Python & Aphids, Problem, Major HELP

you may want to try to get your hands on a can of Prevent-a-mite, also known as PAM (NOT the kitchen PAM). It kills almost every insect, it is very strong. Follow the directions EXACTLY on the can and that may get rid of them.

Aphids are totally harmless to anything other than plants. That's the good news. Bad news is they attract ants, depending on where you live. And Fungus gnats are super annoying you don't see any for days then all of a sudden you find 1. Anyway about your aphids, I wouldn't go crazy, but doing general cleaning like others have posted will help.

ya they arent aphids. someone told me they were, but i did some researched and now i found out they are dark winged gnats.. so going to do the paper, and aspen thing.. ill update everyone what i find out and all that if all works lol

Im surprised that no one has commented about this but, bye he looks of your avatar picture thiingy you have a baby ball, (correct me of im wrong about that)
and i believe that a 4 foot by 1 1/2 by 2 foot cage is WAY to big for any ball, even adult

ya i know its big, but thats what this guy sold to me, and he owns a pretty good store, but his away right now. so im coming to the forums to talk to some people with similar problem to mine.

i personally dont see what would be the difference if i had this size of tank, to a smaller one, i put lots of stuff in it to make it become more inclosed.. and i can keep the humidity up as well. plus she loves roaming all over the place, personally i see it being better then some people who keep them in those tiny 1ft x 1ft. plastic containers.

not sure what is considered by a "baby" shes about 2 1/2 years old already

Fungus gnats will die on their own very quickly, but they also breed very quickly. You will need to eliminate all sources of moisture except the actual water bowl. There may be other areas of your apt./house that could be a problem. Drop ceilings, potted plants, dishwashers,drip pan under refridgerators, any othe places that could collect water/moisture. Also check window frames, sometimes the collect moss and could attract gnats.

ya, what had happened were they came from my tomato plants i brought in from outside...

i got rid of them, and have no other plants, i also live in winnipeg, mb, canada which its minus 30celusis, with a windchill of minsu 37celusis, so anything in window frames etc are now dead, i never had a problem with my snake tank till i brought in tomato plants.

I then didnt get rid of the substrate but baked it along with the wood etc, and cleaned the rest. i didnt see anything for 2 months in the tank. or in my house (only had a few flying in my house, but none anymore they went into my vingar traps i made)

but now i seen babies in the tank of the gnats, so i know that baking didnt kill them... i now got rid of all wood and substrate, and cleaned everything very very very well, i only have her cave, water dish and ceramic pot. and today bought her a foam magnetic shelf, a new heat plastic box and a new fake bark(sorta plasticish)(which doubles, as to aid in her sheding if she needs as its pretty rough like real bark), and am using news paper for substrate and paper towel in her cave, and in the plastic heating box. will do that for about 4 weeks with the news paper till i see everything is clear.

so i think ill be good for a bit, i was going to go with aspen substrat, but because you cant really mist it, im going with this coco or coconut substrate, which doesnt carry bugs or they cant, like my bark can, as per this great reptile store that just opened in my city suggested today.

the other thing, with the topic of my tank being too big, i have no problem with my snake eating when i take her out, and with her shedding, so i believe that when i do start to have a problem, then i will consider change, but untill then, she seems happy, shes alive, her tail isnt flat, and she loves me lol jk... but seriously im not going to go into panic mode till that happens,and niether should anyone else, snakes live in the outside just fine too which is a lot bigger then 4 x2.

All snakes vary in personality, some snakes like a big cage, while some dont. I was just sayin' that it probably is to big, but if he's eating, and having a good shed than thats great for you. Just Sayin';)

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Originally Posted by pink_zombie

ya plus she loves roaming all over the place, personally i see it being better then some people who keep them in those tiny 1ft x 1ft. plastic containers.
already

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You're putting human wants onto a snake. Animals aren't like us. As their owners and caretakers, its OUR responsibility to meet THEIR needs, not apply our wants to them.

Ball pythons are known for doing better in smaller, more cramped and enclosed spaces. Other snakes like corns or boas will take advantage of the space and utilize it. Ball pythons, 99% of the time respond by not eating which is a sign of stress, as is roaming. Ball pythons aren't a roaming species. If you're seeing her moving around all the time she is stressed. They spend most of their time under their hides. The only time they really roam is if they are hungry or its a male looking for a female.

The reason so many people keep them in smaller enclosures than an animal of similar size is because they thrive in them. I've had animals stop eating once i moved them to an enclosure that was too big for them. Moving them back to their older homes stopped that behavior.

Thats not to say that people don't make lavish large enclosures work for BPs--they do, but they know how to meet those animals needs before they go about attempting to do that.

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Originally Posted by cinderbird

You're putting human wants onto a snake. Animals aren't like us. As their owners and caretakers, its OUR responsibility to meet THEIR needs, not apply our wants to them.

Ball pythons are known for doing better in smaller, more cramped and enclosed spaces. Other snakes like corns or boas will take advantage of the space and utilize it. Ball pythons, 99% of the time respond by not eating which is a sign of stress, as is roaming. Ball pythons aren't a roaming species. If you're seeing her moving around all the time she is stressed. They spend most of their time under their hides. The only time they really roam is if they are hungry or its a male looking for a female.

The reason so many people keep them in smaller enclosures than an animal of similar size is because they thrive in them. I've had animals stop eating once i moved them to an enclosure that was too big for them. Moving them back to their older homes stopped that behavior.

Thats not to say that people don't make lavish large enclosures work for BPs--they do, but they know how to meet those animals needs before they go about attempting to do that.

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Thank you for saying that, i was to afraid to say the same thing.