Re: Getting a ball python, have a few questions
Quote:
Originally Posted by GA_Ball_Pythons
An adult will not requier anything larger than a 30 gallons tank, however if you get a baby you need to start with a small tank (10 gallons). BP are very shy and more prone to stress than other snakes.
This is something that I do not understand. These are wild animals and the world is a tad bigger than 10 gallons. Are we saying all wild BP's are stressed out all the time or is this an example of esoteric needs that people project on their beloved pets?
Re: Getting a ball python, have a few questions
Quote:
Originally Posted by jwarriner
This is something that I do not understand. These are wild animals and the world is a tad bigger than 10 gallons. Are we saying all wild BP's are stressed out all the time or is this an example of esoteric needs that people project on their beloved pets?
No wild BP's spend the majority of their time in a burrow in the ground or a termite mound/burrow, where they feel very secure. They are nocturnal and come out at night when they feel less vulnerable. Thats why imitating that with a small enclosure makes then feel secure.
Re: Getting a ball python, have a few questions
My understanding is that even in the expanse of the wild, these snakes will seek out small animal burrows, etc. for safety. Providing them small hides in small cages within reason is an effort to mimick this safety they seek.
Speaking from experience, my snake started shedding, eating, and defecating regularly once I provided her appropriate hides and good husbandry.
Edit: 1 minute too slow!
Re: Getting a ball python, have a few questions
If you want to save $ I would buy a tub from Target or Walmart(size depends on size of snake,a 32 quart will last a long time), go to the 99 cents store and get three plastic bowls one for water and flip the other two over and make a cut out opening for hide entry. While at Walmart also pick up a digital thermometer/humidity gage.
You are also going to need a heat source which could be a stick on one from pet store or flexwatt heat tape and a thermostat to control it. I started with a cheap pet store ones that were VERY inaccurate, after replacing 3 of those I got a Ranco which works fine.
For what you pay for one hide at a pet store you could buy three bowls at the 99 cents store(or Dollar tree) and still have $ left over :cool:
Re: Getting a ball python, have a few questions
Quote:
is this an example of esoteric needs that people project on their beloved pets?
No it's not.
Ball Pythons do better in smaller enclosures.
To understand this you must look into how Ball Pythons spend their life in the wild. (I can recommend you some good reading for that ;) ).
Security is key for Ball Pythons. A Ball Python placed in an oversized enclosure will be show signs of stress that are not always recognized by an inexperience owners, such as aggressive behavior, going off feed etc.
Re: Getting a ball python, have a few questions
Quote:
Originally Posted by West Coast Jungle
No wild BP's spend the majority of their time in a burrow in the ground or a termite mound/burrow, where they feel very secure.
Isn't this what hides are for?
I'm only trying to be slightly argumentative here, I am willing to listen. It's just that I fail to see how big giant world+termite mound will stress a BP less than, say, 75gallon tank+multiple hides.
Re: Getting a ball python, have a few questions
I think it is kind of hard for people to grasp the tub idea. Considering we are a pet loving country. A huge population owns dogs as well as many other animals that need stimulation and they need space. BP's are some of the only pets that can live like this successfully. I think people have a hard time changing the ideas that have been pounded into theirs heads their whole life. My :twocents:
Re: Getting a ball python, have a few questions
Quote:
Originally Posted by jwarriner
Isn't this what hides are for?
How often are they out of their hides? Most of the time they are in their hides EVEN at night. Just because they are nocturnal doesn't mean they go out every night. They also dont hunter every week. They pretty much let food come to them. In the wild BP's only eat a few times a year.
Re: Getting a ball python, have a few questions
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brimstone111888
How often are they out of their hides? Most of the time they are in their hides EVEN at night. Just because they are nocturnal doesn't mean they go out every night. They also dont hunter every week. They pretty much let food come to them. In the wild BP's only eat a few times a year.
Doesn't that support my point?
The other thing is that it's probably easier to control the temps, and have a nice gradient, in a larger enclosure.
Re: Getting a ball python, have a few questions
Something I recently thought about was buying an extremely large tank/display cage for a BP and bordering off a "room" in it for him to spend most of his time in while allowing a very large area for exploring which would be accesible by a few small holes in the "room." I think it would be interesting to see if he ventured out of his "room" and into the larger part of the enclosure. Now this would obviously take ALOT of effort and thought to put together, but I think it'd be absolutely awesome. I highly doubt I'll ever do it, but it's something to think about. :cool:
For the original poster,
I have a 10 gallon aquarium for my baby BP. When I move him into a larger enclosure I'm going to spend the money for a nice diplay enclosure which will hold heat/humdity better. I would highly reccomend against the 55 gallon based on the fact that it'll be very difficult to maintain proper heat/humidity (even the 10 gallon isn't all that simple). Larger enclosures(regardless of the type) will require alot of "stuff" so there isn't alot of open space. Either way welcome to the obssesive compulsive BP Nation :salute:
