Paranoid 1st time owner

[bob_python_lloyd]

Hey all,

The name is Bob and I'm a first time snake owner. I did a lot of research, bought the vivarium, spent weeks testing thermal ranges etc. And have now got my first python.

A 5 month of Children's Python with a good feeding history and all. My paranoia is that from the moment I put him in the tank he has been staying in his hide. Its only been 3 days, haven't even done a feed yet but I'm curious, is this a normal behaviour? Will he come out for his feed or do I take him out myself? How do I know he is drinking enough? How long before he is comfortable to leave the hide?

I'm sure I'm just being paranoid, but any suggestions would be helpful .

 

[Sezzzzzzzzz]

totally normal hun. He will need time to settle in. he will be exploring when you arent around! Give him a couple of weeks to settle in..

 

[CrystalMoon]

It can be very frustrating and worrying sitting there waiting for them to "do" something lol..... he probably sneaks out as soon as you leave the room I have only ever actually seen my guys drink a few times. As for feeding leave a thawed warm food item outside his hide, he will eat if he is hungry He is just settling in and getting the "feel" of his new digs
Crystal

 

[pythrulz]

What size Is the vibarium you bought maybe add more hides mostlywhen you add a snake to a new enviroment such as encloser,viv or tub will make sure Its safe and secure then they will find a nice warm place and just settle In

 

[MontyTheBredl]

ive had my spotted for a week and hes been in the hide for the full 7 days. Iv never seen him out of his hide once yet. hes 2 months old atm. how bigs your 5 month of childrens?

 

[grannieannie]

Awww, it's so sweet that you're worrying about him like a true new dad...!! But don't worry, he'll be just fine. They sometimes take a couple of weeks to settle...snakes are pretty good at doing what snakes do naturally. Give him more than one hide, maybe 3. When you approach the viv, go slowly you don't want to scare him. Sit quietly and watch him. He'll come out when he's good and ready. Make sure the water is fresh, he'll find it when he wants it. Before I got my Stimmie .. he was a year when I got him ... I did loads of research and thought I should know a fair bit once I got him, but once they are really in your house....you can lose a bit of your confidence. Don't worry, there are plenty of people here to help you....ask as many questions as you like, everyone has been a newbie. My boy Barrie, will be 4 yrs old at the end of the month.....birthday party time. :lol: Good luck...and stop worrying...xxx

 

[bob_python_lloyd]

Thanks for the confidence boost everyone! I know im just being paranoid. I did a lot of research before buying Monty, so I assume its just worry - I dont want the snake to suffer, especially because ive stuffed something up!

Another question though - I intend to give him his first feed this evening. I have a second container prepared to place him in for feeding (so he doesnt have the smell of food in the vivarium), but is he ready to be handled now (just enough to transfer from vivarium to feeding box)? or should i feed him in the vivarium for the first feed?

 

[Gruni]

Again... how big is the vivarium? Most people keep young snakes like that in a 'click clack' (Modified food storage container) if the tank feels to big for him he will feel insecure and want to hide. There is no great rush to feed him either but if he is still that coy I would consider holding off or definitely feed him where he is. I hung a cover over my tank for a few day to let him feel comfortable and make him less aware of the traffic through the room to start with. Good luck, I'm sure he'll be fine. Post up some pics of your set-up.

 

[grannieannie]

I wouldn't bother trying to feed him till he comes out and looks around a bit. Even a little snake can go a long time between feeds. They like...tight...spaces to hide in. My Barrie was a year old when I got him, so my circumstances were different from yours, I never had him in a click clack and he's always been fed in his enclosure, I just always fed with tongs so he didn't associate food with my smell. When they're little they feel very very vunerable and will hide till they get used to the smell of their new surroundings and used to your smell too.....let him rest for as long as he likes.

 

[12-08-67]

hi and congradulations on your new baby, my stimson was 7mths old and straight out of a click clack into a 60x45x45 and i made sure he had lots of hides over his heat source, in the centre and the cool end, he settled in very quickly but others take more time as the other owners have said so dont rush things and let it take its time, its hard when they are new as all we want to do is socialise with them. As advised by my breeder who only handle mine every week to feed, i let him settle for the week before attempting to handle or feed, then every nite for a few minutes i would just hold him or let him sit on my lap or under my shirt so he got use to my touch and smell and gradually increased this. Good luck and enjoy getting to know him, they are amazing

 

[reaver]

I wouldn't worry about him, my childrens is a little over a year old and still spends most of her time hiding but as soon you move or walk into the room she'll poke her head out and watch everything you do. I don't know about shifting between enclosures for feeding I don't do it mainly because she used to try and eat me to after a feed but the rest of the time she's a dream snake, never tries to bite me and she's the snake that encouraged my gf to get her own.

 

[Bluetongue1]

Being a small python, at that age I'd suggest it should still be in a click-clack. Young, small snakes are very prone to predation in nature and are nervous in any wide open spaces. They spend most of their time trying to stay off the menu of other beasties while secuing the occcasional feed for themselves. The alternative is, as suggested, to load up the viv with lots of hiding places. You could also try a substrate like coir that it can burrow underneath. Some are happy to hide under newspaper if you have a few loose sheets on top.

Blue

 

[bob_python_lloyd]

Well its been 2 weeks and all is well! Monty feeds well, comes out of his hide at night and explores around the vivarium. The little bugger is also trying to escape! ive had to do some last minute securing of the viv just to keep him inside.

Once the daytime lamp turns off and the night lamp comes on, Monty usually heads for the top of the viv. He climbs up the thermostat cords and sits in the litle gaps on the underside of the lid. Is this indicative of anything in particular? I would have thought that if he was feeling too hot he would do this all the time, but its only at night. any suggestions as to the cause?

 

[Jande]

Hi Bob, glad Monty is doing well. It's a bit hard to know why he might be doing this. If it's only been two weeks perhaps he's still settling in, although I doubt it if it's something he's doing every night. I have not experienced anything like this myself yet, and I would have said a heating problem but if you've ruled that out then I'm not sure what else to suggest, sorry. I'm also assuming your daytime lamp is the heat source and the snake's moving after it goes off so I think it's safe to assume it's not a heat problem. Unless of course it's too cold at night and he's trying to get up there to get some more warmth (hot air rises). Really not sure so I hope someone else can help you better!

 

[12-08-67]

My stimson did this all the time the little ****, as i would come home and have a heart attack thinking he has escaped as i couldnt see him at all. I would panic and pull all the hides out and he would causal stick his head out to see what all the fuss was about, luckily now he is too big and fat to get up there but he still trys, i think he just realy likes to hide in tight places at times (he has 3 hides already) as i only have a heat mat so no heat source attracting him up there.

 

[Gruni]

Have you considered that he just likes it up there and feels comfy and secure?