A few questions to prove something to a friend.

[LP.]

My friend isn't to educated on the subject of... Pretty much ANY herp, and he thinks he knows just about everything because he has a ball python and bearded dragon. So here are the things we've been argueing about. I know I'm right but since he's older he's automatically right.

1. Does a ball python need ANY kind of treatment for water?
I said no.


2. Is there any chance of either sex eating the other when trying to breed?
I said no.

3. This one is kind of a 2 part question. Can you just look at a ball pythons tail area and tell the sex? Can you determine the sex of a ball python by the spurs, especially how they are positioned?
I said no to both.

4. Has to do with hets. He does not know a single thing about hets and morphs so I can understand why hes saying he's right about this, but hes stubborn and I cant convince him unless I have proof. Can you breed any 2 ball pythons together (Not het, poss het, 50% het, 66%het, any other het) and get any albinos?
I said no.

5. Do you have too raise the temperature or cool the temperature during breeding season?
I said cooling for the start, but only because I do not know about the entire cycle. He said you have to raise the temperature ATLEAST 10*!

6. Has to do with ALL snakes, also a 2 part. Does the type of snake have anything to do with the temperment? I'll give you an example. I was saying that I wanted to get a BRB, and he said have fun getting bit because they are always vicious and whatnot, and then an arguement started over that as well. All types of snakes are included. Also, does the morph of the snake have to do with the agression or behavior or anything besides genetic defects?
I said no to both, although I've heard stories about most burms being hissy, and most GTP's are always agressive.

Answers from you guys will be helpful

[Swingline0.0.1]

My friend isn't to educated on the subject of... Pretty much ANY herp, and he thinks he knows just about everything because he has a ball python and bearded dragon. So here are the things we've been argueing about. I know I'm right but since he's older he's automatically right.

1. Does a ball python need ANY kind of treatment for water?
I said no.
NO


2. Is there any chance of either sex eating the other when trying to breed?
I said no.
I am pretty sure there are rare cases of one bp eating another, but I don't know if it was during breeding


3. This one is kind of a 2 part question. Can you just look at a ball pythons tail area and tell the sex? Can you determine the sex of a ball python by the spurs, especially how they are positioned?
I said no to both.
NO&NO

4. Has to do with hets. He does not know a single thing about hets and morphs so I can understand why hes saying he's right about this, but hes stubborn and I cant convince him unless I have proof. Can you breed any 2 ball pythons together (Not het, poss het, 50% het, 66%het, any other het) and get any albinos?
I said no.
NO

Answers from you guys will be helpful

[RichsBallPythons]

My friend isn't to educated on the subject of... Pretty much ANY herp, and he thinks he knows just about everything because he has a ball python and bearded dragon. So here are the things we've been argueing about. I know I'm right but since he's older he's automatically right.

1. Does a ball python need ANY kind of treatment for water?
I said no.


2. Is there any chance of either sex eating the other when trying to breed?
I said no.

3. This one is kind of a 2 part question. Can you just look at a ball pythons tail area and tell the sex? Can you determine the sex of a ball python by the spurs, especially how they are positioned?
I said no to both.

4. Has to do with hets. He does not know a single thing about hets and morphs so I can understand why hes saying he's right about this, but hes stubborn and I cant convince him unless I have proof. Can you breed any 2 ball pythons together (Not het, poss het, 50% het, 66%het, any other het) and get any albinos?
I said no.

5. Do you have too raise the temperature or cool the temperature during breeding season?
I said cooling for the start, but only because I do not know about the entire cycle. He said you have to raise the temperature ATLEAST 10*!

6. Has to do with ALL snakes. Does the type of snake have anything to do with the temperment? I'll give you an example. I was saying that I wanted to get a BRB, and he said have fun getting bit because they are always vicious and whatnot, and then an arguement started over that as well. All types of snakes are included.
I said no, although I've heard stories about most burms being hissy, and most GTP's are always agressive.

Answers from you guys will be helpful

1. Nope
2. Its rare but it can happen
3. Nope need to pop or probe ball pythons, Corns and boas are usually the only species you can sex by spurs or tail which is how BHB does some of theirs.
4. If the snakes are not het for that gene you wont get that gene unless its hidden
5. Nope cooling or not is up to you. I never cool and get great success all year long. Cooling may help jump start sooner but its not needed.
6. Each snake is different, One can be aggressive while the other isnt. and BRB are very docile most if not all the time like many other species. Even very aggressive species known to bite can be tame from the start and TOLERATE handling.

[JLC]

1. Does a ball python need ANY kind of treatment for water?
Fresh, clean tap water is fine.


2. Is there any chance of either sex eating the other when trying to breed?
Maybe with kingsnakes. I've heard of extraordinarily rare instances of a ball python eating another, but I've never once heard of it happening with mature balls during breeding.

3. This one is kind of a 2 part question. Can you just look at a ball pythons tail area and tell the sex? Can you determine the sex of a ball python by the spurs, especially how they are positioned?
No. The only sure way to tell is by probing or popping.

4. Has to do with hets. He does not know a single thing about hets and morphs so I can understand why hes saying he's right about this, but hes stubborn and I cant convince him unless I have proof. Can you breed any 2 ball pythons together (Not het, poss het, 50% het, 66%het, any other het) and get any albinos?
There have been cases where someone had two "normals" that both happened to be het for albino but the breeder didn't know it.

5. Do you have too raise the temperature or cool the temperature during breeding season?
Some breeders will cool their snakes a bit...many of them don't do any temperature changes at all. Other species besides ball pythons may have entirely different requirements, though.

6. Has to do with ALL snakes, also a 2 part. Does the type of snake have anything to do with the temperment? I'll give you an example. I was saying that I wanted to get a BRB, and he said have fun getting bit because they are always vicious and whatnot, and then an arguement started over that as well. All types of snakes are included. Also, does the morph of the snake have to do with the agression or behavior or anything besides genetic defects?
My personal opinion...a snake's species can determine it's likelihood to have a particular sort of temperament. For instance...ball pythons TEND to be very docile snakes...but there are certainly individuals who are anything but docile. Kingsnakes TEND to be rather flighty and want to musk a lot...but there are certainly individuals who are very calm and seem to enjoy being handled. As for ball python morphs having anything to do with temperament... ~shrug~ ...some say yes, some say no. Mostly I hear folks saying spiders tend to be "sweeter" and "more inquisitive" than others...but I personally wouldn't put much stock in it. I would say whatever personality changes might be connected to a particular morph aren't stark enough to warrant much attention.

Hope that helps some!

[Charlie And Lucy]

My friend isn't to educated on the subject of... Pretty much ANY herp, and he thinks he knows just about everything because he has a ball python and bearded dragon. So here are the things we've been argueing about. I know I'm right but since he's older he's automatically right.

1. Does a ball python need ANY kind of treatment for water?
I said no. No, but some people do use ReptiSafe or bottled water. It's not something you MUST do, and can get expensive if you have a lot of snakes in your collection. We use ReptiSafe right now, but when the bottle is gone, we're going to stop. Our snakes drank tap water just fine for years.


2. Is there any chance of either sex eating the other when trying to breed?
I said no. Well, they aren't black widows, but I would say there is always a chance, although with these guys it'd be super rare. I don't breed yet, so I wouldn't know for sure.

3. This one is kind of a 2 part question. Can you just look at a ball pythons tail area and tell the sex? Can you determine the sex of a ball python by the spurs, especially how they are positioned?
I said no to both. A lot of uneducated people think you can determine the sex in both of those ways. You can't. That's how people end up with he's that are she's, and vice versa. It can be a costly mistake. Like others have said, they have to be popped or probed.

4. Has to do with hets. He does not know a single thing about hets and morphs so I can understand why hes saying he's right about this, but hes stubborn and I cant convince him unless I have proof. Can you breed any 2 ball pythons together (Not het, poss het, 50% het, 66%het, any other het) and get any albinos?
I said no. No idea.

5. Do you have too raise the temperature or cool the temperature during breeding season?
I said cooling for the start, but only because I do not know about the entire cycle. He said you have to raise the temperature ATLEAST 10*! I believe it needs to be lowered for them to go into breeding mode.

6. Has to do with ALL snakes, also a 2 part. Does the type of snake have anything to do with the temperment? I'll give you an example. I was saying that I wanted to get a BRB, and he said have fun getting bit because they are always vicious and whatnot, and then an arguement started over that as well. All types of snakes are included. Also, does the morph of the snake have to do with the agression or behavior or anything besides genetic defects?
I said no to both, although I've heard stories about most burms being hissy, and most GTP's are always agressive. Burms are very docile from what I've read on them. A lot of people like to keep them because of their temperment. I think, personally, the only thing going against a burm is it's size. A snake that big is not for me, at least right now. Otherwise I think they're amazing creatures. GTP's are known to be snippy. That's just how they are. I've read that if your very experienced, you can own one with getting bit every now and then. But honestly, snakes do bite. They're snakes. It comes with owning them. Dogs bite, cat's scratch, you get it. If you plan on owning an animal of any sort, I'd say know what your getting into. I've been tagged by a BP before, and so have a lot of people on here. It doesn't make us love our snakes any less, because we know it goes with owning a snake. Your friend has a BP but is warning you against bites. Seems to me like your friend wants to be the one in the spotlight You came to the right place for information,that's for sure! Let us know how your debate turns out!

Answers from you guys will be helpful

[jason79]

1. Does a ball python need ANY kind of treatment for water?
I said no.


2. Is there any chance of either sex eating the other when trying to breed?
I said no.

3. This one is kind of a 2 part question. Can you just look at a ball pythons tail area and tell the sex? Can you determine the sex of a ball python by the spurs, especially how they are positioned?
I said no to both.

4. Has to do with hets. He does not know a single thing about hets and morphs so I can understand why hes saying he's right about this, but hes stubborn and I cant convince him unless I have proof. Can you breed any 2 ball pythons together (Not het, poss het, 50% het, 66%het, any other het) and get any albinos?
I said no.

5. Do you have too raise the temperature or cool the temperature during breeding season?
I said cooling for the start, but only because I do not know about the entire cycle. He said you have to raise the temperature ATLEAST 10*!

6. Has to do with ALL snakes, also a 2 part. Does the type of snake have anything to do with the temperment? I'll give you an example. I was saying that I wanted to get a BRB, and he said have fun getting bit because they are always vicious and whatnot, and then an arguement started over that as well. All types of snakes are included. Also, does the morph of the snake have to do with the agression or behavior or anything besides genetic defects?
I said no to both, although I've heard stories about most burms being hissy, and most GTP's are always agressive.

1. No. I give all mine tap water with no problems.

2. I have seen pictures of a bp that ate another bp and they both died but I don't think they were breeder size. http://www.rcreptiles.com/forum/about1343.html But it is not very likely to happen.

3. No. Poping is definite if its a male. Probing is definite for either sex.

4. If they are not heterozygous for the trait they cannot produce it. But you could buy a bp as a normal and then later find out it was a het.

5. I did not change my temps and I have two females due to lay in the next few weeks. I have never herd of anyone raising the temps for breeding.

6. I know some species are more prone to being aggressive but all snakes are individuals. I have had BRB's and they were both very docile they never bit me. I have seen BP's that are very aggressive which is not the norm for them and I have a buddy that has a pair of GTP's that are very tame they have never tried to bite anyone so I believe they all have an individual personality.

[WingedWolfPsion]

My friend isn't to educated on the subject of... Pretty much ANY herp, and he thinks he knows just about everything because he has a ball python and bearded dragon. So here are the things we've been argueing about. I know I'm right but since he's older he's automatically right.

1. Does a ball python need ANY kind of treatment for water?
I said no.

No.

2. Is there any chance of either sex eating the other when trying to breed?
I said no.

It's an extremely low risk, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it's 100% nonexistent. Strange things happen sometimes.

3. This one is kind of a 2 part question. Can you just look at a ball pythons tail area and tell the sex? Can you determine the sex of a ball python by the spurs, especially how they are positioned?
I said no to both.

No. Popping or probing, that's all.

4. Has to do with hets. He does not know a single thing about hets and morphs so I can understand why hes saying he's right about this, but hes stubborn and I cant convince him unless I have proof. Can you breed any 2 ball pythons together (Not het, poss het, 50% het, 66%het, any other het) and get any albinos?
I said no.

You can breed two het albinos together and get albinos. You cannot breed a normal to anything and get an albino.

5. Do you have too raise the temperature or cool the temperature during breeding season?
I said cooling for the start, but only because I do not know about the entire cycle. He said you have to raise the temperature ATLEAST 10*!

You don't have to do either, but many people cool 5 to 10 degrees (not generally more than that). No one raises temps.

6. Has to do with ALL snakes, also a 2 part. Does the type of snake have anything to do with the temperment? I'll give you an example. I was saying that I wanted to get a BRB, and he said have fun getting bit because they are always vicious and whatnot, and then an arguement started over that as well. All types of snakes are included. Also, does the morph of the snake have to do with the agression or behavior or anything besides genetic defects?
I said no to both, although I've heard stories about most burms being hissy, and most GTP's are always agressive.

Answers from you guys will be helpful

Types? Do you mean species? Of course some species are naturally more aggressive than others. If you mean ball morphs, I don't think anyone has noticed a trend with that.
Snakes are all individuals, though, you might get a mellow tree boa or an aggressive, bitey ball python on occasion.

[Kaorte]

i think you got all the answers that you were looking for. I agree with everything posted so far.

As for BRBs, I have one and I have never had a problem with her "biting". She has never struck at me or tried to bite me at all. That being said, I have only had her for a few months. BRBs are fantastic. If you are interested in getting one I would highly recommend them they are so cool!

[mr. s]

I agree with these answers.

5. Raising temps by 10 degrees is a BIG jump. It either means you were on the low side before changing them, or you are on the high side after changing them. Either way, not good for your snake I don't think.

[Charlie And Lucy]

... I believe they all have an individual personality.

I totally agree!