new to ball pythons, any startup advice?

[sullitf]

I've been considering getting a snake for a few weeks, was briefly sidetracked by bearded dragons, and then ultimately decided the most responsible decision for me is to get a bp now and put off getting a beardy until I can be sure I will be able to invest plenty of time and money to raise the beardy right.

I had a thread touching on similar questions in the bearded dragon section but wanted to update the exact questions and put them in the ball python forum now that I have decided to definitely get a bp rather than a beardy. I have an internship this summer in Houston, which is roughly 12 hours from where I live in Alabama. I really would like to get a snake before leaving and take him with me, though if this turns out to be a bad idea for the snakes sake then I can wait. My first question is whether I would be able to safely and easily transport a young bp, and if so what would be the best way of doing this. I know I need to maintain a good temperature for him during the trip and was thinking the easiest way to do this would be with Hot Hands or something similar taped to the bottom of the cage as a temporary UTH. Do you guys think this would work well? If now, how are snakes shipped, if it works through the mail I'm sure it would work in a 12 hour car ride?



My next questions are only valid if it would be viable to bring the snake with me during the internship.

1) There is a pet store in my area with 7 or 8 young normals for sale. I know pet stores are generally to be avoided, but there are no breeders in my area that I can find and the store actually does seem to be doing a pretty good job of taking care for all the animals. The cages are all clean and well kept and snakes look healthy with no signs of mites or injuries. As many here recommend, I won't get a snake without seeing it eat first and I believe the pet store would be willing to meet this request. I want to figure out all the logistics of the summer before buying though, including my cage setup.

2) The same pet store had a few different cages I could use. There were 10 gallon tanks that I know would be fitting for a young bp, but fairly large and cumbersome to transport to Houston. They also had what I think were called "Herp Heaven" cages, which basically were generic plastic critter keeper cages modified for snakes needs (I believe the dimensions were roughly 18"x12"x6"). Would this make a suitable cage for the snake for the first few months? When I return from my internship I actually plan on building a larger viv with plenty of square footage for an adult and plenty of hides for a smaller bp to feel safe until adulthood. If the herp heaven cage is too small or not recommended, what size tub would be good for a young snake for 3 to 4 months?

3) What do you guys think of the common stick-on UTHs they have at most pet stores? When I build a cage I'll probably invest in some flexwatt and a decent thermostat; would the stick-on UTH be fine for the herp heaven or tub setup? I saw a video on youtube by a breeder named ralph davis that was saying you don't need a thermostat with these stick-on UTH's as they are designed to maintain a good temperature. I have a hard time believing this because it seems like it would totally depend on the tank size, material, etc. Would I be able to use one of those UTHs on a tub/"herp heaven" without a thermostat for a few months and not have to worry about it? I will get a good thermometer/hydrometer no matter what to ensure the temperature is good.


Thanks for all your help! Just trying to make sure I know exactly what I'm getting into and need to do before bringing home a new ball python!

[Kaorte]

1. Remember, you can still buy BP's online
2. a 20gallon long tank will be suitable for a full grown adult. A 10gallon will be suitable for a yearling BP
3. A UTH is fine but you must must have some way to control it. A rheostat (or dimmer) is the minimum but if you have the money, invest in a good thermostat.

Welcome to the addiction. You will have a room full of snakes soon enough!

[sullitf]

I'll definitely keep in mind that I can buy online, though personally I think I'd rather buy in person as long as I feel the snake is in good condition. I don't know, guess partly because it's my first snake but nothing beats picking out your new pet and taking it home that day.

When I build a tank in the fall it'll probably be roughly the same dimensions as a 20 gallon so the snake will grow into it, but filled with plenty of cover and hides so it can feel comfortable. It seems like the snake will not be stressed in a big tank as long as there are plenty of places to hide throughout the tank, is this a valid assumption? I figure in the wild they aren't in a tank at all, but surrounded by places to hide so they feel safe.

Until I get to build the tank, what would be a good size tub for a young ball python? I couldn't tell you the exact length or age of the snakes the pet store had, but they were fairly young and definitely under a year old still. I'd like to be able to keep the snake in a tub during my internship until I get back and can build a proper tank.

Thanks!

[Kaorte]

A 15qt tub is just fine for a juvenile

As for your future plans, I think you are on the right track. The more clutter the better for a baby snake You probably one need two tight fitting hides though.