From: gerard@progress.COM (Gerard Bras)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: advise wanted re. buying baby ball python
Date: 13 Aug 92 14:40:20 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Progress Software Corp.

daved@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (david.dougherty) writes:

>	is newspaper the best cage lining (if changed daily, which i will)?

Newspaper is OK.  I prefer unused (unprinted) newsprint.  It's available in 
24" by 36"  sheets for around $20/thousand sheets.   It looks much
better and there is no problem with toxins in the inks.  I like paper,
it's so easy to keep clean.

>	when can i expect my new baby to take its first meal (if it hasn't
>		eaten yet? should i buy a baby snake that has not eaten?
>		(the store owner told me that baby snakes may not eat for some
>		time, possibly months! is this correct?)

Ball pythons are finicky eaters.  They will go on annual fasts.  However, and here 
I'll shout **** DO NOT BUY A SNAKE YOU HAVEN'T **SEEN** EATING.  Your chances
of grief and heartbreak go way up if you ignore me on this.  In no case should
it be "months" before your hatchling eats.  For adults this perfectly OK,
but not for neonates.

>	i've had really good luck using under-the-tank-heating-pads with my
>		brood of collared lizards. will this method of providing heat
>		work will with snakes?

This is a good system.  I strongly urge you to get the best quality heat pads
you can find.  Price is no object because the best is so cheap.  Go to a farm
supply place and get hog warming pads.

>	i've also had good luck using vita-lites as a source of uv light. i'm
>		assuming that this will be acceptable for snakes as well. am i
>		right?

It will do no harm but is not neccessary.  Snakes do not require UV to metabolize
vitamin D, the way herbivores do.  Being ground dwelling, frequntly nocturnal
critters, they get what they need from thier diet.

>	what about vitamin supplements? i give my collards healthy doses of
>		calcium carbonate as a supplement to their diet of
>		crickets. do snake require this as well?

Whole food animals are all your snake will ever need.  You can give supplements
but they can only do harm since they can do no good.

>	what should i offer my little one to eat? i imagine the choices are
>		limited to either pinkies or small mice. what's the best
>		way to immobilize the little beasties (mice) before
>		offering them to my new baby? i'm not really squeamish, but
>		bashing a mouse over the head is not my idea of a good
>		time!

Pinkies are, IMO, not real big movers.  Juvy mice are pretty easy to stun.
Nobody, I hope, enjoys killing little fuzzy animals but it does go with
the territory.  My advice is to get used to it.

>	i think i know what to look for when selecting a snake (i.e., look
>		mites and ticks, scrapes, protruding (or visible) ribs,
>		partial shedding, mouth rot, clear eyes, etc. is there
>		anything else i should look for?

Yup, evidence of feeding.  You can eliminate parasites, cure infections, heal
cuts.  But a snake that won't eat is a real misery.  This should be your first
criteria.  Next look for evidence of disease or parasites.  Don't buy
defective stock.  It ain't worth it.


best of luck,
gerard

>dave

>-- 
>--
>David W. Dougherty @ UNIX System Laboratories, Inc.
>ARPA: dwd@usl.COM	UUCP: ...!att!usl!dwd	
>TELE: 908/522-6241