Ball Python

Meet the newest non-human member to my household; a three (four?) year old ball python. He was "bequeathed" to me by a friend who could no longer keep him. His cage was filthy, so I cleaned it all out and gave him fresh bedding. He went right into that water dish. Now he is happily hiding under his rock-cave (ball pythons like to be crouched under some kind of hide).

No, that is not pine or cedar bedding. It's some kind of aspen made just for reptiles. He was on dirty newspaper before, so this is an improvement. However, if anyone has a better suggestion as to what substrate to use for him, I'm all ears.

I'm going to let him settle in and then try to feed him a mousie tomorrow. He will only eat live, non-white mousies and it's been several weeks since he last ate (he was shedding during his last scheduled feeding time and thus, didn't want it).

His previous owner called him Blaine (for David Blaine), but I don't like that name, so I'll prolly call him something else.

Any ideas?