Considering Buying a Ball Python.

[Munizfire]

hello guys!

As I mentioned on my "Introduce Yourself" thread, I want to buy a snake, and came down to the conclusion that I want a BP. Besides, BPs and Garter Snakes are the only legal Snakes in Puerto Rico .

So, here are my newbie questions:
1- I know their diets consist of mice, but can I give fish to a BP, for the fun of it?
2- Advantages of females over males (besides the fact that females can have hatchlings)?
3- is there a way to keep them thinner than most BPs, who happen to be fat, (at least to my eyes)? This is the only thing i dont love about BPs. Or is there a way to know how 'fat' it will be?
4- Is there a way to know if my snake will be shy, or not shy once I pick it up the first time?
5- Are they deaf to sounds? I play guitar, and usually at loud volumes (Tube Amplifiers ) would it be safe to have her/him near the amps while I play?
6- what would an appropriate handling time for a BP?
7- is Petsmart a trusty place to buy BallPythons? One of the Local Petsmarts has a BP that made me fall in love with her, she's way darker than most regulars, with more black on her than any BP i have ever seen. for $90... I really don't care if i'm overpaying, as long as Petsmart has decent breeding reputation... I want her


I think that's all for now... Thanks

[vegastoy]

1) No, not at all, never!

2) Only for breeding

3) No

4) LOL- No!

5) They feel only vibrations

6) I spend 20 minutes, twice a week

7) PetSmart is ok and $90 is a bit high but not crazy. $65-$80 is norm for a regular ball

[GeneralPatton]

Yes, they sense vibrations. Here is a website link that will explain it. As far as the other items i cannot help you as I dont have the experience with BP's I only got mine several weeks ago but this website is full of info and there are a lot of experienced members here that do know and prob have the answers. Hope this helps. http://pet-snakes.com/how-snakes-hear

[nachash]

they won't even recognize fish as a prey item most likely. If you don't want a snake with some girth to it, a ball python might not be for you

[Alexandra V]

1. No, they will probably not recognize it as food to begin with, and even if they do it doesn't do them much good because they aren't meant to eat fish really ever.
2. There isn't really a big difference between males and females personality-wise, but females will tend to get bigger than males.
3. That "fat" look is how they are supposed to be. They are not obese, that's just the way they are built. A skinny ball python is not a healthy ball python at all.
4. It's tough to tell from just one hanndling as it will likely be freaked out. The best way to tell temperament before you buy is to go over and handle it a few times on different days, cause they can have good and bad days like we do.
5. Technically they are believed to be deaf, but they can and do pick up vibrations through the ground, so if you play loud you might be better off to keep the snake away from the amp.
6. If you get one, don't handle it for the first week at least to let it settle in. Then after that you'll want to slowly start handling it, maybe a five or ten minute session every other day for the first little while, then gradually increase the time. If the snake starts to act anxious, then end the handling session for that day. And don't handle for 48 hours after it has eaten so the snake can digest its meal.
7. NO. Petsmart does not keep their reptiles very well and they can often come home with a pack of problems. You'd be best to go for a breeder, if you get a normal they're usually cheaper from breeders too.

From what you seem concerned about (being able to feed fish "for the fun of it" and having a thin snake) you should probably go for a garter snake, they're thin and can eat fish.

[SpiffyYoshi]

There's nothing wrong with being into colubrids... if you don't like the fat look, then you would not like a BP. And they can be on rats their whole life, actually. They are more wholesome. Buying that BP from Petsmart is enabling the one across town that has half-dead snakes with no water to keep neglecting. If you still want to give them your business, nobody is stopping you. Just think about it first.

[Munizfire]

1) No, not at all, never!

2) Only for breeding

3) No

4) LOL- No!

5) They feel only vibrations

6) I spend 20 minutes, twice a week

7) PetSmart is ok and $90 is a bit high but not crazy. $65-$80 is norm for a regular ball

wow, i thought i would be spending more time with her

1. No, they will probably not recognize it as food to begin with, and even if they do it doesn't do them much good because they aren't meant to eat fish really ever.
2. There isn't really a big difference between males and females personality-wise, but females will tend to get bigger than males.
3. That "fat" look is how they are supposed to be. They are not obese, that's just the way they are built. A skinny ball python is not a healthy ball python at all.
4. It's tough to tell from just one hanndling as it will likely be freaked out. The best way to tell temperament before you buy is to go over and handle it a few times on different days, cause they can have good and bad days like we do.
5. Technically they are believed to be deaf, but they can and do pick up vibrations through the ground, so if you play loud you might be better off to keep the snake away from the amp.
6. If you get one, don't handle it for the first week at least to let it settle in. Then after that you'll want to slowly start handling it, maybe a five or ten minute session every other day for the first little while, then gradually increase the time. If the snake starts to act anxious, then end the handling session for that day. And don't handle for 48 hours after it has eaten so the snake can digest its meal.
7. NO. Petsmart does not keep their reptiles very well and they can often come home with a pack of problems. You'd be best to go for a breeder, if you get a normal they're usually cheaper from breeders too.

From what you seem concerned about (being able to feed fish "for the fun of it" and having a thin snake) you should probably go for a garter snake, they're thin and can eat fish.

Not really concerned, would just like to see my snake eat a fish. Could most definitely live without seeing it

There's nothing wrong with being into colubrids... if you don't like the fat look, then you would not like a BP. And they can be on rats their whole life, actually. They are more wholesome. Buying that BP from Petsmart is enabling the one across town that has half-dead snakes with no water to keep neglecting. If you still want to give them your business, nobody is stopping you. Just think about it first.

i have nothing against the 'fat' look, i just asked because I have seen some thinner HEALTHY BPs, the same way i have seen excessively wide BPs. Look at pictures.

Also, in Puerto Rico, as far as I know, there aren't many pet shops that sell snakes, and most of them bring wild imported snakes, for almost the same price

pics:
'thin' Picture is from member Atrax(sorry for not asking for permission to do this )

yes, I know this is a very young snake, but is there no way to keep em at this girth/length ratio as adults? maybe just a little thicker?

as opposed to this:

[jben]

So far everyone has given you great advice but I would highly recommend that you get a cornsnake instead, bp's are not for you. Also the snake in the first pic you posted without permission is very thin and suffering.

[Munizfire]

So far everyone has given you great advice but I would highly recommend that you get a cornsnake instead, bp's are not for you. Also the snake in the first pic you posted without permission is very thin and suffering.

thanks for your input, but Corn Snakes are Illegal in Puerto Rico.
Why do you say a BP is not for me?

[jben]

thanks for your input, but Corn Snakes are Illegal in Puerto Rico.
Why do you say a BP is not for me?

Because you want a healthy “thin” snake. By your description it sounds like a garter snake would be better for you, it would stay thinner than a bp and it can eat fish, which would or should equal you being a happy pet owner. Also, the bp in the first pic is very, very thin and suffering and for someone to purposely keep a snake underfed just to please themselves is outright wrong should not own a pet.