Questions.

[Viperk]

Hello,

My name is RJ and I just now registered for this site. (Quite literally actually) I do not own any snakes but am "prospecting" and want to get a Ball Python as I heard they are good beginner snakes. I will probably not be getting one for another year or so but I like to think ahead. So I have a few newbie questions that I would appreciate it greatly if they were answered.

Questions:

How do you know when to move up in size of food? I always see people post about how they are feeding there Ball Python 3 pinkies/fuzzies depending on the current size of food they are eating.

Is better to keep the (cage?) as simple as possible or make it look nice? (or is it mostly based upon the individual persons preference?)

When you buy a snake are you able to have them shipped? If so what is the best time of the year? (I live in PA so winters are cold and summers are hot) I looked for breeders in my state and couldn't find anyone reputable.

I am an animal lover. Well in a sense anyway for the fact I can't own to many animals. (i am currently in college and living in a dorm. Most we can have is a fish. Stupid right?) I love to play around with my pets. With a snake what is the recommended amount of time to "handle" your snake a day? or is it based upon the handler and the snake his/herself?


I really want a snake and I want to know as much I possibly could know about them so I don't mistreat them in any way. I am starting out with a Ball Python then probably moving up to the Rainbow Boas since they are some amazing looking snakes (would a Rainbow Boa be an "okay" second snake to raise?).

Thanks a bunch,

RJ

[KatStoverReptiles]

1) the rule of thumb is to feed a prey item slightly larger around than the widest part of your snake (usually its hip area). As the snake grows, so does the food item. I feed every 5 days till around 600 grams, then I switch to every 7 days. I usually top my males out at small rats and my females at medium rats, if I happen to have them on hand.

2) the more decor you put in the cage, the more you have to clean. The snake doesn't care. The essentials are somewhere to hide (preferably 2 places if you're going to keep it in a tank) and a water bowl.

3) yes, snakes can be shipped. Best time of year is, I would say, spring and fall, when the temperatures are mild. But it really can be done more often. Look for local reptiles shows in your area.

4) snakes really don't care about handling. I've got some that seem to like it, and I've got others who want to be left the hell alone. I would say once a day for max 30 mins. Except for the 2 days after feeding, as they need time to properly digest their meal.

Welcome to the forums!

[Viperk]

Thanks for all the answers.

If there is a place on the forum that already explains this I am sorry but what "exactly" is a morph? I understand the difference of colors but that's about all I understand about it.

[Daybreaker]

Questions:

How do you know when to move up in size of food? I always see people post about how they are feeding there Ball Python 3 pinkies/fuzzies depending on the current size of food they are eating.

Is better to keep the (cage?) as simple as possible or make it look nice? (or is it mostly based upon the individual persons preference?)

When you buy a snake are you able to have them shipped? If so what is the best time of the year? (I live in PA so winters are cold and summers are hot) I looked for breeders in my state and couldn't find anyone reputable.

I am an animal lover. Well in a sense anyway for the fact I can't own to many animals. (i am currently in college and living in a dorm. Most we can have is a fish. Stupid right?) I love to play around with my pets. With a snake what is the recommended amount of time to "handle" your snake a day? or is it based upon the handler and the snake his/herself?

1) Pinkies/fuzzies (mice) are way too small IMO for even babies. But besides that point, I go by the 10-15% rule. I weigh my snakes once a month and take their weight and times it by 10-15% and find a prey item that fits: sometimes I pick some that are a little smaller or larger depending on the snake (one of my BPs will only take smaller prey, for example)

2) All my tubs are set up pretty simple: two hides (or the younger ones), water bowl, thermometer/humidity guage, and maybe some fake plants or "driftwood" in there for hiding purposes. My corn's 20L tank is very realistic/natural set up since it's more for a display cage.

3) Almost all of my snakes were shipped, and some breeders ship yearround, some wait till the temps are in certain ranges (I usually see in between 40-90 degrees they'll ship or offer a live arrival guarentee).

4) I handle my snakes mostly to clean tubs, weights, or to take photos: I like to give them their "space" so they don't get too stressed. The amount of handling depends on the snake I think: some tolerate more, some less. You'll just need to guage your new snake and learn its personality to see how it reacts to different levels of handling.

Also, I would check to make sure snakes are allowed in your dorm before jumping in and getting one.

Welcome to BP!

[Viperk]

1) Pinkies/fuzzies (mice) are way too small IMO for even babies. But besides that point, I go by the 10-15% rule. I weigh my snakes once a month and take their weight and times it by 10-15% and find a prey item that fits: sometimes I pick some that are a little smaller or larger depending on the snake (one of my BPs will only take smaller prey, for example)

2) All my tubs are set up pretty simple: two hides (or the younger ones), water bowl, thermometer/humidity guage, and maybe some fake plants or "driftwood" in there for hiding purposes. My corn's 20L tank is very realistic/natural set up since it's more for a display cage.

3) Almost all of my snakes were shipped, and some breeders ship yearround, some wait till the temps are in certain ranges (I usually see in between 40-90 degrees they'll ship or offer a live arrival guarentee).

4) I handle my snakes mostly to clean tubs, weights, or to take photos: I like to give them their "space" so they don't get too stressed. The amount of handling depends on the snake I think: some tolerate more, some less. You'll just need to guage your new snake and learn its personality to see how it reacts to different levels of handling.

Also, I would check to make sure snakes are allowed in your dorm before jumping in and getting one.

Welcome to BP!

I actually did mention in my post that I can only have a fish. I am hoping next year or junior year (I am a freshman. I'm a computer geek and proud of it) that I will be able to get off-campus housing which for the most part allow snakes.


On a side note: I appreciate the answers and thanks for the welcome. I have been wanting to get a snake since I was 9 or 10 and can't wait to get one. (I wanted one at such an early age because when i was 9 or 10 I went to a pet store and they let me handle the corn snake they had. Fell in love with it! Almost bought it to!)

Thanks,

RJ

[RestlessRobie]

Thanks for all the answers.

If there is a place on the forum that already explains this I am sorry but what "exactly" is a morph? I understand the difference of colors but that's about all I understand about it.

MORPH is a designer ball python Ie Piebald, Spider, Pastel ETC
Here is a good sight to look at some of the morphs out there

http://www.worldofballpythons.com/morphs/

[Viperk]

MORPH is a designer ball python Ie Piebald, Spider, Pastel ETC
Here is a good sight to look at some of the morphs out there

http://www.worldofballpythons.com/morphs/

I am assuming that is why they are twice the price of a normal? Possibly even more.

[Charlie And Lucy]

Welcome to BP.net!

Some morphs range in the tens of thousands of dollars. Ball Python breeding is a huge business and new morphs are made what seems like daily.

One thing to warn you about - this is an addiction. Very few of us can actually stick with just one snake... or two snakes... or ten.

[L.West]

Hi and Welcome to the forum. You've come to the right place to learn all you need to know before getting your bp.

My first bp was a normal female - they are very cheaply priced and a great first snake while learning to care for them. You wouldn't want to spend big money on a snake when you are not comfortable with how to care for them.

You may want to check out our caresheet on this forum - lots of good information on there.

Good luck with finding your first snake. As others have stated - be aware that it is very hard to stop at just one snake. I have 6 bps and 1 milksnake now and never intended to have more than one. lol

[Viperk]

Hi and Welcome to the forum. You've come to the right place to learn all you need to know before getting your bp.

My first bp was a normal female - they are very cheaply priced and a great first snake while learning to care for them. You wouldn't want to spend big money on a snake when you are not comfortable with how to care for them.

You may want to check out our caresheet on this forum - lots of good information on there.

Good luck with finding your first snake. As others have stated - be aware that it is very hard to stop at just one snake. I have 6 bps and 1 milksnake now and never intended to have more than one. lol

Thanks for the welcome.

On a side note: I actually have read the caresheet about 5 times.

One thing though:
When picking out a size of container for your snake what size is best with a baby ball? I am wanting to use a glass container and I will be covering three sides so it feels safe.