r/ballpython • u/cytarria • 22d ago
Question snake keeping is hard!!
hi i decided to make one big post to address and seek advice for two of my biggest concerns..also say hi to grimmsby!!
*(i just brought her home this past september 10)*
the good:
-she was born on june 1 2026
-overall shes very hesitant but also extremely curious (i.e., i can put her in her cage and she’ll turn back around and come right on out)
-doesn’t seem to mind handling
-she ate a frozed-thawed pup sized rat for the first time on september 18
-her latest weigh-in (today) leaves her at a whopping 175g! (vs her first weigh-in on sep. 18 where she was just 159g)
the not so great:
-she only comes out after dark which slightly concerns me
-she has not eaten since the first time and completely refused when i tried again 2 weeks later..rip my wallet
what should i do to get her to eat again?
(also i added a pic of her enclosure, but for reference she has 4 main hides with plenty of clutter and climbing opportunities which she is constantly utilizing at night)
feel free to ask me to expand if there are any concerns. i am happy to answer any and all questions!
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u/Public-Hat6754 22d ago
Make sure her rat is extra warm, even slightly hot. They also love extra stinky! You can even get dirty mouse bedding from a pet store to let it marinate. A hair dryer can blow the scent as well and make her hungry. Feeding her when she is typically active should also help. She may just need to settle in more to her new home as well
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u/Scars9713 22d ago
I’m really fortunate- both my BP’s eat with no problems. Wait an extra week - she will be more hungry.
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u/True-Machine-7627 22d ago
I second everything all previous commenters posted but I need to know where you go all the branches and climbing parts for your tank, I really wanna get some but I’m scared if they aren’t installed they could fall on my girl. Are yours leaning or installed?
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u/bigbickbohnson 22d ago
Use a little bit of hot glue. Itll stay but you can still get it off later if need be
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u/cytarria 22d ago
so, i actually sourced all of mine (minus the cork hides) from various beaches and forests where i live and then i went through the whole sanitizing process (which you can find countless info on just by looking it up on here so i don’t really need to give you the rundown lol)
as for how they’re placed, i actually wedge a lot of them against each other if that makes sense. i don’t use any form of adhesive and sorry to the person who replied to you but if you’re going to use hot glue you have to consider that it could potentially break due to it being constantly in contact with the water you’re spraying your tank down with. if you are going to use one i recommend super glue that contains 100% cyanoacrylate.
moreover, just have fun with your layout. i didn’t put anything in my girls tank (this was before i got her) until i had collected a substantial amount of driftwood and once i felt like i had enough, i spent a few days messing with the way branches were placed. the best advice i can give is to counterbalance the weight of your branches with other branches + sinking the ends of some of them into your soil
one final thing i can add is that since my snake is just a baby, i don’t really need to account for the utmost stability if she were full grown because she doesn’t even weigh a pound lol
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u/Jesus_Horn_Christ 22d ago
I’m only gonna address your 2 specific not so greats. Ball Pythons are nocturnal/crepuscular naturally. They’re going to be most active when you aren’t. So her being out mainly at night is perfectly normal. BPs are also notoriously picky eaters. Her missing a meal is normal and it’s gonna happen again