getting ready to add a BP to the family

This forum is amazing first of all. so much information with very very little contradiction between opinions. I've learned a lot and hope to know all before I make the purchase.

Is there anything I should watch out for when choosing the little guy aside from mites/stargazing?

I will eventually as size comes on get a larger enclosure but to start off as a baby what should I start with?

I'm in Toronto, does anyone have any good references for a breeder to visit?

Any tips for a begginer would be appreciated.

I have had a veiled chameleon for 5 years now so I understand the care for reptiles but a snake is different(obviously) then lazer(chameleon).

As he/she grows anything I should watch for to ensuire a very healthy growth.

Finally, does anyone know of a good herp vet in the toronto area?

thanks in advance everyone

Welcome to BPNet Adam, glad you are finding this a fun, informative place to be. Doing all your research first is a great thing and will pay off for you and your future snake.

You have a top Canadian breeder not too far north of the city in Peterborough, Ontario. http://www.ballpythons.ca As far as I know though a lot of the good American breeders regularily ship to Canada and all over the world so don't discount that as an option for you to explore.

I would encourage you to read through the caresheet here as well as the FAQ's and the many husbandry threads on ball python care and different issues our members deal with. That will give you a great overview of what's what and things you need to think about when acquiring a new snake.

The best way to ensure a healthy BP, in my opinion, is to go with a trusted breeder, whether a big or small operation. I've purchased pet store snakes and they've done all right but it's always a crap shoot. A baby snake from a good breeder will come with records of who it's parents were, be sexed properly and will have shed and taken a number of successful feedings. You will also have the backing of that breeder if issues or questions arise. Not every breeder online is a good one though, no matter how well they "talk the talk" so feel free to ask around or ask for references for any breeder.

Here's the info for the OHS. I would give them a quick phone call and see if they can start you off on the right road for an experienced herp vet in Toronto.

Ontario Herpetological Society
POB 244
Port Credit
Ontario L5G 4L8
1-905-404-1926

Here's the link for the Ontario Vet Association website...again it might be a good starting point.

http://www.ovma.org/

What end of TO are you in KaspR? I'm in Burlington. I've got a veiled too :P You'll find this forum to be incredibly helpful.


One thing I would suggest before getting your snake is to buy all the necessary housing equipment and set it up and watch the temps for at least a couple days before getting it.

I've gone through soooo much hassle with my glass 20 gal tank that I think I would've just got a plastic container to start of with. Also, i would get a strip of flexwatt with a thermostat. I wouldn't recommend buying a brand name UTH (under the tank) heater. I had one and it totally sucked.

The faqs are real helpful. If you have any questions ask away. I'm new to this too and have found out a lot of things that work and things that don't.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by snaker35

What end of TO are you in KaspR? I'm in Burlington. I've got a veiled too :P You'll find this forum to be incredibly helpful.


One thing I would suggest before getting your snake is to buy all the necessary housing equipment and set it up and watch the temps for at least a couple days before getting it.

I've gone through soooo much hassle with my glass 20 gal tank that I think I would've just got a plastic container to start of with. Also, i would get a strip of flexwatt with a thermostat. I wouldn't recommend buying a brand name UTH (under the tank) heater. I had one and it totally sucked.

The faqs are real helpful. If you have any questions ask away. I'm new to this too and have found out a lot of things that work and things that don't.

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I'm actually right on the boarder of mississauga and etobicoke...right near port credit!

Yah I'm glad I found this, like i said most forums are battles of contradiction. This one is straight information and 90% of each member agree's on.

Do you know of that reptile store in port credit? can't remember the name. I bought my Veiled there, it's a pretty decent place. There is a pretty wild store in Hamilton on King St. called the Reptile Store. The guy supplies Alice Cooper with his snakes when he tours in Canada. I bought my BP there, but I hadn't found this forum b4 I did. Now I know I overpaid for sure and got a bunch of crap i never woulda got if I had known better. Still it's a great store...he actually has a 6 foot american alligator named mojo in the back!!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Welcome to BPNet Adam, glad you are finding this a fun, informative place to be. Doing all your research first is a great thing and will pay off for you and your future snake.

You have a top Canadian breeder not too far north of the city in Peterborough, Ontario. http://www.ballpythons.ca As far as I know though a lot of the good American breeders regularily ship to Canada and all over the world so don't discount that as an option for you to explore.

I would encourage you to read through the caresheet here as well as the FAQ's and the many husbandry threads on ball python care and different issues our members deal with. That will give you a great overview of what's what and things you need to think about when acquiring a new snake.

The best way to ensure a healthy BP, in my opinion, is to go with a trusted breeder, whether a big or small operation. I've purchased pet store snakes and they've done all right but it's always a crap shoot. A baby snake from a good breeder will come with records of who it's parents were, be sexed properly and will have shed and taken a number of successful feedings. You will also have the backing of that breeder if issues or questions arise. Not every breeder online is a good one though, no matter how well they "talk the talk" so feel free to ask around or ask for references for any breeder.

Here's the info for the OHS. I would give them a quick phone call and see if they can start you off on the right road for an experienced herp vet in Toronto.

Ontario Herpetological Society
POB 244
Port Credit
Ontario L5G 4L8
1-905-404-1926

Here's the link for the Ontario Vet Association website...again it might be a good starting point.

http://www.ovma.org/

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And Joanna thank you so much for your tips and advice. I live about 5 minutes from Port Credit so it's extremely convenient for me to see the herp society.

For a start up enclosure what would be the best thing to use until it grows up. And what sort of costs should I be looking at?

Will I need a lamp there or would that cause too much heat? Would a heat pad/tape be more than suffient under the water dish(i assume that improves the humidity form what I've read so far?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by snaker35

Do you know of that reptile store in port credit? can't remember the name. I bought my Veiled there, it's a pretty decent place. There is a pretty wild store in Hamilton on King St. called the Reptile Store. The guy supplies Alice Cooper with his snakes when he tours in Canada. I bought my BP there, but I hadn't found this forum b4 I did. Now I know I overpaid for sure and got a bunch of crap i never woulda got if I had known better. Still it's a great store...he actually has a 6 foot american alligator named mojo in the back!!!!

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Yah its the Port Credit Pet Centre, they are pricey sometimes but I got a really good deal on my veiled because it was kinda runty and said it would probably only live a year. Lazer is now 5.5 years old and healthy , although doesn't like being picked up(not enough attention as a youngin. but still an amazing animal.

Extrememly excited to add to the zoo.

I've had a lot of trouble getting temps and humidity stable in my glass 20 gal tank. So i'm about to make the switch to a plastic rubbermaid style container. I would not use a heat lamp, or ceramic heat emitter cuz they suck the humidity out of the air. I recently purchased 11" strip of flexwatt to use as a UTH, and I bought a herpstat thermostat.


sooo...

container - 10 bucks at walmart
flexwatt w/ connectors - 10-15 US
thermostat - 110 US
hides - you can buy nice ones for 20 bucks, or make your own for free.

cheap and will be easier to keep. easy to clean. not pretty though

I bought my stuff from www.mgreptiles.com

Quote:

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container - 10 bucks at walmart
flexwatt w/ connectors - 10-15 US
thermostat - 110 US
hides - you can buy nice ones for 20 bucks, or make your own for free.

cheap and will be easier to keep. easy to clean. not pretty though

I bought my stuff from www.mgreptiles.com

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Thanks a lot. Yah form what I've read the plastic is the way to go while young but really want soemthing stylish lol. That can wait till he/she's grown and healthy I guess!!

Thanks for the link and tips!!

And just use paper towel for substrate? I read a lot of people using newspaper? I assume this is inkless newspaper? I would imagine using the front page of the globe and mail would turn him red black and white from the inks.

That's so great you are so near the Herp Society. I'd definitely hook up with them. A lot of Herp groups have monthly meetings and are a great resource for local information like vets, laws on what is and isn't allowed in your area as far as species or size (if that applies) and just nice to meet others that share your interest in herps.

You can use a glass viv, they are just a lot more work to setup and maintain but very do-able or you can choose what a lot of us use which is Rubbermaid, Sterlite or Iris tubs (Iris being the hands down winner). Think plain, easy to maintain and keep clean and small for a baby BP. They don't need much fancy stuff and since the most important thing is to get them eating, shedding, pooping, etc. focus on that first is my thought. You can always at a later point go with a more showy setup for a pet BP once you've got that baby well established and doing great over the long term. I figure make it easy on you and right for the snake and it's a win-win kinda thing LOL.

Have a good run through BP Husbandry using the search function and you will find literally tons of information on setting up a simple, yet effective enclosure for a new BP. Information like heating choices, substrate options, hides, and ideas on monitoring the humidity and temperature of your enclosure (grab a pen and paper...you'll need it LOL).