Ball Python Substrate and...?
How to properly introduce a female BP to a male BP? I have a manly BP and I am getting a female soon. I was wondering how to introduce them properly and safely. Also, as for the substrate, I hold good enough substrate but was wondering what everyone thought be best. I cannot remember the name of the substrate, but I do know it's safe.
Answers: Normally a male is introduced into a females pen. If your goal is breeding them you'll want to keep them separate. They'll need a feed and cooling regimen. I suggest picking up a good book, The Ball Python Manual is a great one. If you just want them to be surrounded by the same enclosure you can just place the womanly in (assuming they are around the same size). Usually the only problems you find beside housing ball pythons together is feeding. You'll need to separate them at feed time.
Make sure you quarantine, your new snake away from your current one. You wouldn't want any unseen bedbugs or disease transferring from one to the other. I would do 6 months, but I've heard as little as 1-3.
Aspen is highly recommended, but I am a fan of newsprint. It's spongy, quick and easy to clean, and whether you ever do hae a parasite problem (mites) you'd spot it on paper a lot faster than anything else.
Im not familiar next to raising multiple snakes,but I do recall that the substrate I liked the most be one that I found at a pet shop.
It was basically a mixture of soil and coconut husk with a couple other types of shredded ingredients.It be easy to keep moist,comfortable for the snake,and just all-around confident to work with.
I agree with the mite situation as well,though.Mine did go and get a case of the mites once and the only way I figure it out was getting lucky and seeing a couple moving around on the snake one day.Big hassle to disinfect everything,too.
Id say check out some popular pet sites as okay.I did some research before I got my BP,which was thoroughly helpful.Good luck.
