Ball Python chewing on eco-earth.. (pictures)

[i pee in the sea]

Still making rookie mistakes and not afraid to admit it.

As usual I thawed out the adult mouse in my sink and went to go tease him with a tweezer. From a sub-par strike, he missed and just started chewing on a clump of eco-earth instead.

Seinfeld fans anyone?

After the pictures were taken, I helped him out by dislodging the eco earth from his mouth. The mouse was cleaned free of substrate and he ate it properly.

It says eco-earth is 100% natural, digestible and all that good stuff but I think I should just switch over to cypress mulch instead.. I might also switch the water bowl to something that looks better. Time to place an online order I guess..

Following changes to be made:

1. I know I'm getting a thermometer/hydrometer for Christmas from someone And if needed, I will get a rheostat ASAP. So far I am guilty of guesstimating.
2. I'm going to get some plexiglass or plastic cut out and silicone it to my screen top, leaving out just enough space for the lamp (or appropriately sized in accordance to the hydrometer) to retain humidity better instead of using the shirt on top... He came to me with a bad shed, he's been having excellent sheds here so far with me.

Potential concerns:

1. It's a 20G long, I've read that it's the minimum size for males.
2. I've tried giving him 2 identical hide spots that were left over from my gecko days.. He's only used one so I just kept using the big cork in there instead, also giving him a chance to play on it.

Any thoughts, concerns, criticisms... all welcome.

 

[sidneymysnake]

When I had my male in a 20L he didn't seem too happy. I bumped him up to a 40 breeder and he seemed to like being able to spread out more. I often found him stretched out where in the 20L he would just stay in his hide all the time or coiled up.

 

[i pee in the sea]

After 3-4 days he's eaten I barely see him, but after that he's usually out and about on top of the cork.

Right now he's only a bit over 2 feet so it doesn't seem to make a huge difference but you're right, I should get him at least a 30 gallon long when he exceeds the 3 foot mark..

 

[ExoticEctotherms]

FYI...a ball-python that stays in their hide during the day is a happy BP. If they are wandering around the tank during daylight hours, it is usually a sign of stress. They are not very good display animals...especially when compared to a amazon tree boa or green tree python.

 

[Wretched5705]

You could always go with newspaper, nothing safer or cheaper really

 

[i pee in the sea]

FYI...a ball-python that stays in their hide during the day is a happy BP. If they are wandering around the tank during daylight hours, it is usually a sign of stress. They are not very good display animals...especially when compared to a amazon tree boa or green tree python.

He's never out during the day.
When the light goes off at 8 he usually comes out to drink water or hang out on the cork (if feeding is due soon) or just sticks his head out of the "cave" from inside the cork and watches me.

I'm actively in the pursuit of getting ready for a GTP, can't wait

 

[i pee in the sea]

You could always go with newspaper, nothing safer or cheaper really

I've used newspaper for african fat tailed geckos before.

Actually I wasn't that big fan of using them as much as others...
plus they don't look quite right in enclosures IMO.

 

[ExoticEctotherms]

He's never out during the day.
When the light goes off at 8 he usually comes out to drink water or hang out on the cork (if feeding is due soon) or just sticks his head out of the "cave" from inside the cork and watches me.

I'm actively in the pursuit of getting ready for a GTP, can't wait

Ok...cool. Then you have a happy BP. I misunderstood. As far as the coco-husk...I love the stuff. It looks nice, is absorbent, and won't cause impaction if swallowed. It also keeps the humidity at perfect levels. Try feeding your BP with a long set of rubber tipped hemostats like these...http://www.reptilebasics.com/tweezer-12-rubber-tip.html

That way if he strikes and misses, he won't have a mouthful of substrate.

 

[sidneymysnake]

Ok...cool. Then you have a happy BP. I misunderstood. As far as the coco-husk...I love the stuff. It looks nice, is absorbent, and won't cause impaction if swallowed. It also keeps the humidity at perfect levels. Try feeding your BP with a long set of rubber tipped hemostats like these...http://www.reptilebasics.com/tweezer-12-rubber-tip.html

That way if he strikes and misses, he won't have a mouthful of substrate.

Agreed.

 

[i pee in the sea]

Yeah, the tweezer that I'm using is only about 4" or so.
I will get a longer one when I place the order soon.

I still think I want to switch over to cypress mulch (aesthetic reasons, plus I think it also holds humidity well?) is this a bad idea if he's eating in the enclosure (he doesn't like going in the feeding bin)? I am assuming that he can easily avoid eating the chunks of mulch.