Parents and reptiles!

I'm 15 years old, i've been wanting to get a ball python for a little under a year now, i've been saving saving for a while and can almost offerd the ball pyhton I want. Am i the only one in this situation, or are any of you in the same situation? Text a comment, or a video comment below and tell my parents why they should allow ball pythons in the house! Thanks =D

-Payson

I would just show that you are responsible, that you can afford not only the set up, animal, and care, but you also have a fund set aside for vet bills. Show you are responsible around the house too. Take on more chores around the house. Do well in school and don't bother them about it. Asking them every day is not going to change their mind.

In the end, if they say no, they say no and it is best you not try and hide snakes in your bedroom.

Don't let your kid get it. Chances are he won't even take care of it. Hes not even old enough to drive to the store to buy feeders, so that would basically be your responsibility parents. Also, if it gets sick, thats your money to take it to the vet parents. Your kid aint even old enough to have a job to buy feeders, or some type of mite-removal if it gets mites, or take it to the vet if it gets sick.

Hmm why else shouldnt you get one.... chances are a kid your age will get tired of it and start to treat it like crap, and barely ever handle it or clean the tank. Also, a lot more money goes into owning a BP than you can imagine.

I will assume since your only 15 years old and you barely have money, your going to buy a tank and not a professional type rack? Okay well -

Tank $30-$100 depending on what size, what type, what lid you get for it.
Substrate $20-$30 a year
Feeders $2-$3 every 5-7 days
Hides / Water dish / Other parts of enclosure $15-$50
Heat pad $15-$25
Lamp Dimmer or Thermostat $10-$40
Digital Thermometer $10
Normal Ball Python $20-$100

TOTAL STARTUP COST - $120-$350 AT LEAST

Monthly costs for mice - $10-$15

Unexpected costs? - Mite removal, vet visits, meds, upgrading to bigger pray like rats in the future....

Please wait a couple years before you get into this hobby. Unless your a real mature 15 year old than just wait.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PurplePython

Don't let your kid get it. Chances are he won't even take care of it. Hes not even old enough to drive to the store to buy feeders, so that would basically be your responsibility parents. Also, if it gets sick, thats your money to take it to the vet parents. Your kid aint even old enough to have a job to buy feeders, or some type of mite-removal if it gets mites, or take it to the vet if it gets sick.

Hmm why else shouldnt you get one.... chances are a kid your age will get tired of it and start to treat it like crap, and barely ever handle it or clean the tank. Also, a lot more money goes into owning a BP than you can imagine.

I will assume since your only 15 years old and you barely have money, your going to buy a tank and not a professional type rack? Okay well -

Tank $30-$100 depending on what size, what type, what lid you get for it.
Substrate $20-$30 a year
Feeders $2-$3 every 5-7 days
Hides / Water dish / Other parts of enclosure $15-$50
Heat pad $15-$25
Lamp Dimmer or Thermostat $10-$40
Digital Thermometer $10
Normal Ball Python $20-$100

TOTAL STARTUP COST - $120-$350 AT LEAST

Monthly costs for mice - $10-$15

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Your prices are a bit high.

Tank(tub) - $6
Substrate - What free newspaper
Feeders - $25 for 50. Thats 50 feeds. Thats like $25 for 6-8 months of food for one snake
Hides and stuff can be done with $5

I agree with the rest just that stuff seemed a little high :gj:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by f4n70m

Your prices are a bit high.

Tank(tub) - $6
Substrate - What free newspaper
Feeders - $25 for 50. Thats 50 feeds. Thats like $25 for 6-8 months of food for one snake
Hides and stuff can be done with $5

I agree with the rest just that stuff seemed a little high :gj:

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Yeah true. I figured that he'd use a tank instead of a tub, but yeah tubs are cheap as dirt. Also, I wasn't sure if he would feed live or FT. Hides are very cheap yes but also maybe he wanted some decor or fake plants or a nice rock water dish? IDK. But yeah some of my prices were a little off depending on what he chooses.

Either way, I say his parents don't let him. Wait till hes a little older. He's only 15 and who knows whats going to come up. Within 1 year he can completely become a different person. I know I changed a lot from the age of 15 to 16. You might get a job and work a lot and not have time, or you might just lose interest.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PurplePython

Don't let your kid get it. Chances are he won't even take care of it. Hes not even old enough to drive to the store to buy feeders, so that would basically be your responsibility parents. Also, if it gets sick, thats your money to take it to the vet parents. Your kid aint even old enough to have a job to buy feeders, or some type of mite-removal if it gets mites, or take it to the vet if it gets sick.

Hmm why else shouldnt you get one.... chances are a kid your age will get tired of it and start to treat it like crap, and barely ever handle it or clean the tank. Also, a lot more money goes into owning a BP than you can imagine.

I will assume since your only 15 years old and you barely have money, your going to buy a tank and not a professional type rack? Okay well -

Tank $30-$100 depending on what size, what type, what lid you get for it.
Substrate $20-$30 a year
Feeders $2-$3 every 5-7 days
Hides / Water dish / Other parts of enclosure $15-$50
Heat pad $15-$25
Lamp Dimmer or Thermostat $10-$40
Digital Thermometer $10
Normal Ball Python $20-$100

TOTAL STARTUP COST - $120-$350 AT LEAST

Monthly costs for mice - $10-$15

Unexpected costs? - Mite removal, vet visits, meds, upgrading to bigger pray like rats in the future....

Please wait a couple years before you get into this hobby. Unless your a real mature 15 year old than just wait.

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Wow, really? you dont think a 15 year old is capable of properly paying for and taking care of a single ball python?
At 15 I was taking care of multiple reptiles with no problems and I know lots of 15 year olds that can handle the responsibility. and at 15 you can make enough money to pay for your pet, and a basic setup will not be that much and heck parents may even chip in.
the care of a ball python is not that difficult.

When I was 15 I was taking care of multiple reptiles also. Handling tarantulas, scorpions, snakes. Had a few turtles, frogs. I took great care of my stuff. But the big point I was trying to make was also that so much changes between the ages of 15 and 16.

When your 15 you cant work, when your 16 you can. You can mow lawns or whatever but you cant legally have a real job. Also, maybe he will want to start playing high school sports? Playing high school football takes 90% of your free time.... No lie. What else, maybe he will get a girlfriend, and become whipped? And lose interest in snakes and start to dig pie? Heck IDK but anything can happen between 15 and 16. It's a big deal to care for a snake that may live up to 30 years when your only 15.

djansen, Thank you so much for that post, I spend alot of my time at a local reptile store and talk to ball python breeders I am extreamly educated on ball pythons, I almost have enough money for everything I need
- Three shelf high cb-70 rack system = 240$
- 41 qt sterilite tub with trio of African soft fur rats, substrate, and food. = 50$
- Bumble bee ball python = 500-600$
- Thermostat = 120 $
- Temp gun, hummidity and temp gage = 35$
- Paper towel substrate 5$
- Feeding tongs = 15$
- Hide = 15$

-Payson!

How about taking a trip to the Dollar Store and buy some plastic bowls (not see through) so you'll have two identical, tight fitting hides:D

You can also buy small dog/cat dishes at the Dollar Store, I use small cat dishes for my snakes, and a dog dish for my largest Ball and my Dumeril's.

I dont wanna drag any1 into this but CoolioTiffany is what 14? She has multipal snakes and i think she does a very good job of taking care of em :gj:

Shes pointed me in a good direction many of times now

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PurplePython

When your 15 you cant work, when your 16 you can. You can mow lawns or whatever but you cant legally have a real job.

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Wrong krogers hires 14 yr olds.