Male or Female?

[grim reaper in NY]

Which sex B/P has the better disposition, the male or female? Also, is it better for a beginner python owner to start with a baby python or a more mature snake?
I have been contacted by a local pet shop that had someone drop a ball python off because they couldn't keep it any longer. The owner has no idea how old the snake is, sex, or anything else. The woman brought it in in a pillow case and just handed it to him and left. He is wanting me to adopt the snake but I am leary for several reasons. The guy isn't even sure it is a ball python and said it is probably about 2ft long, but he can't really tell. It sounds like ti's a young snake, but again, I haven't seen it yet.
I do want to get a python, but I don't want the husbandry thrust onto me like this. Does that make sense? I am sorting through this site and trying to elarn all I can before I step out on a limb and get one of these things. I don't want to own one of these reptiles if I can't raise it and care for it the right way.
I'm used to the bearded dragons and iguanas, but pyhtons are a whole different game entirely, or at least I think they are. Any suggestions and help is greatly appreciated.

[stratus_020202]

Poor little guy They both have great dispositions. Unless you breed in the far far future. Females get nasty when they have eggs. If you don't want glass, tub enclosures are relatively inexpensive. As long as you can handle the vet bill if something goes wrong. I don't want to discourage you from a new bp, but most health problems almost always mean a trip to the vet. They can't usually be cured with home remedies. Be sure the read all the caresheets, and remember they have to have the constant heat and humidity to thrive. Once you get everything set up, they are great snakes. Let us know how it turns out.

[Dave763]

Read the care sheets. I have not noticed a difference in temperament between male and female.

[grim reaper in NY]

I am used to vet bills. Having 2 Bearded Dragons and 2 Iguanas, my herp vet knows me on a first name basis. LOL.... Not because they're sick, mind you, but simply because I take all 4 plus my Leopard Gecko every 6 months for checkups to ensure they are healthy. The iguanas are especially prone to bone disease and cancer and I want to make sure they are 100% healthy at all times.
I will definitely go with the glass enclosure. Not big on the plastic tub thing. I think the glass vivs are more attractive and also lend to a happier environment for the reptile residing there. Again, that's just my thoughts though....

[stratus_020202]

That's great! You should be able to give him a good home then. I didn't mean to be harsh about the vet bills. I just read an adoption add, and the guy said the snake fell "or something" and was holding his head funny. Somebody would have to take it becuase he couldn't afford a vet bill. So, he's just letting it suffer grrrr. there are just some people i would like to drop 10 stories, and say, "I'm sorry I can't afford a doctor bill," and leave them there. Oh well, some people you can never change.

[stratus_020202]

Sorry, I didn't read your whole thread Bp's won't be happier in a glass. They will be happy, but probably prefer a tub. They don't like the open space, and will most likely be hiding all the time anyway. It does look pretty with lots of plants and things, but you won't see the ball too much. I actually haven't seen my girl in about 3-4 days, but she's in shed.

[grim reaper in NY]

I will never understand why people get a pet such as in iguana, python, or whatever and then, on a whim, decide they can't or won't take care of it any longer. I have resuced so many reptiles over the years from people who are so ignorant about abandoning animals. Amazingly, this is the first snake I've been contacted about though. I will go over this afternoon and see what shape the snake is in.
Amazingly, the other day I went to a house that had an aquarium outside and when I looked inside I found a boa that had died. The temps outside were in the 30's, so there's no possible way the snake could survive those temps. When I asked the guy in the driveway, he told me his kid brought it home without permission and there was no way he allowing a killer into his house. Well, the "killer" he referred to was less than 2feet long and was totally incapabale of hurting or killing this fatty-fat-fat. I simply told him he should have posted an ad or taken him to a pet store rather than making his son put him outside to freeze to death. Just goes to show, you can't fix stupid!

[stratus_020202]

Amazingly, the other day I went to a house that had an aquarium outside and when I looked inside I found a boa that had died. The temps outside were in the 30's, so there's no possible way the snake could survive those temps. When I asked the guy in the driveway, he told me his kid brought it home without permission and there was no way he allowing a killer into his house. Well, the "killer" he referred to was less than 2feet long and was totally incapabale of hurting or killing this ***. I simply told him he should have posted an ad or taken him to a pet store rather than making his son put him outside to freeze to death. Just goes to show, you can't fix stupid!

OMG! That is terrible. It sucks there aren't enough good people who can take in every trouled animal out there. I hope the new little one is in good shape and you can take it. He/she sounds about the same size as mine, so probably a mid to late 08 baby. There really is no way to know for sure. If he hasn't been fed properly he could be older and underweight. Females generally get bigger than males, but I don't think they grow any faster.

[blackcrystal22]

If your getting a ball python, and you want to use a glass viv, don't plan ahead.

Get the proper size for the size of the animal. Some snakes may never be happy in glass, and never eat unless they are in a secure tub. If you get a hatchling or juvenile, put it in a 10 gallon tank, and cover 3 of the back sides with black paper or something darker. Adults really won't need anything bigger than a 20 gallon tank. They aren't like lizards, and prefer small to large spaces.

2 identical tight hides (no log hides) are a good idea for vivs. Small water bowl (they don't need to soak, so just a small ceramic dog bowl is fine).

Substrate, do not use sand. Sand is never ever a good thing, and is very dangerous. No pine or cedar or anything that looks even the slightest bit dusty.

Paper towels, newspaper, aspen bedding, and cypress mulch are all wonderful choices of bedding for your ball python.

Heat is extremely important. If you get a lamp, don't have a heat lamp, but instead use it just for show and turn it off at night. Never have a heat lamp for the main source of heat, it sucks humidity and doesn't spread heat very well.

Instead, use a UTH (under tank heater) WITH a proper thermostat. This is needed for all UTH's to regulate the temperature in the cage. Warm side should vary between 90-95F and cool side 80-85F. Put the water bowl on the cool side of the tank. Get digital thermometers and hygrometers with probes to measure heat and humidity.

If you have humidity issues (try to keep it at 60%) you can cover the top a little with foil, or use some moss in a small bowl of water in the cage for humidity boost.

Feel free to decorate as much as you like. They like to hide, so putting as much foliage in as possible (cramped is good!) is a great idea.
I also recommend feeding inside the enclosure, and waiting a week once you get your pet before you hold it or try to feed it.

Good luck!

[grim reaper in NY]

Well, I just got back a little while ago from the pet store. I dunno, and maybe it's just me, but this looks like a VERY sick snake. I wish I had brought a camera so I could show everyone to give you a better idea. Hopefully my description will suffice.
First of all, the snake was breathing VERY heavily. You could hear a raspy noise with each breath it took. It also looked like there were tiny bubbles or froth around it's mouth. One other thing I noticed right off was it looked like the eyes were pushed in or dented. They were very dull and lacked any type of signs of life. When we turned her over toe xamine her belly there were, what appeared to be burns on her scales. I suspect she was left on a heat rock or other source for an extended period of time, but I could be mistaken. The snake's coat was also very dull and flattish in color.There was no luster in it that I have seen on other snakes. This python also looked extremely thin and underfed as well. I wouldn't even want to venture a guess as to how old this thing was, but I suspect it's older than the size indicates. One other thing was the way it smelled. It had a very strong odor to it and when handled made no attempts whatsoever to slither or move. It just layed over our hands and was totally limp.
I did not bring this snake home. I really feel as though the amount of care needed for this snake is WAY beyond what I am currently capable of giving. Once I get more experience with these reptiles I will not hesitate to take one like this in and try to rehab it. Please don't hate me for not bringing it home. I just really feel it's too far gone to save. Input???