Just came to introduce myself and ask a few questions...first off, I can't believe I'm here because up until 3 months ago, I was TERRIFIED of snakes...I couldn't even look at a picture without going into a panic attack. Then something happened in our recent trip to Gatorland in Florida...somehow, I got up the nerve to hold the ball python to get my picture taken! Today, I went to our pet store and held the cutest baby ball python in the world! I'm in love and really want to buy him (my husband's not sold on the idea yet, so we're going to go the the store and have further discussion tomorrow). He/she's about 12-14 inches long (just a guesstimate) and super cute (I'm going to take pictures when I go tomorrow). The only problem is they say she/he hasn't ate for them yet but they will be happy to feed him/her before I bring it home. I spent almost an hour (on two different trips today) to hold him/her and I can't believe how comfortable he/she seemed! She was crawling around my fingers and wrapped herself around my arm and was pretty friendly for a snake. Again....three months ago, I couldn't even go to that part of the pet store and here I am seriously dying to bring a snake home! I know for sure that I need to ask a few more questions and see her eat, but if you have any more suggestions, please let me know! I have a 10 gallon aquarium that should work for now and I can get my husband to build a good solid lid. The store suggested a heat pad (they told me not to get a rock) and possibly a light.... so far everything they told me seems to be fairly correct (and I have had good experiences with them in the past with other pets (birds, and fish). Any advice will be greatly appreciated from this newbie :-)