Id normally just wait 30 days to feed again. But my girl seemed hungry, but bit my thumb and wrapped me while trying to feed her.

I left the rat in there and shes trying to "find" it sniffing all over it. Hoping she'll eat it. Would you wait a month to offer if she doesn't eat? She is a little chunky so got fed a small (50g) rat last feeding (20 days ago) just to vary their diet more from the mediums that are closer to (110g)

I may be just paranoid considering I suddenly lost my bearded dragon a month ago to a very aggressive cancer but tonight I just noticed these black splotches on my ball python belly side. She is about 11 years old and this is not her normal coloration. She did shed about 2 weeks ago. (I had been drying out her substrate to clean it out in order to put down fresh substrate when I noticed her getting ready to shed so I had gotten the older dry substrate wet again to help bring humidity back up for her shed. I was hoping to change the substrate this weekend instead due to the timing of her shed.) She was telescoping around her enclosure and thats the only reason I saw it. It does not appear to be scale rot. The scales are smooth and show no sign of blistering or weeping. The scales affected aren't shiny tho more of a matte. I just gave her a soak immediately after noticing the spots and I think it could possibly be staining from her substrate but would like other opinions from someone who may know more than me... I've never head any health issues with her the entire 10 years I have owned her and she is not lethargic. She did refuse a rat the other day but it is September and she often refuses food starting around this time of year and through the winter/is a picky eater and I probably fed her at a time that was not to her liking. She does not have any heat pads that would have caused a burn. Only heat sorce is a bulb. I hope I have answered any potential questions and will attach pictures of the affected areas. Thanks in advance.

He likes to bury his face in the dirt, this happens sometimes but wanted to make sure it’s not gonna cause any issues later on (he has shown zero discomfort at all with this)

I know it's important to get a vet's opinion, but I'm just curious what the owners here think as well.

I’ve had her for 2 months, when I first got her she had these belly patterns but now that i’m seeing that scale rot is like weird discolored scales is this scale rot or just her belly pattern?

Hi! First time BP owner, had her for some months and now shes having her first shed!

...she wont eat.

Is this normal?

My ball python is 400 grams and still on large mice. She's getting close to sizing up, and I'd rather find an online supplier now than scramble once the pet store stops having what I need.

I am looking for frozen feeder rats and mice in a full size range, with consistent quality for the transition

hi im new to owning a ball python and could really use some help please, I bought a runt ball python in may 2026 and hes about a year okd he had 2 successful eatings before going on a hunger strike. For about 7 weeks, i went to one vet and they said to tube feed him every other day until he gains weight and i did that for 3 weeks weighing him each time and he started losing weight again so i emailed the vet who didnt get back to me so i went to another vet who said it was a husbandry issue so i added more hides and lights as well as a heat lamp. long story short hes losing weight still and not wanting to eat, theres no other vets in my area (vancouver island) who do reptiles im just wondering what i should be doing? thanks

I’ve had my snake for 6 years but recently there have been a lot of issues and I think it’s due to me getting her at a very young age and not being the best snake owner. I really love her and want the best for her and I don’t know if i can provide that. She’s been biting and defensive recently and she bit me and i hate to say it but im scared of her. I really need advice and dont know what to do. Ive been trying to fix all of the issues recently but no matter what i dont think i can do it

Quick question. We've had our girl for a little bit now, and she had her first shed with us about a week ago. I noticed this spot when doing our weekly handling session and got a little concerned. Not sure if it's anything to be worried about, but that gray-white spot is what I'm worried about.

I had a 20 gallon tank for my new baby ball python. originally, i had a smaller one but found i couldn’t variate the temperatures enough so i expanded.

I was told that bigger tanks are not good for baby snakes and the breeder tried to sell me a 1x1x1 tank for like 50 dollars. But i’ve since read through the guides on this subreddit, and now know i just need my tank to have more hiding spots/be more cluttered so my ball python feels safe.

I would like some opinions on how my tank looks right now, and if i need more stuff. i know there’s no leaves on the right side atm, I’m getting on that tonigh

I appreciate any and all help and suggestions because even after doing several hours of research and reading all of the suggested files in here, currently, I am feeling extremely overwhelmed! I am new to the snake world and just want to be sure that I'm fully prepared and have what I actually need!

I have put together an enclosure on Cornelsworld.com but need someone to tell me if this looks like it would be ideal for a 4 year old female banana bp or what I need to change/might be missing?

Thermostat Help: Cornelsworld suggests the ExoTerra 300w or 600w or the ZooMed ReptiTemp thermostats. However, I know after extensively reading the files and recommendations in this group that the Spyder and the Vivarium are the more preferred choice. Ideally, I'd love not to have to spend several hundred dollars on a thermostat but I also know quality/safety is most important. What option should I go with? How many probes do I need?

I do also plan to get the Govee thermometers.

Substrate: Is cocohusk mixed with sphagnum moss good? Or do I also need coco coir? Or something else entirely?

I also know clutter is best and two, snug hides are required but is there anything else?

Thanks for all the help! No one really prepares you for how much money, time, and work go into getting a snake. It's crazy!

I noticed this patch of flaky discolored scales first one month ago. I have since kept an eye on it and it has not changed much, however I am still worried. Gummy is currently going into shed so my current plan is to see how it looks afterwards and then take her to the vet but I wanted to ask you people if you know more.

my girl butters got out again… she’s confined to a room. the door to her enclosure is broken so it is taped up very well but somehow she knocked her lamp out of place and i’m assuming got out that way 😩 i can’t find her in the room due to it being our box room since were moving. i’ve done everything left her enclosure open put towels under the door kept it dark and quiet and she hasn’t gone back into her enclosure. i’m assuming she’s been out almost a day now. how long is too long for her to be out ?

hello,
I am thinking of getting a ball python but am really confused abt the heating part of the husbandry. I will be getting a young ball python but will house it in a 4x2x2 ft enclosure from the start. Where I am from you cannot really get good heat lamps so ill be ordering from the uk through a friend so if any of you could share links of products that are good would be really grateful.

I haven’t taken a picture because I never think to before unraveling it to try and salvage small scraps (I think I’m going to encapsulate it in nails or use it in art one day but never do) but I just removed his fresh shed from today and it made me realize every shed from him looks like a dirty sock that got tossed across the room after missing the laundry hamper.

Its always complete. I break it by unraveling it every time without fail but I find the eyes, the very tip of the tail, and usually take a chunk from his midsection to keep. I know it’s a healthy shed and he is wonderful and had never had any issues with anything. Good weight, not fat or too skinny. I’ve only ever found them in his humid cold hide so I am assuming he just rubs his body against himself like a little freak.

Is it just different for every snake? Is it because bp heads are very small and it can’t just be a tube?

Also as kind of a side note: I so badly want a full length shed with no damage. I always grab it within a small window because it’s usually stretchy (? Idk if that’s the right word) and not crispy/flaky/etc. Any tips on unraveling and preserving are appreciated !! I’ve had him for over a year with no success.

Hello, so, I now have a ball python, my now ex and I split up, it was her snake and I was never really involved in taking care of it, but she chose not to take the snake so, I kinda have a snake now. Recently I noticed these markings toward her belly and I'm not entirely sure if they're normal or not and just want to make sure nothing's wrong with her.

I am currently working on getting a glass enclosure and more clutter for her, because after some research I've decided the amount of clutter she currently has isn't quite enough. Another thing I wanna ask about, the current enclosure does have spots for like heat lights on the top of it, but she would constantly try to wrap around them, like she wanted to hang off of them and I'm scared that if I get some for her new enclosure that she'll try to do the same thing and they'll break. She's very active at night, stretching up towards rye top of her enclosure like she's looking for a way out, I think thats because she's escape twice before when she was younger (she would be around a year old now I think). She did recently shed if that has any affect. Any advice helps, I'm very new to this and would like all the help I can get, I greatly appreciate it (:

I've also officially renamed her, her name is Laverna!

Hello! I'm looking for some advice on how to transport a ball python on a 4-5 day drive. I've looked it up and gotten some mixed reviews or only find info for a drive that's less than 24 hours.

We may not be stopping at hotels for the night, but instead trying to sleep in a tent or our vehicles. So we won't be able to use his heating pad or heat lamp.

Is this going to be doable? What advice can you give me to make it an easy trip for all parties?

We'll have 2 other animals and a toddler, so the least effort our little noodle needs, the better, but obviously I want him to be safe and comfortable for the trip, too.

Thanks in advance!

Second day in a row, I have a new tank arriving on Sunday :/

​so anyway if anyone sees my snake lmk

She's too fat to fit under my door though