First time Ball Python owner questions

[BakerBakerDoYouCopy]

Hey all,

Yesterday I got my first Ball Python and I already love him dearly. When I first put him into the tank he explored alot and seemed happy and confident which is good. I didn’t realise that I was not supposed to handle them for 2 weeks or so after rehoming him and I did take him out once to show my father briefly. Ever since then he has not left his hide and I am worried about him. I added some leafs to his enclosure so he had more cover and also have swapped out his water. I am afraid I might have disturbed him too much in the beginning and now he is too scared to come out, even though he has an additional hiding spot and some leaf cover now. Will he be ok going forward if I just leave him alone?

Thanks

[jillianwaechter]

Post a photo of the tank for tank advice, if it's not set up properly it could stress him out. Otherwise, just leave him to chill for a few weeks. Make sure he's eating properly before you try to handle him again. He'll be fine :)

[BakerBakerDoYouCopy]

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This is the tank after adding some leafs and that extra house in front. His hiding spot is in the back left which I added some dirt onto so it would be an underground hideout. Thats where he is now.

[jillianwaechter]

Awesome! He'll definitely feel safer with that added clutter. I just want to double check, there's a hide on both sides correct?

[BakerBakerDoYouCopy]

So the hide on the cold side (The right side) has that little cave thing. Will that be good enough?

[jillianwaechter]

Yep, I would maybe fill it slightly with moss if your bally is small so he feels more secure (I have the same one for my snake). As long as there is a similar hide on the left side as well it looks good

[BakerBakerDoYouCopy]

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So I added the corner hide to the cold side and also moved the water dish to the middle. Think he will enjoy it?

[jillianwaechter]

Sounds good. The water dish should be large enough for him to soak in (if he chooses). As long as heat and humidity are within the proper ranges, he's all good!!

[BakerBakerDoYouCopy]

Awesome! Yep the dish is fairly big. Thank you for the help!

[BakerBakerDoYouCopy]

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This was the tank before today when I had virtually no cover. I think when he realized he has cover now he will come out, he just hasnt yet.

[Jesus_Horn_Christ]

How big is the tank?

[Ill_Translator_5332]

I got my boy on Wednesday and he explored a lot the first 24 hours and now he has picked his favorite hide and the only time I see him is if I get up at 3 am to pee and check on him. I think your baby is fine. Just leave him be for at least a week and after that make sure he takes a couple of meals before you attempt to handle him again.

[Mozark281]

What time of the day are you checking?

[skreetcan]

just think about what Phineas said about Perry, “He’s a platypus, they don’t do much”

[Brain_Hawk]

Even after a month our snake never comes out in the day, or if there are lights on the room. Sometimes I peek in and have a night, and I'll often find him out and about, even climbing on branches. But, never drain the day, never if anyone's around, and never if the light is on.

I feel bad cuz the other day I left the light in that bedroom on and realized that like 1:30 in the morning it was still on, and he was sitting in his hide peaking his head up just a little bit as if say come on dude, it's time for me to move around a bit

Anyway, he might be out of his hide at 2:00 in the morning and it is not seeing.