)
>>0.2.0 Eublepharis macularius (Leopard Geckos)
>>0.0.1 Nerodia sipedon (Northern Water Snake)
>>0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus (Crested Geckos)
>>0.0.1 Python regius (Ball Python)
>>?.?.? Assorted goldfish, minnows and guppies
>>1.0.0 Ferret
>>1.1.0 Cats
>>1.0.0 Aussie Cattle Dog/ Border Collie Mix

.............put something heavier on the screen top than a couple of books,balls are REALLY strong and he will push those books off no problem.have fun!

The tank ranges from 85-70, so I guess the temps are good. Originally I didnt have the books ona nd found him onto of my crested gecko cage lol. He was born in july, so he is what, 3/4 months I guess
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0.0.1 Chrysemys picta picta (Eastern Painted Turtle)
0.0.1 Teliqua gigas (Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink)
0.2.0 Eublepharis macularius (Leopard Geckos)
0.0.1 Nerodia sipedon (Northern Water Snake)
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus (Crested Geckos)
0.0.1 Python regius (Ball Python)
?.?.? Assorted goldfish, minnows and guppies
1.0.0 Ferret
1.1.0 Cats
1.0.0 Aussie Cattle Dog/ Border Collie Mix

70 is too low. Many ball pythons will go off feed when temps go below 75.
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The Voices have won!

jeff pfeifer

5 degress makes that big of a deal? Then I'll just move the light over a bit.
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0.0.1 Chrysemys picta picta (Eastern Painted Turtle)
0.0.1 Teliqua gigas (Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink)
0.2.0 Eublepharis macularius (Leopard Geckos)
0.0.1 Nerodia sipedon (Northern Water Snake)
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus (Crested Geckos)
0.0.1 Python regius (Ball Python)
?.?.? Assorted goldfish, minnows and guppies
1.0.0 Ferret
1.1.0 Cats
1.0.0 Aussie Cattle Dog/ Border Collie Mix

Not to mention the fact that is a HUGE range. Try to keep it a bit more constant...he's young, they are a bit nippy when they are young...it's a defensive thing, in the wild they have to be otherwise they would get eaten or stepped on. Take him out once in a while...they are usually a bit calmer once you get them out of their cage.

matt