New guy here!!

haha thanks for he heads up! I know how addictions go, well the good ones i mean haha i started with i tattoo (ironically of a king cobra) and now have 9 lol

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Originally Posted by Juan89

Thanks for the replies! You guys are awesome! I will have plenty of questions as im new to the world of repltile companions haha what big precautions should be taken with them, specially when they are young?

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When they are young they tend to be a little more skittish. The most important thing with a baby <or a bp of any age> is making it feel secure. Offering 2 hides, one on the hot side, one on the cool will help as a hiding ball python is a happy one. Wide open spaces will make them nervous so you want to clutter the tank <or tub in your case it seems> so he or she thinks you can't see it when it does come out. Some use newspaper, others use vines and leaves for a more natural look. In the case of a tub, newspaper will probably be easier.

Handling? Once you get him or her all set up and temps/humidity is correct, leave it alone for about a week. This settling time will make it more comfy and ready to eat. I'd try to feed it once before you bring him or her out. Leave him alone for 2 days after that. Once ready, slow steady movements, avoid coming at him from above and you might want to avoid his head/face. Loud rooms will scare him, their immediate defense is to roll themselves into a ball. LOL, I had my girl out once and the man didn't know it and let my 6 month old Golden Retriever in. Poor snake, scared the heck out of her.

Oh and always have a camera ready for that inevitable bite that will no doubt result in a massive gushing wound that will require stitches and possible amputation from such a devastating and life threatening booboo. :P

I would actually recommend not getting a baby but rather an adult or subadult with some size. Yes, you can't watch them grow up, but bigger snakes are generally more even-tempered (babies tend to react defensively to anything and everything because they're so small and unsure) and are more forgiving with newer owners, at least as far as husbandry goes. I started out with a 100 gram hatchling, but I also lurked here for about 9 months so I was confident I knew what I was getting into with a baby. I would recommend a female that's at least 500 grams. Female because it's fairly inevitable you're going to want more and possibly to breed so when/if you ever get a male, you'll already have a girl that's up to size and you're not waiting around for a baby to grow up. 500 grams because they're not a baby baby but they're still small enough that you feel good watching them get bigger and bigger.

I agree with the previous post. My baby is way more skittish. Nagini is 7 years old. I can lay her in bed with me and she will "snuggle" up to my body and lay there for hours. Dude is only a few months old. He will lay there for a few mins and then want to explore (ie. look for an escape). Although I have no problems with Dude eating, babies can be a finicky eaters. I wasn't really aware of that in the beginning, but I got lucky. Do your research and if you have the patience either will work. ;)

Wow! Thanks for the great info! I had no idea weight and anything in that aspect would be anything to even think ok!

I def. will. Its why im here! Haha i thought who better to ask then curren owners. Like i said as much as i fell in love after holding her i wont get one untill i know as much as possible so i can give it the best home.

My babygurl Nagini <sorry, yup... we share a name even though you had it first. hope you don't mind.> is an amazing girl. She's only about 4 months old and is about 175gr now but very docile and eats like a champ. This may not be others experiences. I wanted a baby specifically, love watching her grow. She has never once even tried to strike at me. Babies will likely be more curious when taken out to explore, I don't see this as a downside. It's fun. One who didn't would be like a puppy that doesn't play... boring.

I second the notion of getting an older animal if you can. I got my first one when he was 500g and he's always been a big puppy dog. I got my other one when she was a hatchling, and I'm not sure if its her age/size or just her general temperament, but I've been bitten more times than I'd care to admit lol. Don't let that turn you off balls though. Bites don't really hurt, just very surprising pinpricks :) She's super feisty, but is definitely calming down.

Yea the bite part is not really a concern for me at all, just since itl be my first, i want to get something right size and temperment and specially one that will eat! N be more forgiving of a new owner. I like the baby because like mentioned befoe id love to watch it grow but one already a little grown dosent sound too bad either

Juan89, Im also from the chicagoland area so I know this area very well. I also belong to the Chicago Herp Society and work the Reptile Fest every year! If you are looking into a new scaled friend , I would suggest going to the Scott Smith All Animal Expo. It is held twice a month at the Dupage county fair grounds. Here is the address...2015 Manchester road, Wheaton IL. next show dates are Sunday Aug. 18, Sat. Sept. 7 ,Sun Sept 15. etc. Its open from 10am-3pm and has a $5.00 cover, BUT the place has everything you could ever want and more , from animals to cages, to supplies to feeders. ( this is where I buy all my feeder rats from and let me tell you I save a fortune as apposed to buying from the big box stores! I could not afford to own all the reptiles I do if it wasnt for the fact I get a great price from here. You are lucky to live in an area that has MANY shows like this so its virtually a reptile Buffet! Remember what the other members were saying about addictions!!!!!!!! lol.:snake: