Brand new to snankes and this forum :)

If you do in fact decide the ball python isn't for you, best to call the pet store immediately to find out what their return policy is, each is different. As well, rather than jumping into another snake, perhaps a credit from the store that will give you time to better research, prepare and decide which snake would suit you best before bringing it home.

If you decide to keep this baby ball, there is tons of information on the caresheet as well as the combined experience on this forum to help you quickly get up to speed and get that baby settled in properly.

Best of luck. Please let us know if there's anything we can do to assist.


~~Joanna~~

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Do not put holes in the lid.

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Rut Roh!!!! I already did that for the girls that are coming in a few weeks! Three vertical rows on the lid (a row down the middle and a rowd down each side).

But, I guess what I like about the plastic tubs is that you can always cover up holes if needed, or they're so affordable, just buy another and try again! LOL

Oh man, where are my manners? Welcome to the forum, you've come to the right place for information on caring for your new baby, should you choose to keep him or her. I think he's a beautiful baby, but he also looks a little overwhelmed with all that floor space and only one hide.


If you do decide to keep him and also keep him in that enclosure, fill it up with hides and foilage, or even better, lots of loosely crumpled newspaper until he gets settled. The newspaper will give him more of a sense of security to move throughout the viv when he needs to thermo-regulate himself.

Five feet does sound like a lot, but the thing that attracted me to ball pythons is that they are a smaller python (and to me, one of the most beautiful snakes there are - I have no desire (at least not yet) to own any other species of snake). Five feet stretched out is long, but know that most balls can comfortably live in the equivalant size enclosure as a 30 gallon aquarium for life. They aren't giant snakes (like burmese pythons, anacondas and such).

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. If you decide to keep him, be sure to ask questions. My motto - the only stupid question is the question that isn't asked!

Once again- Welcome!

nah dude dont go sellin him. i have a BP, dimebag, and if your freakin out because you think hes gonna get too big... don't. they're very docile animals and do like lots of hides and foliage to hide behind. and you dont allways have to buy straight from the pet store. this is what i did... for foliage i ordered some fake plants from the flower shop, which works out a hell of a lot cheaper than the pet stores and they are exactly the same, ask for nice variations or small amounts of different plants. you will get away with paying $10 for the equivillent of a tenth of the flowers you would get for that price at the pet store. and instead of buying a new hide. go for a walk in the woods and get some sturdy, but not bulky branches and build them up nicely around the cage to make whats called a "jungle gym" not too many so that you can't see him but just enough so as you can dangle plants and stuff. BUT, before putting those branches in their, bake them in an oven over some tinfoil on a tray for around an hour or so, but keep an eye so they dont get black... not too hot. this will kill all bugs and external parasites that might make your snake sick. you can also do the same for an extra hide, but if your baking a hollow rock or a cement half pipe, make sure its not been wet and is dry, otherwise it could explode when baking it, lol. you also want a bigger waterbowl, eventually, once you start finding out about humidity and stuff that will become clear but sometimes if he wants to have a little soak he can. nothing too big but like maybe an inch and a half of water and about four inches diameter. a thermometer is a must, get a good one with a probe and digital display. you want his temps to vary from one side to the other. one side should have a basking temperature of around 84-88degrees farrenhieght and a cooler side of around 76-80 degress farrenhieght. this is so he can thermoregulate, which is like if he wants to cool down he goes to the cool side, and vice versa. generally then be creative with his enclosure. dont touch him and annoy him for at least two week unless picking out soiled substrate or changing water. his water should be changed every day, or it is a risk to its health. you have to remember your producing a little bit of africa in your room, so respect that, and you'l be fine. and after like two weeks, handle him every other day in phases of 20 minutes, and you'll begin to realise your choice of pet was not a bad choice at all!! although dont overhandle him. build it up to around a maximum of an hour every other day for the first month. but remember leave him alone for the first two weeks and you'll appreciate it when he doesn't get sick or unwilling to be himself. even if your friends want to see him... i know i know... but just be patient, patience is a virtue when keeping a snake.



ok woow. just search around for addition info to this. but this should be enough to keep you busy and the snake happy for a while and shouldn't take too much time, and no money if you use the bake theory.



glad to be of assistance, Steve

oh.. send us some pics when its you get that stuff done. cant wait to see um.


KEEP UR BALL!!