Want to be a new baby python's owner :D

Hello, just joined this community for quick and interesting info on Ball Pythons. I plan to buy and house a ball python as a pet in the near future, but for now, I working on building a good cage/habitat for him( yes I will most certinly buy a male, female I hear are more agressive and grow larger)
I want to buy a baby Ball python mostlikly from a pet store, if I cannot find a trusted breeder. Not new-born but mabye a few weeks old. What kind of cage should I br prepare to make? ive seen tons on information on cages regulating heat/humid., a "Hidey hole/cave," climbing branch (I do know they tend to like the ground)
My budget right now for materials is about 220$, money isint the issue, just dont want to got splurge on items that may seem like a waste.

Any information people can give me on good items to buy for my pre-ball python preep would be great :D ty

also, any cleaning tips? want to stock on cleaning supplies for cage ect.

-TurnTable :snake:

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Originally Posted by TurnTable

Hello, just joined this community for quick and interesting info on Ball Pythons. I plan to buy and house a ball python as a pet in the near future, but for now, I working on building a good cage/habitat for him( yes I will most certinly buy a male, female I hear are more agressive and grow larger)
I want to buy a baby Ball python mostlikly from a pet store, if I cannot find a trusted breeder. Not new-born but mabye a few weeks old. What kind of cage should I br prepare to make? ive seen tons on information on cages regulating heat/humid., a "Hidey hole/cave," climbing branch (I do know they tend to like the ground)
My budget right now for materials is about 220$, money isint the issue, just dont want to got splurge on items that may seem like a waste.

Any information people can give me on good items to buy for my pre-ball python preep would be great :D ty

also, any cleaning tips? want to stock on cleaning supplies for cage ect.

-TurnTable :snake:

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Just to let you know, females aren't more aggressive than males.. It depends on the individual snake, not the sex. But females do usually get bigger than males. My biggest girl is about 4 feet right now.

Depending on your location there may be reptile shows you can go to and get a snake there (you can talk to the breeder face to face and stuff), or you can find a breeder you like that may not be in your area and have your snake shipped to you. When done properly shipping is very safe. One of the reasons i dont reccomend most big box pet stores is 1. they over charge like crazy, and 2. often they have captive hatched or farm raised babies that may be infested with parasites or not even eating. Always ask the person you're buying from what the snake is eating, etc.

Do you want a display type cage? or a cage thats really made for the snake and may not be as nice looking? Would you be willing to spend the money to get a professionally made cage? Those are all questions you have to ask yourself :)

BPs appreciate small tight fitting hides that they can feel secure in.

You certainly want a thermostat as well. I recommend johnson control, ranco, helix or herpstat (spyder robotics)

right, i definatly try to get a BP from a breeder then, I would like more of a display type cage and custom made seems mabye unneeded but im no expert lol.

I've never heard females being more aggressive than males, and I've never heard males being more aggressive than females. I have a female and she is as sweet as can be, and has never acted aggressive towards me.

The best enclosure, IMO, would be a tub. They are pretty cheap, and you can buy the clear Sterilite or Rubbermaid tubs. All you need to do is put some air holes in it and your good to go. Maybe also buy some clips to keep the lid shut so your snake doesn't get out.

hey thats a decent budget!
someone did the math which was the ESSENTIALS, and they added it up to about $90 not including the ball python of ur choice!

I would realy go for a female as your first BP, in case you decide to breed her down the road, she would be of age when you are ready. Females take a long time to raise to breeding age.

My sweetest BP is a female, so I dont think the sex realy matters, and none of the males are agressive.

Hey ! Like H00blah said ur gunna spend around $90-$120 for the essentials that a BP needs. Theres a really good post here
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=56846
that shows everything u'd ever need for a glass tank

then depending on what morph (color,pattern, mix etc..) u can pay anywhere from $20 up to thousands for the snake itself

personally id get the tank set up run it for a day or two make sure temps and humiditys hold where u want, then bring the lil guy or girl home

search around in this section of the forums at peoples different set ups, get some ideas!

as far as cleaning
http://ball-pythons.net/modules/Sect...warticle&id=26
check out this thread

hope this helped
-james

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Originally Posted by TurnTable

right, i definatly try to get a BP from a breeder then, I would like more of a display type cage and custom made seems mabye unneeded but im no expert lol.

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if you want a professional cage (they tend to hold temps and humidity MUCH better than tanks) you can go with one of many manufactureres: animal plastics, boaphile plastics, http://www.dragons4you.net/, reptilebasics.com, i think those are all i have in my quick book marks but there are MANY more to choose from as far as professional caging goes.

You can also do a 10 or 20 gal tank, but maintaining temps and humidity in those can be harder than in a professionally made housing depending on where you live and your ambient temps and humidity and stuff.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TurnTable

right, i definatly try to get a BP from a breeder then, I would like more of a display type cage and custom made seems mabye unneeded but im no expert lol.

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Just as a heads up, ball pythons make pretty crappy display snakes :giggle:

They spend almost all of their time hiding which means you would never see them just "wandering around" in a big pretty cage.

Oh no, I hear its very important to replace your ball python's water bowl every day! Thats a problem for me, I'm out of the house every monday and Tuesday the entire day and do not return till wensday. Unless I got some1 I know to change the water for me would on those days could that really harm my snake?