Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay guys, I need some help on this one. I adopted a ball python who was in need of a home, but he had to be shipped here from California (I live in Ohio). We overnighted him via UPS on Thursday night. Unfortunately, no delivery on Friday... there were ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS in Kentucky (with nothing visible on any radar I could see). Any way, the poor guy was stuck in the box all weekend long. He arrived this morning---still alive! He's a survivor this one, having lived through bad treatment, and an RI---and he doesn't seem to have any physical harm. The woman who was fostering him said he's never been nippy at all. But today, he's struck at me five or six times and gotten me twice. I don't blame him. I wouldn't have liked being stuck in a freaking box for three days either. But I was wondering if, with time, he'll settle back down? I've put him in his cage, clean water, warmth, and a nice hide box, which he immediately settled into. My plan is to just leave him alone for a week or so, then try to handle him a bit and feed him. He's actually checking out his cage having finally unrolled from the ball the went into when he figured out I wasn't going to go away just by being bitten. Anyway, I feel that he'll make a recovery and he's just totally stressed out--who wouldn't be? Any suggestions, think my plan's going to work? Please let me know... this guy needs some loving!

sounds ok, what are the temps you are keeping him at, what kind of enclosure is he in etc. Give some specifics and we can help more. Definately a good idea to give him a week to settle in then offer food and begin handeling after he is eating again.
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Nita Hamilton
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Ball Pythons

I'm keeping him in a 90 quart Sterilite container---guessing probably three, three and a half feet long---with Aspen bedding. The temps stay at around 75 degrees or so, and I have an undertank heater on one side that keeps the temps of the bedding on that side up to around 85-90. I have a hide box and a bowl of water large enough for him to soak in. He hasn't been in there very long... just a few hours. He seems to be interested in checking it out, though. I'm hoping he was just hissy because he'd been trapped in a bag from three days. Thanks he'll go back to his normal, gentle disposition?
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1.1.1 Ball pythons (Diablo, Mercedes, and Nikita)
0.2.0 Cats (Kate and Clarice)
1.0.0 Rabbits (Milosh)

He should settle down pretty easily, my rescues all have. Try to up your coolest temp to 80 and that in turn should up the hot spot to 95. Rather than checking the aspen though check directly on the plastic the snake will be pushing the aspen out of the way and most likely be lying directly on the plastic. It can get too hot if you aren't carefull.
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Nita Hamilton
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Ball Pythons

Get him to your reptile vet for a check up as soon as you can to make sure that there are no medical problems/parasites/etc.
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Bryan, Atlanta GA

1-0-0 Ball Python - Apep
0-1-0 Mountain Horned Dragon - Ki
1-1-0 Rats... no wait... ROTTEN Little Cats - Ra, Bastet
0-1-0 Little Angelic Kitten - Isis
1-0-0 Horse... whoops... BIG Golden Retriever - Jake
0-1-0 Wife
2-0-0 Kids

He should be fine - go as planned, and give him some time to settle in.

Don't forget to quarantine him, and have him checked out by a reputable herp vet.
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0.5 Normal Ball Pythons (Norma, Nova, Nala, Nimeesha, Nyoka)
1.1 Argentine B/W Tegus (Draco and Drucilla)
0.1 Columbian B/W Tegu (Diablo)
1.0 Black Throat Monitor (Razor)
1.0 Desert Tortoise (Tubbs) from Tortoise Rescue
1.0 Boxer (Shadow)
0.1 Feline (CK)
1.0 Memory of my Redtail Boa (Mo) which passed away after 28 years

"He should be fine - go as planned, and give him some time to settle in. Don't forget to quarantine him, and have him checked out by a reputable herp vet."

Amazing how much better that sounds than "Get him to a reptile vet". I didn't mean to imply that I thought there was a problem (after rereading what I posted it came out way wrong!). Very well said OC-Balls!
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Bryan, Atlanta GA

1-0-0 Ball Python - Apep
0-1-0 Mountain Horned Dragon - Ki
1-1-0 Rats... no wait... ROTTEN Little Cats - Ra, Bastet
0-1-0 Little Angelic Kitten - Isis
1-0-0 Horse... whoops... BIG Golden Retriever - Jake
0-1-0 Wife
2-0-0 Kids

I agree with giving him a little time,I gave mine about a week and a half untill she got comfy enough to move around the tank and bask in the heat,we've never had a problem at all.except for feeding time but after some trial and error we worked that out also.
Just keep the temp and humidity right and give him at least one hide box,one on each side if you can,and he'll come around.