Reptile & Amphibian Forums

well, a friend of mine is looking for a good home for her ball python. She has asked me to take it, and i have a few questions.

1. Although it is very tame and friendly, it was taken out of the wild as an egg. is there any thing i should know about such snakes?

2. According to her, it refuses to eat anything but live mice. Is there anyway to wean them onto dead ones?

3. I would like to beable to take my python on walks with me during the summer, is this possible? ive seen it done before with larger species.Would it be able to stay under a coat on cooler days?

4 the lady she got it from in formed her that it is allergic to cats. but not to dogs( i have a cat.)Is this even possible? Could the breeder have made a mistake?

thanks for any advice,
-tyrel-

I'm no expert, but I will tell you what i know from reading all the posts from the experts here

Captive hatched snakes should be taken to the vet to check for internal parasites. Granted this snake is not fresh captive hatched snake, but it'd still be a good idea to get him/her checked.

I was told when I adopted Damien that he only ate live mice. (as far as i know he is captive born)
Well, one day I decided to toss a prekilled mouse in there and leave him be.
I checked later, and it was gone.
Now he eats prekilled small rats.
I have yet to try frozen/thawed, but I will one day.

Try a prekilled mouse. Either CO2 or cervical dislocation to kill it and toss it in there.
If it's dead it's not like it's going to hurt him, so...

thanks for your advice! Im realy hoping this will work out!

-tyrel-