royal / ball python

Question
hi there....

everything has been going well with our ball python so far...we are really enjoying having it.
yesterday (08-12-06) it was feeding day, so we did what we normally do by defrosting the mouse and then feeding the snake.  but this time when the snake attacked, the mouses stomach popped, there was blood everywhere, on the snake and all over the terrarium / vivarium.  we want to clean and disinfect everything in there including the snake.  

what is a safe disinfectant to wipe the snake down with? and is it safe to use dettol to clean the viv out with?

thanks

nikki
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hi there.....one last question....

we have got a lot of conflicting information as to how often one should handle their python.  we would like ours to be tame and enjoy being held, but at the same time we do not want to over handle it.  what do you suggest is the "right" amount of handling?  our python is a very inquisitive male.

by the way, thanks a lot on all the info that you have passed down, we are finding it really useful and it is making it easier to interact with our python.

thanks...


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hi there..... thanks for the sites....they are really helpfull...do you have any tips on actually picking it up?  i am nervous that when i put my hand into the viv, that it will strike and bite me...

thanks a mill

nikki
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hi there....my boyfriend and i have just bought a royal / ball python that is about 6 months old.  we are first time snake owners and neither of us have handled a snake on our own before.  do you have any tips on handling the snake for the first time.  thanks a million.
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Hello,

Congrats on your new ball python:)

First I will give you a few helpful sites about their environment, husbandry, ect.  

And then we'll go from there with any unanswered questions :)

http://www.kingsnake.com/ballpythonguide/

http://www.anapsid.org/ball.html




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Try not to get intimidated by it, they'll sense that in ya.  lol when I first got my ball python she was as feisty as you couldn't believe..  She'd snap at everything!

But it's natural for pythons to snap it's there defense and plus when going to a new home they're scared.

If I were you I'd give it a few days for it to get used to the environment.  

When you are going to pick up the python let it know you're there.

So they don't get spooked to easily.

You should pet it's back and gently pick it up and just let them rest in your hand and crawl around.

That's the best way and let it get used to having you and your boyfriend holding it.

The more you hold them and tame them the more they get used to the environment and more calm they'll become.

Most of the time pythons are known as calm ones..

As feisty as my python was when she was a baby..  She's the sweetest she can be now..

Don't worry though just give you and the python time to adjust to each other and in about a week or two the python should be used to its home:)
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Well since it's a baby it's best to handle him a few days out of the week..

And the more you hold him it's really interesting what their personality are and watching them crawl:)

I usually handle my python at least 4-5 days out of the week and just let her crawl for a couple of hours or so just so she won't be stuck up in a cage all day..

Unless when it's feeding time I don't hold her until 2 days later that way she haves time to digest and won't regurgitate her meal..

But make sure your hands are washed and others are also so they won't pass anything on to the snake.  

Answer
Hello Nikki,

Well there is really no way to disinfect a snake.  Try fixing a luke warm bath with soap on your finger(about a dime size) and run it under the water..(recommend baby soap)

The best way to disinfect the cage is hot water and 2 capfuls of bleach(per 5 gallons.)  Scrub the cage down with a sponge(separate from what you use for other things) and let it soak for 10 minutes.

EX: 10g tank would be 4 cap fulls of bleach and the rest hot water.
(When cleaning a cage you can just fill it about half way, unless it's dirty everywhere..  Oh and make sure when cleaning the cage scrub the very top too, where the lid goes.

(What I do is buy separate cleaning supplies for animals.  Such as, soap, sponges, and ect.  So there won't be any cross-contamination.)

Hope this is helpful=)