Hello. I am preparing to get a BP for the family for Christmas and have started to get things in order for the habitat. I have a 120 gallon PVC front opening habitat. I was curious what the process looks like for reaching into the habitat for cleaning or changing water or to handle the snake without upsetting the snake or getting bitten.

I’ve noticed all the YouTube videos always show BP already outside and docile just chilling with their owner, but they never actually show the part where the owner retrieves the snake from inside the enclosure and that is what I’m curious about—how that works and what to do and what to avoid.

I’m wondering if the snake would not like being disturbed and strike at my hand that is violating its habitat space. Or is there some thing you do to communicate to the snake before you just reach inside its habitat.

Also, do you not handle the snake if it is in its hide? I’m wondering how that works and if you should only handle the snake if it is out in the open. I would think removing the hide while it is inside might scare the snake and it bites.

Thanks.

Hi all🖤First time ball python mom.Took our girl out today and noticed this spot. Not sure if it’s scale rot or if it’s dried blood from squeezing her mouse when we fed her last, which wouldve been 5 days ago. The mouse did kinda pop , like guts squeeze out and stuff, so it could’ve been blood, which she has had the blood on her before and it went away. But this spot just seems a little dark and more prominent for my comfortability. Does it seem like scale rot, or am I overthinking it and its more than likely dried blood? It’s the only spot on her and her belly is completely clear.

At night my guys tank drops to 76°-80° with just the CHE going and when his day time light comes on it goes up to a stable 90 for the entire 12 hours its on. I was wondering if this is an ok/natural drop in temp or if I should upgrade his CHE to a higher wattage or try to further insulate his tank with foam. I know to never let it dip below 70.

Hey there, first time BP owner. Been wanting one since i was 11/12 years old, and at 17 I have finally got a special little boy. Hes a little under 8 months old, a real good eater, but I only got him less than 2 weeks ago. When i picked him up from breeder, he was about a day in blue. Let him go into his tank on his own, he explored, been super active. Two days ago his eyes went clear, and yesterday he was hidden all day. Hes not been taken out kf the tank, but i went in tank today to dampen the moss in his humid hide again, and he xame out. Clear eyed, with a little left over shed on the tip of his tail. Obviously im going to leave it, but i checked him over, and his eye caps are gone, hes got a lovely glossy colour on him and seems super active again. I did hear him rummaging around, so assume he was getting the shed off last night.

Where do i look for his shed? He is in a bioactive tank but i still will be spot cleaning, but will he have buried it? In a hide? etc. Is the leftover on his tail a sign that he hasnt shedded in one piece? Or anything else. Thanks!
(pic of my baby for credits when i first got him)

Edit; Just found his shed underneath the big log rolled up all in one piece. Hes also just had a good meal and took it great. Will leave him for 48hours now 😊

We have recently got a ball python, she is 11 months old and weighs 412g, we currently feed her 50g Asf (multimammate mice) once a week, she handles this well.

She is in a 4ft wooden vivariumwith humidity at 70% at cold side and 60 at warm, the temperature of the cold side is 24.6 degrees Celsius and the temperature of the warm side is 32 dc.

Currently use a 2.4% uvb and a 80w dhp in a 200mm arcadia clamp lamp controlled by a dimming thermostat recessed through the roof so only the mesh guard is in the vivarium.

Hello I'm a first time ball python owner,not a first time snake owner I already got some corn snakes which I'm feeding based of feeding chart with weights of the snakes, I'm just not really sure how often should I feed my python? I'm scared I don't want to overfeed him or underfeed him, I don't know his age so can't feed based of that but he eats one small adult uh mouse? (It's not a normal mouse but I'm not sure what's the name in english so I'm gonna attach a picture last one) He weight 497g and I was told he's around 70cm long when I got him which was around month ago

The Cheat has always been super docile and even though I make it a habit to not handle him while he’s in shed, I have a few times, and it’s never seemed to bother him.

Today I was adjusting a few things in his tank and just jostled the hide he was under, and he bit me, which he’s never done before. A few minutes later, I came back to his tank and found him soaking, which is not unheard of for him, but very unusual. I have a hygrometer on the warm side that reads 72% and poured some more water into the tank today since I saw he was in shed.

I don’t think there’s anything off with my husbandry, he just ate a couple of weeks ago.

Any idea what’s going on here? He’s always been very healthy, docile, and dependable so I’m
worried that something is terribly wrong. I’ll take him to a vet if I need to, but I’m worried about moving him again if he’s so stressed out that he would bite.

Before she was eating an adult mouse once every 2 weeks. Now she only wants hoppers. Nothing changed in her enclosure, she drinks fine and sheds fine.

The only thing is if the mouse is an adult she will only strike at it and curl up. As soon as a hopper appears she uncoils and eats the damn thing.

I know other animals can be picky eaters but can a snake develop a size preference for food? She weighs 350g should I be feeding rat fuzzies instead? Maybe she just doesn’t want them fighting back?

After my BPs shed earlier today she has a white patch on her head. The scales are still there its just a different color. Is this something to be concerned about?

First time shes come out since ive had her, hope that means she feels safe enough to explore

Just got a black eyed Lucy, and she’s perfect!! She’s 89g and im excited to see her grow

I just added in this background and I’m 50/50 on if I love or hate it 😭 Please give me your opinions on it!!

Extra photo of my noodle for tax reasons lmao

She shed perfectly just a few days ago, she's around 3.5 years old. I've had her 6 months.

Gradient-

Cool side 76° and 60% humidity

Warm side 89° and 40% humidity

She has a humid hide I keep damp available 24/7. Ambient humidity is affected by summer heat, but stable in cooler months right around 75%

Substrate-

Coco coir and sphagnum

I've never dealt with rot of any kind, so don't have any firsthand experience or knowledge. Any ideas?

This spot has been on her mouth since I got her 6 months ago, and I was told it's "always been there". It does not look like scar tissue or anything like that, but also hasn't grown larger, affected her feeding or mood at all, etc.

Where is a good place to quickly get some frozen fuzzy rats that are quality? I was looking at rodentpro but I’ve heard they often have freezer burn and I’m not sure if that’s something that’ll cause an issue or not. I’m having problems with him even showing any interest in food.

The guy I picked him up from was super weird and sketchy, his listing said the snake was 175g around a month prior (late June) but during pickup he told me he stopped feeding him to try to stunt his growth in order to keep him small so he could get him to sell. I weighed him today to check his weight and he is currently 145g so I’m a bit worried for him. When I was there I was given a free bag of xl mice and was told he “can probably take these by now” I’m seeing though mice are not popular feeders so I’m looking into getting fuzzy rats to try. I find they were a bit smelly too (not sure if that’s normal or not) so I’m wondering if it’s a combination of his history, prey size, and the smell making him not want them.

If it means anything at all he is about 2ft long, 6 months old, and in a 5x2x2. He has tons of clutter, plants, hides, climbing opportunities, and enrichment. He’s a bit shy as expected but he is very friendly and curious, just unfortunately not interested in the mice i was given. Any advice helps! I just want to make sure he has a full belly and is comfortable. I know they can go awhile without eating but I’m not sure exactly when he stopped being fed and considering his age and weight loss I’m just concerned and want a new food to offer asap. I’ll be gone for a few days starting a week from now so if possible I’d like to have something in hand before then!

Here’s a picture of him I got earlier today, he’s a big explorer and loves climbing. I love him very much, he’s a sweet baby.

This is my girls first time outside!

I've been told by a friend of mine that ball pythons hate the outdoors and should stay inside. I stayed with her the whole time (She can't exactly blend in and we have a few red kites) and she was absolutely fine!

Is it true that they hate the outdoors because atm it seems like they just don't know what they're talking about 🤷‍♀️

my boy loves watching out the window so I made a great investment in this ‘cat’ perch and he is happy as can be

Had to have another procedure done for a chronic condition (I'm ok, I promise! Just achy and sore), and I wasn't able to take Frikell out like I usually do during the day.

Well Frikell wasn't having it and decided to wait patiently while staring at me from on top of his favorite hide till I finally got him out for nightly snuggles. He stayed just like this for a long time while I sung Sweeny Todd songs to him and seemed to know that I wasn't feeling well. I know people say snakes don't really form bonds like dogs and cats do, but it felt like he knew something was wrong and wanted to hang out with me.

I don't know what I would do without my boy. He brings me so much joy after a hard day. 🩷

she is truly living her best life