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#172921
Meanddave
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Alot of questions!!! 
We just got a ball python from my teen age niece who "couldn’t" care for it anymore. Anyway, we have no experience with snakes. Here goes.
We found out the hard way (got bit) that once you get a new snake, that it gets stressed out. LEAVE IT ALONE. We are now doing that. It is starting to come out of it’s hide, and when I walk by the tank it comes out and follows me, last nite I thought it was starting to come around and was sort of looking at the snake through the top (plexi glass) it was following me, then it struck the top of the cage.
I have trouble getting the cage warm enough, she used a heat rock which is still in there, but we went and got a heat pad also. The temp on the hot side is roughly 75. Since we got the heat pad it won’t go over there.
The last time the he ate was last Friday (6 live mice) I do plan on switching it to frozen/thaw rats, the reptile place told me how to do it. Could it be hungry? Could it be cold? Could it still be stressed? The niece told me that it "might" be time to shed. Besides the eyes clouding up, are there any other signs?Any help would be very much appreciated. I know this to be a very tame snake, however it is not acting like it!
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10/31/04 3:42pm
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#172927
Ryoflex36
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Message To: Meanddave In reference to Message Id: 172921
Alot of questions!!!
It’s probably still stressed out. Other signs of knowing it’s time to shed besides the cloudy eyes is a pinkish underbelly. I would strongly recommend getting rid of the heat rock as they can cause burns and short out and hurt your snake. It’s widely known! How high in the humidity? Do you have a large water dish for it to bask in and raise the humidity? If you don’t have it there already the heat pad goes under the tank, hopefully you don’t have it inside. Keep us updated!
~Ryo~ 
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10/31/04 3:49pm
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#172943
Meanddave
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Message To: Ryoflex36 In reference to Message Id: 172927
Alot of questions!!!
OK the under belly still looks normal. I’m afraid to take the heat rock out because the temp is still so low. The heat pad is outside underneath. We have a big water thing that I haven’t seen it get into , I have seen it take drinks though. Th humidity is at 70 on the cool side.
When it was "following me around" it slid up the side of the tank and stayed there for most of the night. Today it is almost all the way in its hide except for the head which is out and still pointing up. ???? Shouldn’t it be sleeping?
One more thing, we have it’s tank in the family room with a lot of activity going on around, should we put it in a quiet room with little to no activity? It’s also very bright where we hve it now would a constantly dark room be better?By the way, it’s name is Zoe. (they thought it was a girl, now they think it’s a boy, but who knows?)
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10/31/04 4:22pm
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#172980
Asian Jon
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Message To: Meanddave In reference to Message Id: 172943
Alot of questions!!!
Definately take out the heat rock, if you hold it for 5 mins and it doesn’t burn you it is probably ok, but I doubt it. The heat pad should be enough, make sure the pad is under the tank and your python’s hide over where the heat pad is. This way it can get a little more heat. Make sure to put substrate between the snake and the heatpad. Do some more of your own research, it helps a lot.
ty
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10/31/04 6:44pm
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#172998
JasonN
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Message To: Meanddave In reference to Message Id: 172921
Alot of questions!!!
Greetings,I would start by doing a google search on the topic ’Ball Python Caresheets’. Here’s a great one to get you started: The Ball Python Troubleshooting Guide You should purchase a copy of, The Ball Python Manual. It’s not the best or most up to date book, but it is very informative none the less.
Peronal advice:
1) Remove the heat rock
2) Raise the temps (75-80 on the cool side, 88-90 on the warm)
3) Use rheostats to adjust the temps
4) Purchase a digital indoor/outdoor thermometer/hygrometer
5) Move cage to an area with less traffic
6) After a week or two, offer prey. After 3-4 successful feedings and reduced stress, you can start handling.
Signs of shed:
1) Blue eyes
2) Pink Belly
3) Dull (dark) skin color
4) Seclusion
5) Moodiness (sometimes) Best of Luck!
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10/31/04 7:18pm
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#173000
SCSnakeman
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Message To: Asian In reference to Message Id: 172980
Alot of questions!!!
You have gotten really great advice, but in addition, I would also put her in a room that is more quiet than the family room. She can see the movement in the room and feel vibrations as you and your family move around. Also, it would be good for her to have some dark time as this is a nocturnal snake too many light hours could be stressing her as well. Give her a week or so in the quiet room and then handle her some every day and feed as normal.
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10/31/04 7:22pm
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#173001
SCSnakeman
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Message To: Asian In reference to Message Id: 172980
Alot of questions!!!
You have gotten really great advice, but in addition, I would also put her in a room that is more quiet than the family room. She can see the movement in the room and feel vibrations as you and your family move around. Also, it would be good for her to have some dark time as this is a nocturnal snake too many light hours could be stressing her as well. Give her a week or so in the quiet room and then handle her some every day and feed as normal.
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10/31/04 7:22pm
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#173021
Ryoflex36
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Message To: Asian In reference to Message Id: 172980
Alot of questions!!!
Ok, I can explain it better now since I’m not too busy. Have your tank somewhat set up like this. Have a water dish about half the length of the Ball Python. So just for an example, say it’s a 2’ snake. Have it be 1’x1’. This will allow it to be able to soak. You want it to fit snug inside of it so that it feels safe. Because they think there being hunted by a predator. So this will make it feel more secure if all of it’s sides are being touched by the container while it’s in the water. Place this on the opposite end of where you have your heat mat. Have your heating pad underneath the tank covering one side of the bottem. So half of it. The (hide) is basically a small cardboard box, the dish at the bottem of a flower pot, or something similar. Just make sure there is a hole big enough and smooth enough for it to fit through. It needs to be able to fit snug in the hide as-well so it will again feel secure. But it doesn’t need to be high. Not too high, maybe like 3or6". Place the hide on the side of the tank that has the heat mat under it. This is because it will spend a majority of it’s day in the hide. So you want it to get as much heat as it can. Also, add newspaper for the bottem. Place this in first of course. Maybe 2 or 3 layers. Let it run up the sides about 1" or so. This is because they defecicate, (go to the bathroom), in the corners usually. Add some fake vines or plants to add a look. Be creative and decorate the top of the hides if you want. It’s not the most pleasant looking cage, but it’s the easiest cleaning wise. Just replace newspaper when it’s soiled. Add fresh water daily. You can mist the cage to up the humidity, (do this when there about to shed), it will help alot! If you have problems keeping the heat up. Buy a normal house bulb, 40 or 60 watt is fine. Put in a slider hood or dome lamp. Make sure this sits on top of the cage, on top of the wired top or whatever you have. And make sure it’s up about 2" from that so they don’t come in contact with the metal and burn themselves. You can do that buy using a dome lamp and putting 2 small pieces of wood that are about 1" width x 3or4" long on the cage top first and then sit the light in top of them. Make sure you run a daily light cycle. Turn the light off at night time. They are more active at night. Best to hold them then. Always leave the heat mat on. When you have to clean the cage out let him soak in the tub, make sure it’s clean first before you put it in because soap or shampoo could be toxic. Anyway clean the entire cage and anything in it in either soapy water, or a 1/4 bleach solution. This will disenfect the cage and whatever you have placed in it. Rinse very very very very good! Dry it out and then re-apply new news paper and fresh water. Try to keep the light, (if you use it), on a set cycle. You can buy a timer that will turn it on and off for you at Lowe’s or Home Depot in the electrical area. It’s only $4.95. You just set the timer for when you want it to turn on and off. Say 8a.m. it turns on, and then 6p.m. it turns off. Then plus the cord from the light fixture into the timer and the timer into the wall. There you go. I forget the size and age of the snake, but feed it every 5-7 days if it is young and if it’s older feed it every 2 to 3 weeks. Don’t handle it after it eats. Let it go for about 2 to 3 days, (besides replacing fresh water), to let it digest it’s food. That’s all I can think of. I think I touched base on everything. If you have anymore questions just ask. Hope this helps and good luck! Oh! Put it in an area where it’s not so busy too. This will help it be less stressed.
~Ryo~
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10/31/04 8:06pm
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