I just got my first snake -- ball python -- Updated w/ PICS!!!

[kryptoniteqhs]

Ok, I just wanted to share my excitement of getting a new snake. I got her yesterday evening. I was told from the person that I got her from (a private party) that she got her from a snake show (or maybe it was a reptile show, i dont remember) in Timonium, MD. Im hoping some of the experts will chime in and chat with me about this as I am excited and open to hear all kinds of tips. My new snake is a 2 year old female ball Python. She is about 2 and a half feet (Ill measure her soon to know for sure) and she is in the middle of a shed. My only concern is that she is not shedding all in one piece, she is shedding in little pieces all over. She has shed one eye cap but not the other, yet. Im going to the store today to get a more accurate digital thermometer/hygrometer. After I get this Im going to try and up the humidity so its in the mid 60s. Shes got a big bowl of luke warm water that she can go in if she wants and two shelters, one on the warm side and one on the cooler side. She has a big stick to climb on if she wants. I am planning on getting a tupperware bowl with a lid and putting warm, moist cloths in it and closing the lid with her in it (with air holes of course) for about 20-40 minutes. Im hoping it will be like a little sauna for her. After that Im going to take her out and cut a hole in the top so she can go in and out of it if she pleases. Right now I have 2 heat lamps on top of the cage. Both on the warm side and none on the cool side. After I get some thermometer/hygrometers (same walmart ones i use for my chicken incubator) and figure out what the temp and humidity is for sure (I dont think the ones I have are accurate) I will decide if I should get a heating pad? I may already have one somewhere from my tortoise. Please chime in and give your opinion and please correct me if anything I say is wrong. Thanks for listening!! And Ill post pics soon!

Also, I plan on feeding frozen mice, but Im not sure where I can order them in quantities less than 25 or 50 even?

 

[chandasue]

I had a ball python a while back. There's various ways to set up a tank but this is what I did: I had a 29 gallon long tank that I put the under tank reptile heating pad and placed a half log over that section and a bowl of water on the other side with fake ivy for hiding. I didn't use heat lamps, just UV reptile bulbs in the florescent in the tank cover, with a screened cover so he wouldn't escape. I don't know what the humidity was, I didn't buy all the gadgets. I'd just occasionally spritz the inside of the tank with water and that seemed to be fine. I only had one bad shed when I first got him and to get through it I spritzed the inside with extra water and covered the top to keep it more humid. I had to peel off the last bits gently otherwise they'd scab over. It may just be a stressful time. If the snake has been eating the frozen mice that should be fine. Mine was picky and would only eat live mice on the run. I know your supposed to knock them out first to keep them from biting but he wouldn't touch them if they weren't moving. It was cool for a while but I moved and there was no pet store where I was moving to in order to get mice so I gave him to the daughter of a lady I worked with. I didn't want to breed my own, YUCK! He's living a long spoiled life and she takes him for walks around the neighborhood.

 

[chickbea]

Where are the pictures of your new girl? What's her name?

 

[kryptoniteqhs]

Thanks guys!! I will take pictures this afternoon and post them I promise lol. Im not sure what her name will be yet, but so far I kind of like Princess, but its not a for sure name yet. I was told by her previous owner that shes always had problems getting her to shed. But, she was sure it was something she was doing as Ball Pythons were new to her and she has always done Corn snakes. She said she didnt feel like she was doing everything right so she wanted her to go to a home where shed be well taken care of.

 

[chandasue]

If you google "ball python care" you'll get a wealth of information or contact a local herpetological club. Here's just one of many! http://www.anapsid.org/ball.html
Way to much to post here.

 

[kryptoniteqhs]

YAY PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!

If you know anything about her that I dont (meaning I have not already said it lol) please let me know haha

 

[kryptoniteqhs]

come on now! i know someone wants to see pics!!

 

[chickbea]

I'm looking at the pics - I just had to do a little bit of actual work before I got online for fun!

 

[gritsar]

She's very pretty. Reminds me of a ball python I had named Dixie.

 

[kryptoniteqhs]

lol....yea were trying to figure out what to name her and as im typing this sister thinks Roxy....what do you think?