Help give me a crash course on ball pythons

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

The concept of "get a beginners snake first" or even "yes, you can get a 5 foot enclosure for your baby ball python, all you need to do is clutter it up" are both two extremes that I don't agree with.

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So I admit cluttering was something I was wondering about.

I'm planning on getting an AP enclosure (T5 or T11/T12) and using the divider so baby ball gets half of the cage to start with then graduates to the whole cage when fully grown. I was thinking of overcrowding the half cage to help with security. If I go with the 36 length (T5) I'm not as worried about the enclosure half being too big, but I'm starting to lean towards the 48 length ones (T11 and T12), which I'm not sure when halved, if a 24 x 24 x 18/24 would be too big for it. Would cluttering it up be an acceptable approach on this situation? Perhaps adding extra hides?

Would covering the glass viewing side (but not cover any ventilation) also help with not having the bp feel overly exposed? Maybe that way I can slowly expose more and more of the viewing glass so bp baby gradually gets used to the idea that there is another world beyond the cage? Or am I overthinking this?

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Wow thank you all for the alarming amount of support and positivity guys! This is super encouraging and reassuring. I'll be looking forward to sharing my snake day with everyone! I'll most likely run my check list and enclosure set up with you guys first :p

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Originally Posted by MissterDog

So I admit cluttering was something I was wondering about.

I'm planning on getting an AP enclosure (T5 or T11/T12) and using the divider so baby ball gets half of the cage to start with then graduates to the whole cage when fully grown. I was thinking of overcrowding the half cage to help with security. If I go with the 36 length (T5) I'm not as worried about the enclosure half being too big, but I'm starting to lean towards the 48 length ones (T11 and T12), which I'm not sure when halved, if a 24 x 24 x 18/24 would be too big for it. Would cluttering it up be an acceptable approach on this situation? Perhaps adding extra hides?

Would covering the glass viewing side (but not cover any ventilation) also help with not having the bp feel overly exposed? Maybe that way I can slowly expose more and more of the viewing glass so bp baby gradually gets used to the idea that there is another world beyond the cage? Or am I overthinking this?

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Wow thank you all for the alarming amount of support and positivity guys! This is super encouraging and reassuring. I'll be looking forward to sharing my snake day with everyone! I'll most likely run my check list and enclosure set up with you guys first :p

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The reason a big enclosure is not usually recommended for baby ball pythons, particularly with first time snake owners, is that it can be hard to get the "level of clutter" and hides right. Baby balls can be much more difficult than adults with getting them to eat, so there's much more room for error and thus baby ball refusing food.

But with the amount of research you seem to be doing, if you really want to start out with a T5/T11 and halving it, it could all go perfectly fine haha. If not, you should be willing to switch to a small tub setup and start from basics.

Main notes for a big setup for baby ball is to getting the right sized small hides with a small opening, put the hides everywhere and facing dark directions, put in branches and stuff for additional hiding, and stuffing a bunch of these big leafy vines in to fill in the "height". You could probably buy two of these: https://www.amazon.com/Flukers-Repta...s=reptile+vine

The leaves from those vines will provide top cover. All in all, make it so that you can't even find your baby ball if you're watching from outside. LOL

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

The reason a big enclosure is not usually recommended for baby ball pythons, particularly with first time snake owners, is that it can be hard to get the "level of clutter" and hides right. Baby balls can be much more difficult than adults with getting them to eat, so there's much more room for error and thus baby ball refusing food.

But with the amount of research you seem to be doing, if you really want to start out with a T5/T11 and halving it, it could all go perfectly fine haha. If not, you should be willing to switch to a small tub setup and start from basics.

Main notes for a big setup for baby ball is to getting the right sized small hides with a small opening, put the hides everywhere and facing dark directions, put in branches and stuff for additional hiding, and stuffing a bunch of these big leafy vines in to fill in the "height". You could probably buy two of these: https://www.amazon.com/Flukers-Repta...s=reptile+vine

The leaves from those vines will provide top cover. All in all, make it so that you can't even find your baby ball if you're watching from outside. LOL

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Excellent! Those are the details I needed to know so thank you so much for sharing! I'm hoping starting with the T5/11 will work out but if not I'll have the tub enclosure prepared as a plan b. Will probably ask for two Flexwatt's just in case, figure having an extra available as a backup/replacement would be a good idea regardless of the tub.

How small would you recommend the openings for hides to be? I'm not sure how fast a male baby bp will grow so would he ever get stuck? I'm hoping by then I'd notice baby has gotten bigger and I can just replace it with a bigger hide.

Also do you know how well suction cups stick to AP's walls?

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Originally Posted by Kira

I guess some people like to act high and mighty about how you have to "work up to" ball pythons. Like you said, research is key. I absolutely adore my ball python and I'm glad that I didn't listen to people who made it seem like I HAD to have a corn or king snake before "moving up" to ball pythons.

I follow your blog! It's cool to see your beautiful collection of snakes :)

@OP:

Feel free to ask anything else! Keep doing your research and I am confident that you will raise a healthy snake.

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Thank you Kira! Your success is a huge inspiration to me so it means a lot that you're being so honest and encouraging. I'm determined not to let any of you down!

P.s - just followed your blog! Hello fellow gamer! Vodkavulpix is the cutest name!

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Originally Posted by MissterDog

Thank you Kira! Your success is a huge inspiration to me so it means a lot that you're being so honest and encouraging. I'm determined not to let any of you down!

P.s - just followed your blog! Hello fellow gamer! Vodkavulpix is the cutest name!

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Feel free to message me directly if you need anything! I'm no expert since I've only had my ball python for about 3 weeks but I've done lots of research so she is doing great! I'm sure that your snake will do just fine :) Do you have a morph in mind?

Aww thanks so much!! I just picked my favorite alcohol and my favorite pokemon! Yay fellow gamer!!

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Originally Posted by Kira

Feel free to message me directly if you need anything! I'm no expert since I've only had my ball python for about 3 weeks but I've done lots of research so she is doing great! I'm sure that your snake will do just fine :) Do you have a morph in mind?

Aww thanks so much!! I just picked my favorite alcohol and my favorite pokemon! Yay fellow gamer!!

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Morphs are a toughie! I'm currently torn between Super Mojave, Mystic Potion or a Piebald/pied combo! Those are the main three I'm interested in most but I swear every day I find another morph I like lol

I still need to play Pokémon Sun and Moon! I admit Vulpix is also one of my favs so I was super hyped when Alolan Vulpix became a thing hehe. And omg I just realized you named your ball Winry! As in Winry from FMA right?

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Originally Posted by MissterDog

Morphs are a toughie! I'm currently torn between Super Mojave, Mystic Potion or a Piebald/pied combo! Those are the main three I'm interested in most but I swear every day I find another morph I like lol

I still need to play Pokémon Sun and Moon! I admit Vulpix is also one of my favs so I was super hyped when Alolan Vulpix became a thing hehe. And omg I just realized you named your ball Winry! As in Winry from FMA right?

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Oh I love Mystic Potions! That would probably be my next morph. There's so many gorgeous morphs so I understand finding it difficult to settle on just one!

I finished Sun and Moon in January I think. It's fun! A bit too hand-holdy but still an enjoyable game. Yep! Winry from Fullmetal Alchemist! She's smart and beautiful so I think it suits my snake well.

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Originally Posted by MissterDog

Excellent! Those are the details I needed to know so thank you so much for sharing! I'm hoping starting with the T5/11 will work out but if not I'll have the tub enclosure prepared as a plan b. Will probably ask for two Flexwatt's just in case, figure having an extra available as a backup/replacement would be a good idea regardless of the tub.

How small would you recommend the openings for hides to be? I'm not sure how fast a male baby bp will grow so would he ever get stuck? I'm hoping by then I'd notice baby has gotten bigger and I can just replace it with a bigger hide.

Also do you know how well suction cups stick to AP's walls?

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I'd make it easy and get reptilebasics hides. The small hide box fits a baby BP for a couple months at least, and I'd get four of them for your cage size- http://www.reptilebasics.com/small-hide-box

You can order a couple mediums too for when your bp grows bigger.

No worries, they won't get stuck :) Their bodies are smooth and they can slide themselves in or out of anywhere LOL

Ideally, a hide should have one opening that should be just small enough (or slightly bigger) for the snake's body to slide through, and the snake can hide itself completely inside.

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Originally Posted by MissterDog

I'll be honest that a ball python will be my first snake (only have cats and betta fish).

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MisterDog doesn't own a dog? whoa! :O mind blown.

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Originally Posted by MissterDog

Morphs are a toughie! I'm currently torn between Super Mojave, Mystic Potion or a Piebald/pied combo! Those are the main three I'm interested in most but I swear every day I find another morph I like lol

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any BP crash course should be prefaced with - Warning! BP's are addictive! i bet u will own all 3 morphs at some point. gotta catch 'em all! ;)

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Originally Posted by Ax01

MisterDog doesn't own a dog? whoa! :O mind blown.



any BP crash course should be prefaced with - Warning! BP's are addictive! i bet u will own all 3 morphs at some point. gotta catch 'em all! ;)

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Funny story!

There was a time where my husband and I were planning to, and "Misster dog" was actually the name we were going to give her. But we realized our living conditions/lifestyle were not ideal for a dog, especially a German shepherd. We could have made it work but it wouldn't have been fair to the dog at all. So sadly we had to be honest with ourselves and decided to wait on the dog, (man I still have a TON of books lol) which lead to the kitties and betta fish. And now (or soon I hope!) ball python(s????) :D

There are already too many morphs I've fallen in love with so I guess we'll see how long I can resist! Lol And here I thought my Pokémon days were slowing down.