What are some things you wish you knew before getting your first?

Hey guys, I'm just looking for some anecdotal information again since that seems to be really helpful for me.

I'm planning on getting a ball python, but before then I have been doing hours and hours of research so I can prep myself and know what I'm getting myself into.

That said, I'm curious what your experiences were like *after* buying a ball python and setting it up, and what things were kind of new to you that you didn't expect, and that kind of thing. Was there anything you wish you knew before getting one, or were there any surprises or things like that -- good or bad!!

I'd love to just hear first-time purchase stories. :)

An aquarium may look nice, but its a LOT of work to keep humid and warm

I wish I'd bought a rack to start out with instead of a tank. Or even a free standing tub. Now I have like 4 extra glass tanks lying around with no use for em lol. When I do eventually switch to a rack, I'll have even more, in addition to a surplus of cheap thermostats. Although I may keep a few naturalistic displays, so who knows.

Also, don't listen to people when they say "oh yeah, that'll be fine for (insert species)", especially when they're trying to sell you something!! Do your own independent research, take all advice with a grain of salt.

You don't need the giant cage.

Really decorated tanks are really hard to clean. I have to clean my exo terra with a hand broom but my tubs can have their aspen dumped straight in the trash bag. Also, more parts to clean.

Rats can cost as much per pound as a really good cut of steak. Local feeder rat breeders are a godsend.

I wish i know how addictive these little noodles were before i got my first ;)

lets see now....instead of wasting money on glass tanks which are hard to control heat and humidity I should have just spent the extra right from the start on a good quality enclosure . I would be money ahead! Second I wish I could get back the wasted money on vet bills because my snake did not eat for 1 1/2 months during his first winter only to realize that its normal in some snakes to go off feed for as long as 3 months or more in some cases! Grrr.

Wish I knew sooner which questions to ask. Mostly about UTHs because I never trusted them until the last couple years. Found a brand that I like and finding about needing thermostats helps a lot as well. I've had a few in the past that would get fried or lose adhesion because they weren't regulated and therefore went with the old trusty lamps.

When BPs go on feed strike, do not panic. Take a step back and figure out what has changed in the snake's environment. I got Petey off a friend of mine 2 years ago this August and he went on feed strike in November of that year. I didn't think BPs hibernated like a couple of my colubrids do and started getting worried. Found BP.net and realized there were a few problems my setup had with temps and humidty. Got everything proper and started eating again late January early Ferburary of that winter. Thank you BP.net. You helped get my snake off feed strike. :gj::D

Also, do what works for you. There is a basic template for what any snake should be given. How you want to achieve that is up to you as long as it's in the best interest of the animal. People will argue up and down that their way is the "set in stone" way of doing things and the person they are arguing with is wrong. In reality, both ways are probably just fine so long as the animal is not in danger. I do a few things differently which I know are frowned upon and I don't mention those things here. But I have a system setup that works for me and my snakes are all happy and healthy. I also know there are things which need improvement and I'm working on those things. Just reading through all the posts and opinions of others has lead me to what I think should/should not be done in my instance. Learn what you can and sort through what you think will work in your instance.




BP.net. Getting Pyrate's bp off feed strike since 2012. :D

I wish I had started out with tubs or a rack. The first 4 snakes I had I kept in aquariums and it was soo much work keeping them up. And the space they took up was crazy. I switched to boaphiles (had mostly boas), and now that I have mostly balls I keep every body in a rack system except my two boas.

Consistent feeding, temps, and humidity all immensely improved once I ditched the tanks.

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Originally Posted by norwegn113

lets see now....instead of wasting money on glass tanks which are hard to control heat and humidity I should have just spent the extra right from the start on a good quality enclosure . I would be money ahead! Second I wish I could get back the wasted money on vet bills because my snake did not eat for 1 1/2 months during his first winter only to realize that its normal in some snakes to go off feed for as long as 3 months or more in some cases! Grrr.

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I like to joke that I have the worlds most expensive normal ball python. Years ago when I got my first ball python, I paid $20 dollars for her at a local show but that first winter I had her she went off feed. After one and a half months I panicked and brought it to a local reptile vet who talked me into running a series of tests...$600.00 later, the results..... perfectly healthy snake who just went off feed for the winter! lol learned my lesson the hard way. Needless to say I now have and treat her like she is one of my exotic morphs! lol

i wish i had more money cause all u want to do after 1 is get 2 then 3 4,5,6 and so on .. only took me 3 weeks to go from 1 to 4 .. tanks suck use tubes and dont stress out so hard if ur snake is "not doing what u want" its a snake its gonna do what it wants its not a dog .. a lot of people bug out over silly things cause they dont know what to expect .. just read i cant stop reading about them since i got my 1st in march .. lol they should have taught bp's in school maybe i would have paid attention more lol .. good luck and enjoy