Questions about my Ball Python?

Question

Hey guys. I just recently bought a beautiful pastel ball python and i have a few questions. Background info: snake is a baby, <19in long. It is housed in a 10gal tank with substrate.

First: Tank set up. I have a heating pad under a hiding spot on one side, and a bowl of water on the other side. I also bought a heating lamp because I am in the northeast and I didn't want it to get too cold in the winter. I have a thermometer in the middle of the tank, about 1.5 inches above the substrate. I also have a hydrometer. The temperature when the heating lamp is off reads between 70-75, and with the heating lamp on, 80-90, depending on the time. I also keep my heating pad on all the time. I read somewhere that the heating pad heats 20 degrees higher than the ambient temp. is that always true? So does that mean my snake is feeling temps of 90-110 degrees? I think that's bad for the snake, but I don't see how that can be true. Also, I turn on the heating lamp during the day to simulate night/day. Where should I put the lamp? on the "hot side' where the pad is, or above the water bowl?

Second: I'm having trouble feeding the snake thawed mice. I tried yesterday to no avail. I fed it a live one a week ago, and it ate it, but i now need to feed it frozen ones (limited access to live mice). I used tongs and wiggled the mouse by the tail, but it didnt take it. I am going to try again today with a new one, but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Third: Shedding. How long does the process take? Aside from cloudy eyes, what signs should I look for?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Yeah the guy aboves got it spot on that&#039;s the best answer you will get, wherever u read that about the heat mat, i suggest u don&#039;t take your advice from there coz 110C will burn your snake no doubt about it.

The shedding thing can take longer than a week in my experience, i think the more familiar you are with the snake the longer u seem to think it takes, because its just one long continuous cycle, a week after my oldest snakes shed i can see signs of the next one starting to creep in re: color difference e.c.t. But it&#039;s behaviors will change (normally it will quieten down) around a week before the big day lol

Good Luck!

Answer 2

Wow, that is a lot of questions....lol

1) I would just put it over the water bowl(make sure there is ALWAYS water in the bowl though) so it could/might keep the water a little warmer. Just don&#039;t forget to turn it off at night though.

2) Well if he doesn&#039;t eat then I would just recommend not feeding him, just leave him alone for about a week or so(the least is about 4-5 days) before trying to feed him again. He is just probably a little stress from having a dead mouse in front of his face everyday....lol but no seriously he is just probably a little stress. I would just let him be for a few days then try feeding him again. Also you could try feeding him a pre-killed mouse. The pre-kill mouse would still have the heat from an alive one and also the smell, here is some steps in it....just in case =]

Ways to move a live feeders to frozen:

1: First do pre-kill(kill the feeder then dangle the mouse in front of the snake)

2: If the snake eats it, then get a frozen mouse and warm it up until you can feel the heat coming from it, then dangle the mouse. And that&#039;s basically it. At least that&#039;s how I got one of my ball python to go to frozen(she was actually a wild snake and eating live b4 (the people didn&#039;t tell me she was wild until I took her home and my friend saw her(he&#039;s a breeder)

3) The shedding process usually take a week, sometimes even more, it really depends on your snake. Other signs are also the pink belly, oily tint on the snake&#039;s skin, and they usually don&#039;t eat during the shedding process. So if your ball python won&#039;t eat while he is shedding then it&#039;s nothing to worry about(snakes can live up to a year without eating) just try feeding him next week.

*Also since your snake is a baby, then it shouldn&#039;t be but too hard to switch it over to frozen/thawed. Usually the adults takes much more time and effort*

Hope this could help and feel free to email me if you need anything! Congrats on the new snake! =]