RCReptiles.com

[tmac2488]

Got my ball at 9:30 this morning, let him sit for about 30 mins then decided I would let him come out of the box on his own. lol or so i thought, he just sat there for probably another 30 mins and surprisingly he let me pick him up with out any problems. I just set him down on the warm end and set the hide on top, so far so good, temps on the warm end are around 87 and the cool end is about 80.

[deborahbroadus]

Congrats!!

For assistance with preventative measures and trouble shooting, post pics of the set up please if they aren't already here. If they are, point us to them.

We find that a lot of us made the mistake in the beginning of having the wrong thermometers. So, I can't suggest that your temps are too cool, because I do not know how you are monitoring the heat or what you are heating the environment with.

We want to help!

[tmac2488]

http://www.rcreptiles.com/forum/about4146.html

is the basic setup. just add in aspen bedding and take out the logs and thats it. im using this thermometer/hygrometer

http://www.zilla-rules.com/products/specialty-equipment/terrarium-hygrometer-thermometer.htm

He spent the entire day on the warm side under the hide, about 1 am or so i got ready for bed and checked on him and he was going all over the place i guess he felt safer and more comfortable at night, since being nocturnal.

[fire-eyes]

Congratulations! I have owned my first hatchling BP for about 1.5 weeks. The first days and week (or weeks) can really be a bit intimidating, there is SO much information out there. In the end it will simply take personal experience, occasionally through errors, hopefully very minor ones.

I am so new at this that I really cannot offer too much advice. I think my current problem is finding myself intimidated by the little guy. It is quite good at doing so.

I just read an interesting comment in another thread, about how if you are going to pick it up, and you are scared or intimidated, the snake will KNOW that. If you reach in, even slowly and smoothly but you are either of those two, the snake will pick up on it and not act too nice.

I still have not been able to handle mine at all -- It took a swing at me just once, missed, and I've been quite intimidated ever sine. I will just have to get over that and try to pick him up with confidence in one go, and even if he bites, keep handling him so he doesn't make the association that biting me will make me go away.

I believe the most important things in the first week or two:

- Get that temp/humidity stabilized. Remember to use digital sensors, and put the sensors just above or in the substrate
- Give it a hide, and do not bother it when it is there, so that it understands it can go there and be left alone. If you are using a half-log, make sure one side is blocked off
- Give it a natural light cycle: 12 hours light, 12 hours dark. I have found doing this has improved my BPs "mood" quite a bit, the only thing that improved the mood more was feeding it

The rest will come with time and reading. Don't expect to know everything right away. Relax and enjoy!

[tmac2488]

it was a little strange i have to say. i figured yesterday when i picked him up to put him in the tank he would have balled up but he just kinda acted like it was no big deal at all.

[tmac2488]

he's not really seeming to mind if i touch him to move him around the cage to clean but he sure lets me know when he's had enough. no bites yet but 4 or 5 short strikes.