Need help!

[JOsborn]

Alright, so I have around $200 saved up to buy a Ball Python, I've been planning to buy one for over a year now, and have spent that time researching BP's and how to care for them, and i think i may be able to buy one now.. I don't have a cage, and plan on making one from a bin. Now, bear with me here, as I am going to need some help.

1. Can someone please link me to how to make a bin cage for a BP.? What size, how many holes, ect.

2. Is my $200 enough to get a BP? I'm not looking for any super crazy morphs, Normals are the cheapest i think? I was thinking of getting one of those. I already have a non-digital thermometer and hygrometer, and a red heat bulb.

3. Any tips for a first time reptile owner?

[RobertJR]

Well all I can say is to buy from a well know breeder so you don't get played like we did today.

[sharkrocket]

You will get a lot of tips in this thread, but let me just answer one of your questions:

$200 is more than enough for your ball python.

The bigger the snake is, the more expensive it will be. But, don't buy if it is a freshly hatched baby. You don't want the headache of a snake that hasn't been started on food yet. Also, females will be more expensive than males.

Anyways, if you get it from a breeder, a normal ball python will run you $20-$50 for a juvenile.

If you want to spend $200, take a look at what morphs you really like. You could easily get a basic morph juvenile for that price.

Echoing what the poster above said, make sure you really trust the person you are getting it from. If you have a bad feeling from a breeder, walk away. You might consider buying from an online dealer with great feedback. I can list some if you want! They will ship safely and guarantee healthy well started snakes.

[Daybreaker]

1. Can someone please link me to how to make a bin cage for a BP.? What size, how many holes, ect.

2. Is my $200 enough to get a BP? I'm not looking for any super crazy morphs, Normals are the cheapest i think? I was thinking of getting one of those. I already have a non-digital thermometer and hygrometer, and a red heat bulb.

3. Any tips for a first time reptile owner?

By bin you mean a tub correct? If so, you need an appropriate sized tub (some people use 5 qt ones for hatchlings, but I start my juvies/smaller ones in 28qts and move up when needed) and I would look into a UTH or flexwatt for heating for your warm side (this NEEDS to be regulated with a thermostat). Two identical hides, water bowl, and a thermometer is also required. There's many threads on how to set up a tub so I'd do a search. Holes will depend on your area: more humid places need more holes but where I am (AZ) it's dryer so I don't have as many as what other people might need.

I would look into a digital thermometer over the analog ones but I'm bias as that's what I use. I would not use a bulb with a tub personally but people have used those with no issues so hopefully they can chime in.

$200 depends on what you want: you can easily get a normal or some morph males for that price (or even a pastel female, I sometimes see those for as low as $125 for a female which is what I paid for my girl).

[The Serpent Merchant]

This thread will show you how to set up a tub:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...Basics...*DUW*

This thread will tell you everything else:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

The bottom of this page has some normal BP's listed for $45+shipping.

http://www.jkobylkareptiles.com/stor....php?&pageno=2

I second that heat bulbs are not the best for tubs, and that a thermostat is necessary. here is a good thermostat for cheap. (don't bother with the crap sold in pet stores they aren't worth your money.

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR.../dp/B000NZZG3S

here are some good hides (once again don't waste your money at the pet store you will pay 5 times as much)

http://www.reptilebasics.com/hide-boxes

Here is a good place to get flexwatt/UTH's

http://www.reptilebasics.com/heating

This is a good thermometer, they are sold at Walmart for $12 and they measure 2 temperatures and humidity all in one box. Having a probed thermometer like this is necessary when using UTH's

[Royal Hijinx]

You need to spend at least half the budget on your set up and the other half on the snake.

I would suggest the following:

Male Spider Ball Python (will leave plenty of budget for your awesome set-up)

28qt tub (or appropriate size)
Under Tank Heater (Zoo Med, or whichever apprpriatly sized for the tub)
Thermostat: http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...058721&sr=8-13
Reptile Basics hide(s)
Substrate (whatever you like)
Digital thermometer/hydrometer ($12 from Wal Mart)
Plastic crock water dish

All of this should be well within your budget and allow extra to buy feeders.

Here is a pic of one of my tubs set up before moving everyone to racks. It is a 15qt sterilite from Target. It has 2 Reptile Basics small hides and a small ceramic water dish. The bark did not last long since it is impossible to clean and the snake did not need it to shed.

He is about 120g in this pic, and it is all wet because I just misted it (he was in shed).

[JOsborn]

Wow! Thanks everyone for the quick responses!

To answer some questions, I bought the red heat lamp just to raise ambient temps up. My house is kept at around 70, and the bulb brings my closet where I plan on keeping it up to 75. This will increase with an enclosure and UTH.

I am not 18 and do not have a credit card/bank account. So it's very difficult for me to buy things online. Wal-mart and Target trips are now required.

Another thing, my mother doesn't exactly KNOW that I plan on getting one yet. Can anyone spout some facts about BP's in favor of my argument? It probably won't help though. Regardless of her consent, I will be getting one (oh dear, this makes me sound like a bratty teenager). But obviously it will be easier to get supplies with her help. I'll look into some cheaper morphs, but if I don't get the support of my mother, I don't know how I'm going to get the packages without my mom finding out about them.

[The Serpent Merchant]

First off, hiding a snake from your mother is not a good Idea... I'm 19 and speak from personal experience. please don't do that.

There are some simple facts that will help your argument, but in the end if she says no it really is an all parties (including the snakes) best interests for you to just wait until you are out on your own.

A BP has never killed a human, not even a baby.

Bp's stay small 3-6 feet, and most stay in the 3-5 range.

easy to care for, make no noise and very little to no smell (their poop does smell of course, but that should be cleaned up before it becomes an issue)

They don't get hair all over the house

If she doesn't want to see it, they hide most of the day and are only really out at night so that shouldn't be an issue.


My best advise it to get her to hold one. going to a reptile show with her will very likely get her on your side... but as I said before don't try going behind her back. You won't be able to take proper care of the BP and that simply is not fair to the snake.

I will just say this now to get it out of the way, avoid pet stores at all costs. Their reptiles are in poor health, their products are very overpriced (and usually subpar) and worst off their employees 9 times out of 10 simply do not know anything about reptiles so the information that they give out is poor at best and leads a lot of people to this site with a BP in very bad shape.

[alittleFREE]

I have to second the 'don't hide a snake from your mom' notion.

That said, it really depends on your mother and the reason she wouldn't want you getting one, but in my experience, having the cage already set up and all that before asking a parents permission really helps. It shows them that you're serious about the purchase and that you're already stepping up and taking responsibility for its care before you even have the animal. If they see that you've put a lot of time and effort into research and planning they will be more likely to say yes.

[JOsborn]

I convinced her! One well worded email and she said I could get one!

Also, could anyone link me to where I could find a nice pastel morph for sale? What age is safest for purchasing? The younger the better!