Just got a Ball Python!! Any Advice? *PICS* Pg. 2

[SvicksTc]

So i have always wanted a snake, and have been thinking about getting one for awhile. Being away at school my apartment does not allow any pets only exotic animals or fish so i figured it was time to get a pet snake.....

I have done a lot of reading on caring, habitat, feeding, etc but im new to the snake game and books can not tell you everything and if any of you have any advice i would greatly appreciate it....

My Setup as of Now is:

20 Gallon Tank Long/Critter Screen at top
Large Rock dish for water/bathing
Humidity Meter
2 Temp Gauges
Under Tank Heater
150watt Clamp Light
2 Log Hideaways (one small/one big on either side of the tank)
Aspen Substrate

[05OCsrt-4]

feed it somewhere else it a designated place other than its living quarters, if it gets used to eatting where it lives it might eventually try and bite/attack you, no lies

[SvicksTc]

i have heard that and have read that, but im feeding it frozen mice and was told it was ok to drop the mouse in from above where your hand is not associated with the food

[05OCsrt-4]

i have heard that and have read that, but im feeding it frozen mice and was told it was ok to drop the mouse in from above where your hand is not associated with the food

depends though, i'd rather play it safe, rather than pry a snake off of my arm

[SvicksTc]

also i have an screen top and cant seem to get the humidity up its around 35 degrees and although i just set the tank up i do not want the snake to dehydrate

[lownslow95]

Post up pics when you can.

[abrok99]

the only advice i could think of is dont get bite haha i hate snakes

[SvicksTc]

i try and get some pics up tonight

[~Brian~]

Is it a 20 gallon long or high?

Either way, a 150 watt bulb is kinda excessive. You should get at max a 100 watt SPOT bulb. Regular incandescent bulbs spread heat around the cage and you don't want that with a snake. They need a dedicated area in the tank to back and a special cool down area.

You can feed frozen, but its kinda boring at the same time. If you do, just make sure you thaw out the mouse first.

[Scapegoat]

i can has belt?

[SvicksTc]

Is it a 20 gallon long or high?

Either way, a 150 watt bulb is kinda excessive. You should get at max a 100 watt SPOT bulb. Regular incandescent bulbs spread heat around the cage and you don't want that with a snake. They need a dedicated area in the tank to back and a special cool down area.

You can feed frozen, but its kinda boring at the same time. If you do, just make sure you thaw out the mouse first.

Its 20 galllons long, i have a folder over one side of the cage to cover up the vents to make the humidity rise a little bit, thanks for the advice on the wattage of the bulb like i said im new to this and although i have done quite a bit of reading i know a lot of people out there have snakes or reptiles

I have the light and the under tank heater on the same side is this ok?


Here is a crappy cell phone pic
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/SvicksTc/DIGI0081.jpg

[den9]

i was expecting this to be 5 foot minimum

do those ones bite?

[mg23]

damn vick turning into the croc hunter? haha

[SvicksTc]

haha ya they bite but dont think it hurts that bad, ill let you know when it happens, im letting him settle in the first 2 days before i start taking him out to handle, i handled him in the store, and at first before placing him in the tank

[Eclipse GSX 61]

That is cool. I don't really like snakes enough to own one but cool nonetheless. Where did you get him?

[SvicksTc]

I got the snake at Petco, i went to like 3 surrounding petco's to look and i mean there is not much near Bloomsburg except Williamsport and Wilks-barre

[SvicksTc]

anyone know a good feeding rate? i heard 1 fuzzy a week, and other people say 1 every like 15 days?

[SovXietday]

One day I will get a snake, I love them. I used to take care of the snake we had at school.

As far as feeding, whatever you prefer really, somewhere inbetween 1-2 weeks is fine.

[SvicksTc]

ya thats what i was figuring i was going to do 1-2 weeks

[Proven]

I had the same exact type of snake. You def. want to let him chill a few days before handling him. Let him get used to being there and know nothing there will hurt him. I couldn’t wait and got bit.. It hurts, and not to mention I pulled away which made it worse (made like a slice instead of just holes). If he does get ya and wont let go rubbing alcohol or hard liquor should get him off (poor it on his nose).

After the "break in period" handle him as much as possible especially if you know others will want to hold him. Drop the mouse/pinky/fuzzy in the tank don’t let him notice your hand go in. and when he is bigger make sure you wash your hands after holding the mouse before handling him cause your fingers will look and smell like food.

I gave mine to a friend cause I started to get up set watching t he mice die (haha yeah I got weird).. My buddy never locked the top of the tank and he got out to never be found. Make sure you lock that ish.

What’s his name anyway?

[SvicksTc]

I had the same exact type of snake. You def. want to let him chill a few days before handling him. Let him get used to being there and know nothing there will hurt him. I couldn’t wait and got bit.. It hurts, and not to mention I pulled away which made it worse (made like a slice instead of just holes). If he does get ya and wont let go rubbing alcohol or hard liquor should get him off (poor it on his nose).

After the "break in period" handle him as much as possible especially if you know others will want to hold him. Drop the mouse/pinky/fuzzy in the tank don’t let him notice your hand go in. and when he is bigger make sure you wash your hands after holding the mouse before handling him cause your fingers will look and smell like food.

I gave mine to a friend cause I started to get up set watching t he mice die (haha yeah I got weird).. My buddy never locked the top of the tank and he got out to never be found. Make sure you lock that ish.

What’s his name anyway?

Ya im going to let him settle in a couple days before i start picking him up, sucks that i have to feed him this thursday already, i know they are picky eaters and moving from the store to a new home must be stressful on it, i havent decided a name yet, and my tank has locking clips at the top and i have books on top to cover the vent holes to raise humidity levels anyway so i think that should be fine for now.....

names as of right now consit of

Cant think of any names? :(

Help me name it guys/girls!!!!!!!!

[~Brian~]

Name him Sebastian. haha

And the under tank heater is good for the night. You are technically supposed to have a night light bulb, but you can get away without it if you have an under tank heating pad.

As for the humidity, just mist him twice a day heavily in the place where your spot lamp shines. Did you get a humidity gauge?

[SvicksTc]

ya i have the humidity gauge and 2 temp gauges one in the basking area, and one of the cooler side of the tank to measure

i have 2 hide spots now one on the hot side one on the cool side and added some live plants to help with humidity issues in my apartment room.....

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/SvicksTc/DIGI0083.jpg
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/SvicksTc/DIGI0084.jpg
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/SvicksTc/DIGI0085.jpg

[SvicksTc]

bump for some new pics of the tank setup

[Kerplunk105]

I wanna snake soo bad. I just cant bring myself to feed them mice/rats/rabbits/whatever and all the snakes that dont eat that those types of animals arent fun :lol:

Name him Lewis.

[Proven]

At least he is out of the hiding spot and looks like he's drinking?

I think he looks like a Fred

[pearl]

just feed him cool stuff.

[DPancoast]

you have to call it something ridiculous....

like..... pickles

haha who's gonna expect a badass snake to have a name like pickles.

[SvicksTc]

i was thinking Mitch from RoadTrip just because that whole scence is great with the snake.....Are you here for the feeding? Unleash the fury Mitch!

[SvicksTc]

i was thinking Mitch from RoadTrip just because that whole scence is great with the snake.....Are you here for the feeding? Unleash the fury Mitch!


Also the snake seems to like to move around a lot, idk if its just because its a new enviroment for it and he is checking stuff out but i think he likes it because movement normally means less stress, also i did see him drinking and people say that is rare to see a ball python drink, and normally only happens after he eats...


the feeding is tomorrow :lol:

[Got Insulin?]

In for feeding vid.

[SvicksTc]

well after reading ive decieded to feed in a seperate enclosure.. but will video tape it anway, just in a rubbermaid box haha

[~Brian~]

+2 for video..

I'll have to post a video of my frog and my leopard geckos going to town on a pinkie mouse..

[Kerplunk105]

I love the movie Road Trip!

Mitch is a funny enough name.

[SvicksTc]

ya i live in an apartment complex and people keep stoping by and going "whens mitch going to unleash the fury", or "im here for the feeding"......so i am leaning towards Mitch just because its getting really funny

[SvicksTc]

The feeding was tonight and it went well hahaha, i was concerned due to he is about to begin his shed cycle....Uploading video of Mitch's Feasting....

[Honduh]

i was thinking Mitch from RoadTrip just because that whole scence is great with the snake.....Are you here for the feeding? Unleash the fury Mitch!

HAHAHAHA this made me LOL as loud as I can at this hour without waking the rents up.

Do you live in quakertown? I'd like to witness a feeding sometime. Maybe do a feeding dance or something.