I bought a Baby Ball Python!

[bettabub]

I was just wondering if anyone could help me out....does anyone know something about them that I may need to know?(baby ball python)

I had a 6ft red tail boa about 6 years ago!

I do know a little about snakes......
-like being kept at a stable 80-85 degree F
-the store was feeding it "popper mice" once a week (when can he graduate his food?....to at least pinky mice?)
-to cover up the tank after eatting.
-not to handle 24hrs after eatting (which i never followed before......i waited at least 5hrs..)
-obviously keep the screen for the tank on the tank.


PLEASE!! help me if you can, i'd appreciate all facts or opinions.

THANK YOU!

 

[Angel Lady]

How small is the baby python.. I always heard after the get about 14 inches long you can give them the white mice.. You pretty much well have it down on what else to do for it.. The onle that I kept for about 5 years I bought me a heat rock for mine. I never seen him off from the rock in the winter months. And at nite time he would lay on it.. I made sure I kept the temp. one certian degree.

 

[Ruby Shark]

Hi and congratulations!!!

I have a snake and a know a lot of general information about them...but I don't have a BP so I found you a link to be safe.

http/www.exoticlizards.com/ball-python-care-sheet.html

Good luck and keep us updated on how he is doing.

 

[plecoperson]

I heard that the heat rocks are bad becuase they can burn the snakes or lizards or whatever? On the Animal care course I was on we gave them heat mats under the substrate but that was only geckos, bearded dragons, corn snake, chameleon.

 

[Angel Lady]

I wouldnt tell anyone else to buy a heat rock now.. I never had any idea what I was doing to my snake. But he loved it that is the only place mine would stay in the winter months. I think that could have been the reason why he died now that I think about it.

 

[Ruby Shark]

I heard that the heat rocks are bad becuase they can burn the snakes or lizards or whatever? On the Animal care course I was on we gave them heat mats under the substrate but that was only geckos, bearded dragons, corn snake, chameleon.

Yes most people recommend that you don't use heat rocks as they can seriously injure your snake. I use a heating pad that sits under the tank.

 

[bettabub]

thankyou for the advice......

angel lady.....not to bring up any bad memories but how did your snake die anyways???

 

[Angel Lady]

I think it might have been the heat rock.. I dont really know if it wasnt that. I guess the rock was getting old I had it for as long as I had the snake..5 years The snake would sleep on the rock at nite and in the winter months it wouldnt hardly leave it at all. I thought it really enjoyed the heat from it because it stayed around the rock.. I wish I would have never told you about the heat rock now, I wouldnt want to be the cause of anyones animal dying. I wouldnt be able to sleep at nite for wondering. I loved that little fellow he was so cool. I think mabey that might have helped me figure out what happened though.

 

[ladynaoko]

we keep ball pythons where I work, lovely girls ^^

Do not take my word as law, just a few suggestions

- the tank should be sprayed with a light mist of water regulary to provide some humidity
- a small bath is advisable (I know hes only a baby atm so he might not use it)
- branches for climbing on

In our viv at work we hang a damp towel in there as well to help with the humidity (we so need to get more equipment >.<)

 

[Ron]

Hey,
Wow, you've got yoturself a pretty cool snake. Yes, I agree with everything said so far. They need a heat pad under the tank. Only have it reach half way under the tank so the snake can get away from the heat if it gets too hot. Also, above the heat pad, put a heat lamp over. UV is a must for all herps to get them the much needed Vitamin D. Get a black light for at night and a stronger, white UV bulb for during the day. When they shed their skin, make you you give him plenty of space and just kind of leave him alone. They won't eat while they're getting new skin and don't like to be looked at because they are usually very grumpy during this time. Just make sure you keep that UV on him. Take care!
Ron

 

[Timmy]

Bettabub,

excuse the brief reply but I'm supposed to be working! Anyway:

snakes need a temperature gradient and they like it a bit cooler at night than in the day.
Don't use a hot rock, BPs do not feel heat as we do and can burn easily.
Snakes don't need UV (there is some slight controversy here but 99% of herpers would agree with me).
I'd recommend visiting a reptile forum.

Hope you enjoy your Ball Python (we call them Royal Pythons in the UK) they are a very nice snake (I have two).

 

[-cAtFiSh-]

i'm not here to give you any advice as i know nothing about keeping snakes, i'm just here to say i'm extremely jealous and you are very very lucky . i would love to have a snake

 

[Ron]

You're right, snakes don't need UV but they sure do bennefit from it, like most living things do. Most living things need it to make Vitamin D.

 

[bettabub]

thankyou once again for all of the advice.......it's really funny how i introduced the snake to my mom.....

at first i visited a friendly pet shop that was selling baby ball pythons, for $20 (which i explained that i wanted it so bad.), then my girlfriend wanted to stop at a garage sale.

we saw a fishtank from the road and decided to take a look. found a 33gal. that they wanted $5 for. it had a small crack throught the bottom, went back to the same pet store and i bought the baby ball python. i also bought silicon to patch it.

took the tank to my house and my mom was mad that i brought back another fishtank, i was like "it was only $5" then she practically shut up. as i was taking it up to my room i said " at least i have an animal for it" (she never heard that)

i put the snake in the cage and left for karate. i came back from karate , my mom was already at work. there was a note saying " i need to talk to u in the morning, and nice con job w/ the D@MN snake."

and thats that, she later found out that i had to bring mice into the house also for the snake to eat, wasn't too happy either.

now she doesn't mind.......

i bought the snake about 4 days ago.....

 

[Timmy]

Royal/Ball Pythons are nocturnal and mainly live in burrows so intense UV is not natural to them. There is a developing school of thought that UV actually harms the eyes of nocturnal reptiles. I don’t want to get into a big reptile discussion on a fish forum, but if anyone uses or plans to use UV with nocturnal reptiles then do some googling first.