Good Beginner Snake???

You know, I've had my snake for nearly a year now.

I got him after doing nearly a years worth of research, much of it done on this page.

He has never missed a meal. His sheds are almost always in one piece. He is a remarkably healthy, handsome boy, and I love him to pieces.

And despite all of the things I have to do, to see to it that he's so healthy, he's got to be one of the easiest pets I've ever had to care for. My fish are more time consuming than he is, when it comes to care.

He feeds live, is never picky, and tonight ate like a champ.

I think that while BPs definitely require some starting research, once you've got the knack for it? You're good to go. I definitely consider them awesome beginner snakes.

It's not a chain store, and I have some flexibility with how I take care of the reptiles and deal with customers, as long as the boss approves.

The thing is, most people aren't going to do the *correct* amount of research. Until I discovered this website I never knew a ball python should be kept in a tub, never knew I should have a digital thermometer/hygrometer and a thermostat. Now these have become mandatory in my mind. When I try to tell people how I have my bps set up, they just stare at me like "what the hell are you on, I'm not going to spend that much money!". People may be willing to spend over $1000 on a puppy, but want to cheap out on a snake, that will live LONGER than the dog! Ugh.

I agree that once you get the right set up, it's easy. But I've been through all the problems that are possible, and I don't want to see it happen to someone else because they are too cheap or too lazy to get it right.

Hey Bug Lady!
All I can say is "Amen Sister"! My first snake was a corn because it was a great beginner snake. Then I adopted a rosy boa. I recently got a ball python from a rescue group. Needless to say, before I brought home each one, I did my research. I am a vet assistant and we see exotics as well as dogs and cats. I can't tell you how many times clients have come in with snakes, iguanas, lizards, mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, etc that are half dead just because the client has not done the proper research before buying these animals and the pet stores have not taken the time to educate the owners before the sale. It just breaks my heart these poor creatures are put in a cage without the proper nutrition or environment. The pet stores, small
and large, are out there to make a buck at the suffering and expense of the animals they sell. I think these sales should be outlawed. I totally understand your frustration, as I have a hard time dealing with some of our undereducated irresponsible clients. You just have to bite your tongue and hope for the best. I'm just glad someone else out there feels the way I do.

You know, what "good beginner snake" means can vary from person to person. To some people, that means a snake that's not nippy. To others, it means a snake that's easy to care for. To others, it means a snake that can't kill you.

I think the best think you can do is simply educate the people you talk to and pay attention to what they are looking for. Certainly, if they like the snake they got they are going to be much more motivated to take good care of it. Some people may really like the laid back nature of BP's while others may be thinking "what do you mean he spends most of his time in his hide?!?!?!".

By educate, I mean spend the short time you have with them to tell them the most important things. when I got my BP the guy chose to spend all his time telling why F/T was better than live. Not really the top of the list is it? Also, make sure you open their eyes to further learning. Having little peices of paper with www.ball-pythons.net written on it is a great idea. IMO, business cards are more likely to attract negative attention from owners.

On top of that all I can say is be realistic. If you are overly sensitive to the situation, or succomb to the villianization of pet stores, you will most likely deprive yourself of the chance to really help.

Like you said, they have BP's in packed together but they are healthy. The same is true at the exotics store I frequent. But, these guys aren't stupid - they know what is really necessary to keep the animal healthy. They don't pack all the snakes together like that - only baby balls. But they turn baby bp's over so fast that those little guys spend very little time in those conditions. I got mine from a cage with prolly 20 others and he's great. Other snakes are really cramped but - you know what? - these guys will do almost anything to take an unwanted snake in. They take in rescues all the time. To summarize, many of the setups they have in the store there would draw all sorts of criticisms from members here. I know the animals in there aren't in the best of conditions but they are all healthy. I also know the people in there pretty well and they aren't sickos bent on torturing animals.

Ultimately, you can't prevent mistreatment of pets you can only help prevent it. If you're OK with living with that then just do the best you can with the time you have and let it go. That's all you can do.

Ben

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bearhart

You know, what "good beginner snake" means can vary from person to person. To some people, that means a snake that's not nippy. To others, it means a snake that's easy to care for. To others, it means a snake that can't kill you.

Ben

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Excellent point. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bearhart

You know, what "good beginner snake" means can vary from person to person. To some people, that means a snake that's not nippy. To others, it means a snake that's easy to care for. To others, it means a snake that can't kill you.

I think the best think you can do is simply educate the people you talk to and pay attention to what they are looking for. Certainly, if they like the snake they got they are going to be much more motivated to take good care of it. Some people may really like the laid back nature of BP's while others may be thinking "what do you mean he spends most of his time in his hide?!?!?!".

By educate, I mean spend the short time you have with them to tell them the most important things. when I got my BP the guy chose to spend all his time telling why F/T was better than live. Not really the top of the list is it? Also, make sure you open their eyes to further learning. Having little peices of paper with www.ball-pythons.net written on it is a great idea. IMO, business cards are more likely to attract negative attention from owners.

On top of that all I can say is be realistic. If you are overly sensitive to the situation, or succomb to the villianization of pet stores, you will most likely deprive yourself of the chance to really help.

Like you said, they have BP's in packed together but they are healthy. The same is true at the exotics store I frequent. But, these guys aren't stupid - they know what is really necessary to keep the animal healthy. They don't pack all the snakes together like that - only baby balls. But they turn baby bp's over so fast that those little guys spend very little time in those conditions. I got mine from a cage with prolly 20 others and he's great. Other snakes are really cramped but - you know what? - these guys will do almost anything to take an unwanted snake in. They take in rescues all the time. To summarize, many of the setups they have in the store there would draw all sorts of criticisms from members here. I know the animals in there aren't in the best of conditions but they are all healthy. I also know the people in there pretty well and they aren't sickos bent on torturing animals.

Ultimately, you can't prevent mistreatment of pets you can only help prevent it. If you're OK with living with that then just do the best you can with the time you have and let it go. That's all you can do.

Ben

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Yep, you are right Ben. What may be a good beginner snake for one person may not be a good one for someone else. I just meant a corn is relatively easy to maintain environment wise and it has a docile temperment. Plus it remains fairly small when it reaches adulthood, mostly long but not very big around. I guess you could say it is less intimidating than some of the larger snakes.

For me it's been a good beginner snake although I've only had a BP for about a month now. He got me over my wariness of snakes and so far he's been extremely docile. Every time a mouse is offered he eats it within a minute, and the only reason he had a bad shed was because of my ignorance on the importance of humidity. I didn't do any research beyond listening to my brother's advice of how to set up his tank (get a hiding place, plants, something to rub against, substrate, big water bowl for soaking, etc etc) and to feed him once a week. It would have greatly helped me if I had researched more beforehand, but so far the experience has been very good, to the point where I'm considering adding a second one next summer. I've been reading this forum much more than posting and it's given me a lot of good info.

I think they make great beginner snakes, but then again, I've never had another kind of snake.

My BP was my first snake, but not my first herp. I've had leo's BD's and my panther chameleon before i ever got my first snake, and as far as husbandry complexity goes, they're are an excellent first snake. IMO i think that it depends on the persons experience of keeping reptiles that should determine how 'easy' or difficult any herp is to care for. I'm sure that If I started out with a BP, that at first it would seem extremely difficult to maintain the correct husbandry requirements. But with dealing with several other species of reptiles, you learn little 'tricks of the trade' and, and learn what can and can't be applied to one species or the other. But ya.. I'm pretty much rambeling on now, lol.