How do I help my ball python?

Question

Recently bought my first bp, shes beautiful, and we are very happy to have her... I just had a few questions about how to help my snake in a few situations Ive come across...

1. I feed her weekly, but was wondering... do I continue to feed her even though she hasn't passed (pooped) the last meal she had? What are their ­"passing" rate compared to feedings?

2 She has begun shedding, and I noticed that it wasn't exactly done in one piece. How much time do I give her to shed? When and how do I know shes having a hard time shedding?

3. Finally... this may sound weird... but what does snake f***s look like? Is it something that cant be missed?

Thanks

Answer 1

One way to up the humidity is to get a small plastic shoebox (or sterilite container or something along the lines) cut a hole in the top/side, melt the cut area down so it can't cut it's self, moisten some paper, or old rags and place it in the box (change daily or every other day to avoid mold!).

2.) put saran wrap over half the lid, tanks are notoriousl difficult to keep humidity in.

how are you gauging heat? if it's just one of those stick on gauges, it is wrong, it only gauges the heat of where it is stuck to.

You need a digitial thermometer with a probe. Put the probe under it's hot spot hide, under the substrate so it monitors exactly how hot it is getting (and honestly newspaper is free, usually soy based ink, and easy to clean, so usually the best substrate out there)

ball python f***s is hard to miss, and they do not generally "go" as often as say cornsnakes, so if he is willing to eat, feed him!

And lastly I hate to burst bubbles, but snakes are primal animals, they do not "tame" down like puppies or kittens. They do not come when called, they do not know their names, and they do not "love" anyone.

They can and do however learn to recognize the person that feeds them, and may "come" to you seeking out food. They will also go to a person as a heat source

as for the website kingsnake. I have found many of the people on their to be uppity know it all's.

Goodluck, and have fun with your ball python.

Answer 2

Your humidity sounds fine,its just as it should be! when its shedding next time you could always give it a bath, (its best to do this when the eyes have cleared and its about to shed) for twenty mins and mist its cage!  i feed my young one every 5-7 days as its only young! you said you recently got it, so i am assuming that its a young bp my 4 month old bp has only been for a p**p three times in its life so they can go anything from 1-2 months without pooping! (just carry on feeding the way you have been)  i have found a few urine balls in the viv! ( as the other person has said its a solid white/yellowish ball similar to chalk! anyway back to the point! if its around the same age as mine,the p**p should be around a inch/inch and a half across similar to dog p**p with the urine at the end! hope this has helped! good luck with your bp and enjoy! oh and don't listen to the first response!

Answer 3

1. Yes you should continue to feed as scheduled. Snakes aren't like lizards, they don't 'go' with every meal. When I had my Ball Python he only went about once every month or two, even if he was fed weekly.

2. Your humidity is good. As long as all the skin comes off(make sure the skin on the eyecaps and the skin at the very tip of the tail comes off), shedding in pieces isn't that bad. To help her shed next time you can soak her in warm water for about 15 minutes and that will help her shed. If she has already began shedding in pieces, then have her slither through a pretty damp towel(warm water) and that should help remaining pieces to come off - just don't peel the skin off.

3. It will, well, look like poo. And snake urine comes in urates, they're white or whitish-yellow and it looks kinda like chalk. It's hard to miss.

Have fun with your new snake and if you have any more questions feel free to send me a message.

Answer 4

1. I feed mine weekly no matter what. Ball pythons do seem to take a while to pass their food.

2. I'd give her about 3 days to shed. You should mist her cage 1-2 times per day until she sheds. I she's got loos skin (or skin that looks loose, like she's having a hard time to shed it) then you can wet your snake in the area of the semi-shedded skin and gently rub it off. Most snakes don'y like it, but it may need to be done.

3. Ball python poo looks like little dog poo. (Unless it's runny)

Answer 5

I have found this great website for you because the only answer I know is your number 2 question. If she is having a hard time shedding it may be because it isn't humid enough in her habitat. Anyway here's the link. Good  luck!

Answer 6

You mentioned "we" are very happy?  I sure hope that we isn't like a "woman" and possibly an "infant" around?  A python is a cold blooded reptile.  A snake will never develop an affinity towards you, like a mammal pet might.  Your free to have one, but why have a python in your house??  

Gosh, I sure hope you don't have any small children around?  Where do "we" derive your happiness from?  I just don't understand that??!!