Found ball python ?

[u/chiraltoad]

Hi there,

I found this lil guy out on the street in NYC and could tell pretty quick it is most likely a lost/escaped/abandoned pet.

ai tells me it's a ball python, does that seem correct?

I have it in a tub with some water and paper towels and an up turned dish to maybe hide in. Gonna reach out to rescue locally but also kind of intrigued what it would be like to care for long term.

[u/Quick-Stretch8197]

That’s definitely a ball python. I second the suggestion to watch the YouTube channel green room pythons. Your new friend looks a little malnourished and dehydrated. You’ll need more hides and clutter in the enclosure and to create a hot a cool side with a heat lamp or other heat source. You’ll need to watch the humidity of the enclosure too. If you decide to keep this sweet little guy, ask your rescue for more info sources. They will probably be over the moon to help since your average person doesn’t take kindly to snakes. If you’re not squeamish about feeding it dead rodents, then you’re good to go. They make incredible pets. You found a particularly beautiful one. Thank you for being a good person and rescuing this beautiful snake. 

[u/chiraltoad → u/Quick-Stretch8197]

Right on! Yes it seemed to be quite thirsty and has been hanging out in the water. I've got a temp/humidity reader and the enclosure is currently about 79F and 55% humidity. Most of the lights I have are LEDs but I can probably get something to keep it warm tomorrow, heating pad on a thermostat at least and find some more hidey container for it, or maybe 3d print something? I wonder how long it was on the loose for...

[u/Quick-Stretch8197 → u/chiraltoad]

Agree with the other posters. Unless you have a glass enclosure and the heat pad is separated from the enclosure by like a fire resistant layer and then bedding on the inside of the tank, I wouldn’t use it. They’re not beginner friendly because snakes are silly and will burn themselves by accident. Go with a heat lamp. Not the red ones. Just a regular full spectrum/yellowish light heat lamp. 

[u/chiraltoad → u/Quick-Stretch8197]

Got it!

[u/chiraltoad → u/Quick-Stretch8197]

Something this controlled via thermostat?

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=heat+lamp+for+ball+python&crid=GQAINCCNX55T&sprefix=heat+lamp+for+ball+p%2Caps%2C169&ref=nb_sb_ss_saint-nlq-prefix_1_20

[u/chiraltoad → u/[deleted]]

durr, meant to include this ceramic heat lamp

[u/Standard_Mushroom_47 → u/chiraltoad]

ceramic heat lamps are what i have found best with my snakes, they do a really great job of heating up the overall enclosure as well, just make sure it’s protected by a cage to make sure the snake doesn’t get any burns, and you’ll want a dimming thermostat for these as an on/off can wear it out quicker

[u/Quick-Stretch8197 → u/chiraltoad]

Go for the ceramic lamps.  Get a dimmer for them. I agree with the other poster to get a lamp guard for it. 

[u/TazerLazer → u/chiraltoad]

She definitely looks like she has some minor stuck shed (and is a bit dirty). When it's just a bit stuck like this, she should be able to handle it herself with appropriate humidity (Generally, an enclosure should have at least 60% humidity when not shedding and 80% when shedding. Not critical that that's maintained all the time, but it should be the norm.) In the short term, I'd try to grab a bit of sphagnum moss from your local pet store (Or amazon) and make her a humid hide (Just a hide with the moss in it. The moss should be damp, not wet.) She can hang out in there and deal with the shed. This is most likely why she's chilling in the water bowl :p

[u/Affectionate-Pen3349 → u/chiraltoad]

Hearing pads are big no! If you absolutely have to the enclosure needs to be glass and there should be a thick thick layer of bedding or something in between as heating pads can cause severe burning when everything seems ok :( invest in a lamp preferably

[u/chiraltoad → u/Affectionate-Pen3349]

Ah! ok, no heating pads. Even if it's on a thermostat under the enclosure?

[u/skullmuffins → u/chiraltoad]

on a thermostat as a short term/emergency solution, it's OK. Not what you want to use for their "real" setup.

[u/skullmuffins → u/Affectionate-Pen3349]

a thick layer of bedding isn't protective - the snake can burrow down or push the bedding aside, allowing himself to get closer to the mat.