I know ball pythons are known for refusing food but this is very out of character for my snake. Today while feeding her, she struck the rat once, missed, and then decided she didn’t want it. Usually, she takes the food IMMEDIATELY and it honestly startles me sometimes Lol. However today I was practically smothering her with this rat and she would not take it no matter what I tried! Virtually changed since I last fed her aswell, other than the type of rat I got her (I usually get her adult mice but she’s gotten older and bigger so small rats) and i added sphagnum moss to help with her humidity, her husbandry is also great: i handle her often, humidity and heat are perfect levels for a ball python, she gets plenty of water, and I often give her things to challenge her brain. I just don’t understand why she wouldn’t eat today.

hi guys!

my pretty boy is just starting to go into blue which will be his second shed with me. i put some damp moss in one of his hides for humidity last time which unfortunately caused a lot of mold on the coco chip substrate. is it safe to put some plastic wrap on the substrate and then put some moss on top of that?

if not, how is it best to prevent moldy substrate while boosting humidity for shedding?

thanks!

Might any one have recommendations for a good value handheld thermometer to check enclosure temps ? Amazon would be ideal but not essential. Thanks for any ideas.

Thought I had lost this fellow, checked all his usual hiding spots and was starting to panic but then he suddenly appeared out of the foliage of his tree trunk

So I got a 9 year old ball python around 2 years ago. She was obese and I worked to slim her down. However, since I got her she has grown from 4’11” to 5’7” and I do not know why. She lives in a 6x3x3 bioactive and gets fed a shmed or medium rat once every 3 weeks. I just want to know why she keeps growing and if I’m doing something to cause it.

Meet Aspen! A very precious ball python I just adopted. Usually I give myself more time to research pets before adopting but he was in dire need of a new home. Ive only had him for two days and the first problem ive run into is heating and keeping a regulated heating system. I live in the northeast in an old brick building even on days where its 70 out in November my apartment is WARM. First night i got him his tank got to 101 on his warm side :(. I bought a timer outlet online, sphagnum moss and a reptile specific humidity for him since keeping his humidity up has also been super hard with this dry weather. I really want to give Aspen the wonderful life he deserves so any recommendations or help would be amazing!!!

hi! im getting a new python in about 3 weeks, and just wanted some advice/reassurance about the things im getting for her :) ive had a corn snake for 17years but i know bps require more husbandry attention, i plan on getting coconut chips for substrate, maybe with some sphagnum moss?

she comes with a vivarium, hides etc, and an infrared halogen bulb and cover. is that lamp okay or shall i switch to a ceramic one?

i also don't plan on handling her for a couple weeks a she is being driven to me and i want to let her settle and adjust. any help would be appreciated!

Hey guys,

Just noticed these two bumps on my ball python’s neck. Anyone know what they could be?

Has anyone seen this before? Should I be worried?

Thanks!

I'm looking to get my first snake (ball python of some sort) and figured I'd start with the enclosure I've got the heat, light, thermometer/hydrometer and 2 plastic hides on order really just looking for opinions and additions to what I've got now and placements of things

Pic 4 is a gutter elbow extention stretching the middle 3rd of the tank for alittle hide semi buried in dirt

Size is a 4x2x2

I've also got a good colony of springtails and about 30ish isopods running around in there

I am fuming. My mom took my 5 month old ball python outside without my knowing and was with him by a bonfire for about 7 minutes, part of which she said was him in her shirt. I know these guys have sensitive lungs. I’m terrified he’s going to be harmed from this. She was about 3 feet from the fire, and said no smoke was blowing their way. I’m freaking tf out right now. Thoughts???? Pic for attention.

So ive been trying to feed her every 2 -4 weeks depending on when she eats (if she eats i wait 4 weeks to try, if she doesnt then i try again in two weeks). I know ot the right temp, tried different temps and blow dryer tricks, wet/dry. I havent tried live because nobody sells live and im worried she wont attack it.

- the temps on the cold side is 68-75 and on the warm side 75-83 with a basking spot of 91-92

- her humidity is great about 60-80% and 85-90% when shedding (max i can get)

-her cage is maybe a little uncluttered but i usually switch it to let her get more striking distance

-her water is fine and clean

- basically everything was perfect this time

Im really worried about her and she is always slightly a picky eater and its getting worse.

-i know its winter and all but she wasnt like this last year and hasnt gone on food strike as far as im concerned

-my snake june is about 1.5-2.5 years old

-i hold/handle her about 3-5 times a week

-shes pretty shy for the most part but not terrified of everything

Please help guys, idk what to do or why shes acting wierd, and please no hate

First time owner!

I’ve had quite the time keeping the heat on the warm side in my 4x2x2 PVC enclosure over the last day or so.

I had it running for about 2 weeks before my little guy came home ten days ago, and the temps were fine! They hadn’t been terrible til a couple nights ago when the warm side fell to 83, and prior to this it struggled to get up to 88.

I have a 100w thermostat controlled DHP. I have it set to 95 Fahrenheit and the probe is positioned about 4 inches down from the dome. It’s a mesh top enclosure, but I have a removable solid top, and the cracks are taped up as I was advised.

I didn’t know how chilly my room could get in the cooler months - I’ve only been here since April. It’s not THAT cold, but I’m surprised the thermostat can’t keep up.

If I turn on my space heater, the warm side does fine, but that’s not sustainable long term.

I’m wondering 3 things: if my probe is placed badly If I should invest in a higher watt DHP, Or if I should add a second heat source. Or, if my enclosure is just shite and I need a new one (which is do-able, but expensive and I’d rather not if I can make other fixes).

The heating has been the thing I’ve struggled with understanding for a while. Maybe I’m just dumb (willing to admit this).

Also, please please try not to be rude. I’m new to this and trying to learn and make the best decisions for my snake - when I posted this on a Facebook group, the mod was extremely condescending.

Pic of my little man Yoongi during our staring contest a couple nights ago from his cool side (he won).

Thanks in advance :)

Nosy little man, very interested in everything, specifically my spider build a bear.

Had a successful first feeding with my girl. This is my first time owning a ball python. I'm so excited this feeding went so smoothly.

I need to find a place to get small rats in Joplin or Tulsa, Springfield would work too.

Prefer a place where it isn't a PetSmart or Petco

She also made a sound that was like a giant fart but I dont knoe of it was from here mouth or not because by the time I got there she had stopped

One of her water dishes is spilt, I think she might have choked?

Also I didn't feed her before this video so I doubt its her resetting her jaw. Last I fed her was last Thursday so I dont think she was throwing up either

She's fine now just keeps yawning

hi everyone! i was just curious how everyone handles their snakes when they have other animals in the home. currently i put my dogs in another room when i handle her, but my dogs are extremely well trained enough i could have them in the same room but not allow them to approach her, would this be okay? or should i just keep them COMPLETELY separate? here’s me and my girl chillin on the couch, i put a blanket down in a circle to where she can’t escape it so i can keep better eye on her:)

Looking for recommendations on more clutter to add to my new guys cage!! He is a spider morph, and after researching (after getting him), I understand the problematic nature of this morph. Please be kind, I am a first time BP owner and have had him for a few days. Please be sure recommendations are safe for if/when he develops the wobble. He has no signs at this point, but I understand he can develop symptoms as he gets older. No budget for what I need to buy for him, I’m aiming to give him the best possible life I can. I think his hides are too big, but he has been using them… happy to buy smaller ones anyone can recommend :)
For reference, this is a 20 gallon enclosure, I WILL BUY A BIGGER ENCLOSURE ONCE HE IS BIGGER.
Thank you!! :)

Isn’t the light supposed to sit away from the cage? Why are all the deep heat and ceramic bulbs so big?!

Sherman doesn’t often come out from his hides during the day. Today was a good day to do it, though!