RCReptiles.com

[pingfreak]

Quote from Ron Crawford - "I’m very curious to hear from anyone that has been feeding their ball python from a hatchling to an adult in a separate container to see how it behaves when the cage is opened when rodents are present and not present alike. Please share your stories with us in our ball python forum. Thanks."
Link - http://www.rcreptiles.com/blog/?blog=1&page=1&paged=4

...In response to "Should I Feed my Ball Python in its Tank?"

I cannot say I have been feeding my normal ball 'Hermes' from a hatching. But, I have cared for him since he was approx. 3-5 months old. He is now almost 2 years now. I have mostly fed him thawed mice/rats. Sometimes I will give him live. However, always in a separate tank. .. except 2 times.
Normally, at feeding time I am able to just reach right in pull Hermes up and out and place him into his feeding tank located below his own. He has never lunged or bit me. Usually, I will pet him to let him know I'm picking him up, he will then either tuck his head or sit still waiting for me to acquire him.
If there is a small live rat in the tank below Hermes will notice and what looks like sniffing towards the upper lid in search of his morsel. I do not get this response feeding a thawed. Evidently, there is a difference in sent or a thawed having minuscule scent.
As for the '2' times I fed Hermes in his tank... I brought home live food for him. I couldn't get any his feeding size so I got 4 small mice. (4 course meal). He was in a frenzy, Hunting them all one at a time. Heh, It was quite amusing. Was interesting to watch him snatch one from an upper vine. It was a new one for him I'm sure.
Anyway, His very next feeding was in his tank again. A larger medium sized rat. Was actually to big for him and he didn't eat it. I should have know better to get one that big but, the store where I get my live rats were out of small rats.
To my point. I noticed after that I would go to his tank and put my finger outside on a corner and he would hunt my finger! I moved my finger and he would move to it as he would a meal. I laughed at the time and showed my gf. She quickly realized what was going on. "He's expecting his next meal in his tank". Then it dawned on me, All the post I've red, All the stories I've herd. "Thinks" - he's going to strike at me if I keep this up. So, in short, Never again! And he broke that habit of following my fingers like it was a meal.

Below are some pictures of my setup ++


The Tank - Feeder tank below.
The stand is custom made. Will accept 20 gal. long and it has
a 40 gal. long attachment. This tank is the 40 gal. long.
The feeder tank is a 10 gal.? I think. Gettin small for him.
Bright light is only temp (my other bulb just went out)
Center light is constant, Left is Day 12 hours, Right is night 12 hours, Timed.


Hermes @ 3 foot, 2 sheds ago.


Bath Time - In this picture you can see the discoloration little behind his head from a hairless rat. This is why I don't feed Hermes live food much, If at all, ever again.

If anyone has any questions or concerns they would like to comment on, I will check this thread from time to time to reply.