explain the passion (not pc)

This is not pc nor chipper but it is honest.

Explain the passion! Explain it so maybe I can get it.

I wanted the energy of a snake for years....and liked the ball python because it is well...clingy. Then on impulse I bought one 3 years ago. She is a sweet animal, never bites, tolerates handling, and is very very finicky. Yes I knew all that beforehand but still. I am summoned to provide a living sacrifice every week and I do so. But I have to admit, it is not fulfilling.

She is constantly hiding and really does not like being handled though tolerates it well (and yes I guess I knew that ahead of time so no rude lectures please).

But what is the passion? For the veteran BP owners what is it? Because I just don't quite get it. Sweet in a quiet way yes, harmless yes, hidden and prefers to stay in the hide 24/7, yes. Honestly while she is quiet and harmless I am failing to get it, if I need to sacrifice a rat to the snake god every week I would at least like the eye candy of the snake lounging around. I do not enjoy the live feeding bit, I suppose some enjoy that thrill but not me....so help me see the upside as quite honestly if I am going to go through this every week I should have bought boa or other display species that would at least lounge around and be seen even if they don't want to be handled.

the appeal is the eye candy itself for me, I do have a few that will gladly come out and don't care about hiding but most well...they hide. More like living artwork to me than anything.

yeah, um bp's do not make good "display" pets.
if that's something you really want, then i think a GTP (green tree python) would make a better selection...unless i'm wrong, in which if i am then i'll surely be corrected.
personally i would like to see my snake more often too but i'm comfortable with the fact that if hiding 24/7 is what makes my bp happy then i'm all for that.
i'd rather have a happy thriving animal then one that is stressed and not doing well. ;)

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Originally Posted by OhhWatALoser

the appeal is the eye candy itself for me, I do have a few that will gladly come out and don't care about hiding but most well...they hide. More like living artwork to me than anything.

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I have to agree with you. I love all of my BPs. Each one is unique in its own way. I'm not really a "veteran" snake owner as I've only had my normal since last October, but I love them. I used to think I was a dog person until I got my first BP, then I was hooked. I think everything about them is cool. I love the way their scales feel and their different color patterns. Personally I think mine like being held, they are curious and explore their surroundings when I hold them. I love it when Lily perks her head up to look around, it's cute, or when Houdini can't seem to figure out which way is up and ends up with his head upside-down for a minute. I think it's great that they don't care if I'm at work for 10-11 hours and that I don't have to feed them every day or even give them attention every day. I'm indifferent to the fact that they eat rodents, but I love watching them strike. The power they posses is fascinating, but then again that's just me. I strongly believe that snakes are not for everyone, but for me they are the best.

What got me into them?
My fear of snakes LOL, my wife, and the Cali King she wanted.:gj:
Now I am wanting to get into the breeding to see what I can make.
The colors are great, their temperment is perfect for me, and in the short time we have been keeping them I dont know if we could be without them anymore.:confused:

I love holding my dear ball python! They are sweet and beautiful I just love them!

Not everyone wants the same thing out of a pet. There are dog people, cat people, fish people, snake people, etc.! And even within that there are smaller groups..Smaller dogs, athletic dogs, big snakes, little snakes, etc.

Don't try to make the breed fit your needs, it's programed to do what it's programed to do. Just like a pure bred dogs that is bred to perform a high energy task will be more hyper, a ball python that has survived through hiding will be a hider!

It's REALLY hard to fight genetics and instincts! :) I agree, green tree pythons are way better display snakes. Even a corn snake will be out and about more. Know your snake, and know what you want out of it! :D

I dunno, for me, my snakes are fulfilling. Just like my cats and my frog and my other critters!

You should have gotten a cat or dog ;) BPs are boring. They really aren't mobile, loving, caring, or exciting.

I can understand your issue with feeding live, I don't particularly like doing it, but it's so much easier for me than f/t. Most of my snakes would eat f/t but I don't like the extra work, I would much rather have my fun breeding rats and making my own snake food. Feeding live is unfortunately something you have to think long and hard about before you get a snake, not all of them will eat f/t.

As for what intrigued my passion. The genetics are pretty darn cool. I don't know what it is, but breeding and playing with genetics is definitely what interested me most about owning these creatures. Plus the fact that it's super easy to keep these animals in large numbers.

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Originally Posted by purplemuffin

Not everyone wants the same thing out of a pet. There are dog people, cat people, fish people, snake people, etc.! And even within that there are smaller groups..Smaller dogs, athletic dogs, big snakes, little snakes, etc.

It's REALLY hard to fight genetics and instincts! :) I agree, green tree pythons are way better display snakes. Even a corn snake will be out and about more. Know your snake, and know what you want out of it! :D

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Haha...yeah I know. I am a dog lover, moved country and ended up with a rather large canine household due to the scum that dropped a pregnant female off on a country road. Lots of canine energy around here, 110 lb Anatolian plus 3 of the "stray pups" that could not be placed.

I sort of thought I would be trashed for saying the BP thing is not such a good match, bad decisions and irresponsible pet owner accusations. She is well fed it is just...all work and no fun (and I really really do not enjoy the live rat thing, I ignorantly believed she would stay on frozen, as it is the only time i see her active is when I am delivering prey and that quite honestly sickens me, I deliver and try to run out to the porch quick so I don't hear the scream).

Then in a shallow and utterly selfish moment while buying a live rat at the one semi-local pet store I spied a boa. Not hiding, just looking snakey and cold out in the open with his georgious serpentine self. I thought sheesh...if I had to sacrifice and drive and suffer moral anguish to feed alive rat every week I wish I could enjoy the pleasure of eyeing that lovely serpent every day as a reward.

i have always been strangely fascinated with snakes and turtles and really all animals. i think it started for me when i saw how i could scare my sisters and make scream and run away. i have 6 older sisters so that was always fun for me.

this is a creature with no arms or legs but is an extremly mobile and efficient predator. they rely on their surroundings to thermo regulate. snakes have adapted to thrive in most every climate.

ive cared for hundreds of snakes and while there are certain species characteristics there are also the different personalities within each species. ive cared for reticulated pythons that were puppy dog tame and ball pythons that just never seemed to enjoy handling until he drew blood.

reptiles arent supposed to feel love for their owners but if you look around this site youll find that most of us disagree. i understand the biology of reptiles but i have had a snapping turtle that would only relax when i held him. snakes that would bite keepers but never show a single sign of aggression to others.

so if you dont get it thats okay. you seem like a responsible keeper but if you really want a display animal there are dozens out there to choose from. this is just my opinion but i dont think you should get a pet just for show. if you get too bored with your snake ill gladly take him off your hands though! ;)

good luck!

For me, I always just kind of clicked with snakes. I have one memory from when I was 2 years old, and that was petting an albino burmese python at an info show thing. Ever since then I had wanted a snake, and when I was finally allowed to get one for myself I decided on a ball python because of their docile nature and their manageable size. I never wanted to show it off, I just wanted to keep one. Since then I've been expanding my snake collection and I love each species for their different quirks.

The passion was always there, and it just takes a certain kind of person to have the passion. Like cat people/dog people/bird people.

It's just what you said, a passion...just something that appeals to some people. It's not really logical, I suppose.

I love the way they look and the way they lace their bodies around, the smooth and shiny way their scales look and the things they do. I think he's beautiful when he's hunting and how he snaps and coils so quickly. Little snake yawns are the cutest thing ever. I feel like I could explode with happiness every time Java does it.

Additionally, it's kind of fun to have something that everyone finds scary, makes me feel like a fake badass. :P I also like to educate people about them, since there's a lot of misconceptions out there, and having personal experience with them makes it that much more interesting.

I've been this way since I was young and getting a snake really just made it blossom even further. I knew a few people who had snakes, but I don't think that necessarily caused the addiction to them. It's just something that is.

I have friends who are all about cats or melt into a puddle when they see babies, people who can spend a 10-hour day cooking and be the happiest person in the world, people who feel restless and unmotivated without a mountain to climb. For me, it's my snake. Watching him, taking care of him, even tracking his temperatures. None of his care feels like a chore....it occurs to me as more of a compulsion than anything.

I'm not even entirely sure I explained anything at all here. I may have just babbled on like a lovestruck idiot for a bit in the attempt..but there ya go. :)

For me I think it's the individual snake. They all have their own personality, color( oh there are so many) and pattern. They are a mysterious animal. And That's what I love about them. I think I realized my true passion when I hatched out my first clutch. It was amazing to me. To see all of those new little heads poking out of their egg. It was awesome. The genetics that comes out of these snakes is crazy. It mezmorizes me. That's the pull for me I guess.

Well, first, I'm a little mad about reptiles. Just to start with. The first thing I thought was cute as a kid was a rubber dinosaur. My mom was so distraught.

Second, not all ball pythons have the same personality. My first bp isn't clingy---he's squirmy. I take him out and he immediately wants to be someplace else. AND he was a defensive biter for a good year. I was still having fun with him, obviously, because I went and acquired a dozen MORE ball pythons... and some of them were biters, and some of them were completely neurotic and hid all the time. But some of these guys are amazing, wonderful pets. They've all improved with time, frankly--but a few of them seemed to enjoy handling from the first, and they have continued to be AMAZINGLY fun animals to interact with. While Morris is still a squirmy pain in the butt.

Third, well, morphs. It's an addiction, what can I say? You buy two or three, you think you'll be okay just with two breeding pairs of pastels and spiders... and then somehow two years later you've got an extra freezer in your garage so you can store the frozen mice you buy in bulk over the internet.

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Originally Posted by Sonya610

This is not pc nor chipper but it is honest.

Explain the passion! Explain it so maybe I can get it.

I wanted the energy of a snake for years....and liked the ball python because it is well...clingy. Then on impulse I bought one 3 years ago. She is a sweet animal, never bites, tolerates handling, and is very very finicky. Yes I knew all that beforehand but still. I am summoned to provide a living sacrifice every week and I do so. But I have to admit, it is not fulfilling.

She is constantly hiding and really does not like being handled though tolerates it well (and yes I guess I knew that ahead of time so no rude lectures please).

But what is the passion? For the veteran BP owners what is it? Because I just don't quite get it. Sweet in a quiet way yes, harmless yes, hidden and prefers to stay in the hide 24/7, yes. Honestly while she is quiet and harmless I am failing to get it, if I need to sacrifice a rat to the snake god every week I would at least like the eye candy of the snake lounging around. I do not enjoy the live feeding bit, I suppose some enjoy that thrill but not me....so help me see the upside as quite honestly if I am going to go through this every week I should have bought boa or other display species that would at least lounge around and be seen even if they don't want to be handled.

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Maybe you should stick to plants.

Regards,

B

Explain the passion? Thats a tall order. How do you explain attraction, love, contentment, addiction. These things can't really be explained. They need to be felt. In the movie Pretty Woman the character Edward Lewis played by Richard Gere has a line about opera that I think applies to snakes.

"Peoples reactions to opera the first time they see it is very dramatic; they either love it or they hate it. If they love it, they will always love it. If they don't, they may learn to appreciate it, but it will never become part of their soul."

Now it's possible that people could learn to love snakes but the sentiment is more often true than not. I remember loving the first snake I saw. I wanted a ball python the moment I first saw one. Not a burmese, not a retic, but a ball. Now I have one, I don't take him out every day, I don't obsess over him. Sometimes a day or two will go by without seeing him. I can tell you that when I shut down my computer to head off to bed, I spin my chair around and the nights he is looking back at me I smile like a child. Either way, I say goodnight snake then I look to see if my California King snake is up (not my first love but still a love) and say goodnight king snake (I don't name my pets till I have two of the same breed). On that note I will say goodnight. I will submit this post then take my BP out for a few minutes of quality time, he is up and out of his hide, and then head to bed.

I love reptiles. I have since as long as I can remember. I alway wanted a snake but my mom would not allow me in my youth (rat thing). Anyways, now living on my own, I decided to fulfil one of my childhood dreams. I love snakes just like I did as a kid. I love my ball and my corn. I think they are the greatest guys :D

Hello, Fellow Atlanta Resident ;)

Ball Pythons are not for everyone. I know a lot of snake people who find them 'stupid and boring', but that is why they own other snake breeds that are more active.

Personally, I love the BP's chill attitude and general ease of handling. I find them very relaxing. They are also gorgeous to look at. Other snakes species are also quite awesome, and I am slowly expanding my collection into those, but BPs were one of my first loves (after Kenyan Sand Boas, who are even more boring. Ha.)

Have you tried feeding frozen/thawed instead of live if it bothers you so much? Some snakes will readily take it, others may after a little persistence.

Just my .02!

I got hooked on ball pythons back in 2008. I was always fascinated with them and always wanted one. I started out with a common garter snake. I love my hobby and I love my snake as much as I do my cat and dog. It doesn't bother me that I don't see my bp much because I know that this means my snake is secure and happy. Does feeding live bother me, no not particularly. A snake has to eat too. I love handling my snake and I love taking care of him. I find it very relaxing and rewarding.

I love my ball python, and I think everybody has already articulated their thoughts way better than I can, but I could just add one more "practical" thing that isn't really... what you were asking for, since it's more logic than passion. But, just thought I'd throw it in the mix anyway. If I could, I would love to keep a dog. But I can't. I'm a waaaayy too busy graduate student and am often not even in my apartment at all during the weekends. I have to have a low maintenance pet if I'm going to have one at all. The BP is perfect! He doesn't need to be fed every day, doesn't need to be walked, the cage doesn't have to be cleaned every day, and all that kind of stuff. I make sure there's enough water for him before I leave for the weekend, and the feeding and cleaning I take care of when I'm there on the weekdays.

So... I really don't know, this probably doesn't add much to the discussion, sorry :P But for people who have a particular lifestyle it's a great pet. You don't have to devote a part of your day every day to taking care of it... and it'll still be thriving. I guess you could say that other snakes fit this bill as well, and it will be hanging out as a "display" pet and not hiding out like the ball python, and well, I don't really have much to say about that other than the ball pythons have such cute faces, seriously :)

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Originally Posted by coldblooded

Have you tried feeding frozen/thawed instead of live if it bothers you so much? Some snakes will readily take it, others may after a little persistence.

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See that is part of the issue. She was always on frozen and I swore I could never feed live. Then a few months ago that changed, she now absolutely will not touch frozen (she jerks away like a dead rat is repulsive). I broke down and started feeding live which is not only unpleasant but there is only 1 store that sells rats about 30 minutes away (when they have them), so it is make the drive every week or start keeping feeder rats here which I am doing but gosh darn they are so cute it is sad (I no longer live in Atlanta, old profile info, I live in a small town in middle GA).

Plus during her feeding issues I stopped handling her to reduce any stress. I can see how the breeders enjoy them, and the single college student types that want a quiet pet without a lot of upkeep. Maybe some think "display" snake sounds bad, I would just enjoy the beauty of seeing my snake instead of just seeing a little head pop out when hungry, then disappear for another week once she is fed.

I am thinking I will rehome her but I want her to have a stable long term home and not end up as a play toy to adolescent males down the road.

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Originally Posted by Sonya610

See that is part of the issue. She was always on frozen and I swore I could never feed live. Then a few months ago that changed, she now absolutely will not touch frozen (she jerks away like a dead rat is repulsive). I broke down and started feeding live which is not only unpleasant but there is only 1 store that sells rats about 30 minutes away (when they have them), so it is make the drive every week or start keeping feeder rats here which I am doing but gosh darn they are so cute it is sad (I no longer live in Atlanta, old profile info, I live in a small town in middle GA).

Plus during her feeding issues I stopped handling her to reduce any stress. I can see how the breeders enjoy them, and the single college student types that want a quiet pet without a lot of upkeep. Maybe some think "display" snake sounds bad, I would just enjoy the beauty of seeing my snake instead of just seeing a little head pop out when hungry, then disappear for another week once she is fed.

I am thinking I will rehome her but I want her to have a stable long term home and not end up as a play toy to adolescent males down the road.

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It sounds like you went into things with the best intentions and are doing everything you can to give your snake a good home. I think that when you get a snake you should be prepared for the possibility of having to feed live. Feeding F/T certainly has benefits for the snake and the keeper but you are certainly not avoiding death. You only distance yourself from the death. This never made me feel any better. On top of knowing that the rodent was once alive and is now dead because I need to feed my snake, I have seen the breeding conditions of large facilities. Now I am not going to come on here and say that large facilities are cruel or inhumane. Rodents will live like that on their own if given the chance. I just personally feel good giving my feeders more room, cardboard to chew, paper towels to make nests. For me raising my own feeders makes me feel better about their death not worse. I hope you can find a good home for your BP. I would suggest getting a corn snake or similar colubrid if you decide to try again. They tend to be a bit more active and eat F/T a bit easier.

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Originally Posted by Egapal

Now I am not going to come on here and say that large facilities are cruel or inhumane. Rodents will live like that on their own if given the chance. I just personally feel good giving my feeders more room, cardboard to chew, paper towels to make nests. For me raising my own feeders makes me feel better about their death not worse. I hope you can find a good home for your BP. I would suggest getting a corn snake or similar colubrid if you decide to try again. They tend to be a bit more active and eat F/T a bit easier.

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Yeah, the one pet store gets their feeders from a local reptile keeper that breeds their own and sends the extras to the store (they sell out quick). I set up the 3 current feeders in a little tank with a wooden house and give them a bowl full of veggies and some bread or pasta everyday which they seem to love (along with dog kibble). I tell myself at least they are enjoying some good last meals which they probably didn't receive before.

Another local guy has a 6' long tank with multiple hides and a single male. He has had his BP for a few years and said he would be happy to take her. I know keeping two in the same enclosure is not ideal, but with multiple hides and water dishes in a huge tank I wonder if it would be okay.

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Originally Posted by Sonya610

Another local guy has a 6' long tank with multiple hides and a single male. He has had his BP for a few years and said he would be happy to take her. I know keeping two in the same enclosure is not ideal, but with multiple hides and water dishes in a huge tank I wonder if it would be okay.

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It is possible BUT I didnt have as much luck with it. Our first two were runts till they each got their own home;);)

I won't hijack but search that on here. Keeping bps in the same enclosure. Many things come into play, I'd search for a home that's all his and his only. 