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Hey All!!!

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  • 03-22-2012, 01:08 AM
    UrbanSlayer
    Hey All!!!
    I just registered and am hoping I can get some help from some experienced owners.


    I am currently a 22 y.o. college student and I am looking at purchasing a Ball Python sometime around August and I am looking for info as to whether or not this is something I can do. As you can imagine I have class for a couple hours most days and a part time job, so I don't know if this would affect owning one as I intend to handle it quite often.

    This would be the first snake I have ever owned and some older friends of mine and my parents have said that they are a great starter snake and are fun to own. I am also looking for some recommendations on a book I could buy to give me some tips towards the care and health of a Python. I provided a link below to the one that I am looking at now.

    http://www.amazon.com/Ball-Pythons-C...hu-rd_add_1_dp

    Hope you guys can help me, glad to be part of the community.
  • 03-22-2012, 01:11 AM
    Simple Man
    Re: Hey All!!!
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by UrbanSlayer View Post
    I just registered and am hoping I can get some help from some experienced owners.


    I am currently a 22 y.o. college student and I am looking at purchasing a Ball Python sometime around August and I am looking for info as to whether or not this is something I can do. As you can imagine I have class for a couple hours most days and a part time job, so I don't know if this would affect owning one as I intend to handle it quite often.

    This would be the first snake I have ever owned and some older friends of mine and my parents have said that they are a great starter snake and are fun to own. I am also looking for some recommendations on a book I could buy to give me some tips towards the care and health of a Python. I provided a link below to the one that I am looking at now.

    http://www.amazon.com/Ball-Pythons-C...hu-rd_add_1_dp

    Hope you guys can help me, glad to be part of the community.

    First... :welcome:

    Second... That's awesome that you're doing some research BEFORE buying the snake. Most people have it backwards and buy and then do some research.

    Lastly... I don't think you need a book :) This and other forums will provide you all the info you need. It's a pretty good community and there are countless threads that will provide the info that you need. Just try searching and reading the stickied threads on the different forum sub sections.

    Regards,

    B
  • 03-22-2012, 01:21 AM
    Jeo123
    Quite honestly, this forum will be more useful to you than any book. Check out the caresheets on here for setting up the tank.

    BP's in general are pretty non-agressive(mine's never struck at me even when I've startled her accidently) which makes them good starter snakes. About the only downside is that they're known to be picky eaters and will sometimes go months without food(mine just ate for the first time since October). Not saying it's a reason not to get one, just giving you the heads up now in case it happens to you.

    Other than setup and food, they don't require too much effort to care for. Some of the big things to note though:
    1. Don't use heat rocks, Under the Tank Heaters(UTH) are ideal
    2. Always hook a UTH up to a thermostat. Without something to turn it off automatically, they can reach 140*F
    3. Humidity can be tough to keep up if you use heat lamps. With my lamps off, humidity will naturally go to around 70%, if I leave them on, it drops to around 20%.
    4. Buy a tempgun, scale, and tongs. Tempguns are relatively cheap and are great for checking surface temperature(different from air temp), scales are great for determining how big your food should be. Digital Kitchen scales work great and can be found at target or similiar stores. Tongs will make sure you never get accidently bit, when a snake smells food and your hand is giving off heat, it makes your hand a very tempting target
  • 03-22-2012, 01:33 AM
    UrbanSlayer
    Re: Hey All!!!
    Thanks for all the quick replies. My main concern is making sure the python stays at the proper temperature, as I live in Iowa and the temperature is hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Also I am not too concerned about the temperamental eating habits, I would assume that if you offer them food and they dont take it, then to just try again in a week or two and see what happens?

    Thanks again for all the replies so far and any others I keep getting.
  • 03-22-2012, 01:35 AM
    UrbanSlayer
    Also, another thing I wondered was whether or not Ball Pythons are really expensive. I was told by a gentleman today that they cost 600 and up, and from what I am seeing that is not true, unless I am missing something, and like I said I am new to all this. I am seeing them from 75-150 bucks. I am not a big stickler on the price, but 600 is quite a bit.
  • 03-22-2012, 01:59 AM
    UrbanSlayer
    Re: Hey All!!!
    Sorry for so many replies, but one last big concern of mine is that I have two cats who are both very friendly, but one of them is a Bengal and as those who know Bengals, she can be slightly more curious than others. The other is a 20lb Maine Coon and is lazier than hell. Neither have front claws and I would not plan on having "play sessions" for either the snake or the cats. I would keep the python in its cage when I am not around and I would figure the cats would be around when handling the python. So I guess what I am asking is whether or not it is safe for both the cats and the Python concerning handling and the scent of the cat.
  • 03-22-2012, 02:12 AM
    Ashleigh91
    Re: Hey All!!!
    You can definitely get Normal ball pythons for a really low price, 75 and lower depending on your area, but if you want a different colour morph then the prices range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand.

    As far as the cats go, I have 2 cats as well. My bp has never reacted to the scent of them, and they've come up and sniffed him. If you're going to have a tank/screen top, you might want to have it in a place that you can close off from the cats when you're not home. I'm investing in PVC caging ASAP because my "curious" cats like to sit on the screen when I leave = / My cats are only 10 lbs, but as they get bigger it'll be a problem.

    Also, if you have a thermostat it's not hard to keep the temperatures good season to season. I live in Northern Ontario, Canada... so we have quite the temperature swings here too :D

    Edit: I'm sure many people who are far more experienced than myself will chime in. But you'll pick everything up really quickly by being a part of the forum.
  • 03-22-2012, 02:31 AM
    Vypyrz
    Re: Hey All!!!
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by UrbanSlayer View Post
    Also, another thing I wondered was whether or not Ball Pythons are really expensive. I was told by a gentleman today that they cost 600 and up, and from what I am seeing that is not true, unless I am missing something, and like I said I am new to all this. I am seeing them from 75-150 bucks. I am not a big stickler on the price, but 600 is quite a bit.

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by UrbanSlayer View Post
    Sorry for so many replies, but one last big concern of mine is that I have two cats who are both very friendly, but one of them is a Bengal and as those who know Bengals, she can be slightly more curious than others. The other is a 20lb Maine Coon and is lazier than hell. Neither have front claws and I would not plan on having "play sessions" for either the snake or the cats. I would keep the python in its cage when I am not around and I would figure the cats would be around when handling the python. So I guess what I am asking is whether or not it is safe for both the cats and the Python concerning handling and the scent of the cat.

    Hello, and :welcome: to BP.net. The difference in the prices that you are seeing is due to the different genetic morphs of the color and patterns. You can get normal patterned Ball Pythons for as little as $30-$40 at a show. When you start getting into the different morphs, basically the more rare or complex the genetic soup is, the higher the price. Depending on the morph, they can cost anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. But even the "Normals" come in a wide variety of pattern variations.

    Here are a couple threads with alot of photos of normals, to show their variety...

    http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-beauties!-DUW

    http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-are-Beautiful!

    As for your cats, I would suggest just keeping them in another room when handling the snake, then you won't have to worry about any potential accidents between them...
  • 03-22-2012, 03:12 AM
    UrbanSlayer
    Re: Hey All!!!
    Thanks for all the replies again, they are quite helpful.

    I plan on getting a good aquarium before I buy one as a friend owns an exotic fish store so I should be able to get a good one.

    As for the price differences I wasn't sure if that depended on whether or not they were born in captivity or from the wild, from what I have seen so far all the cheaper pythons are quite beautiful and will do just fine for me.
  • 03-22-2012, 03:42 AM
    el8ch
    Re: Hey All!!!
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by UrbanSlayer View Post
    As for the price differences I wasn't sure if that depended on whether or not they were born in captivity or from the wild, from what I have seen so far all the cheaper pythons are quite beautiful and will do just fine for me.

    Normal Ball Pythons are beautiful and every one is unique! Most peoples collections started with just one, one normal... and then the addiction starts. :D

    Glad to see that you are doing your research and asking the questions before you purchase!
  • 03-22-2012, 04:07 AM
    kklepac
    Re: Hey All!!!
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by UrbanSlayer View Post
    Thanks for all the replies again, they are quite helpful.

    I plan on getting a good aquarium before I buy one as a friend owns an exotic fish store so I should be able to get a good one.

    As for the price differences I wasn't sure if that depended on whether or not they were born in captivity or from the wild, from what I have seen so far all the cheaper pythons are quite beautiful and will do just fine for me.

    I would look for captive bred ball pythons for sure and avoid buying one from places like Petco. You will find lots of good breeders on here and other sites. You will generally get a healthier animal from a good breeder than from a big box pet store.
  • 03-22-2012, 06:01 AM
    UrbanSlayer
    Re: Hey All!!!
    Oh I will never go to Petco for anything other than chew toys. Something I forgot to mention is that my parents have been breeding and showing boxers and dobermans for the past 30 years, I was along for the ride for all of my life, and I know the difference in quality between a breeder and big box.

    There is a pet store though that has been in my area for several decades, and it has always had some of the best pets, and is known for only selling bred animals, would it be a bad idea to at least have a look and see what is out there?
  • 03-22-2012, 07:40 AM
    Annarose15
    Re: Hey All!!!
    I'm surprised no one has posted this yet, but check out the site's caresheet for an outline of what you need to know: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

    Although there is a LOT of information on this forum, I still recommend getting Kevin McCurley's book as a baseline reference tool. It's a little pricey, but has been worth it's weight in gold to me. I haven't read the one you posted, so can't comment there. The downside of the internet is you sometimes have to wade through a lot of opinions to get to the facts. http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Ball-.../dp/9780971319

    If you are concerned about keeping your temps stable, you may want to try setting up a tub instead of a terrarium (many threads on this site), or at least stick with shorter, small tanks, so you don't have as much space to heat. Just make sure you are able to maintain the proper temperature gradient.

    There's nothing wrong with checking out your local shop, but look into any reptile shows in your area for a wider range of options, too.

    Welcome and good luck!
  • 03-22-2012, 08:08 AM
    Juliemay13
    Re: Hey All!!!
    Welcome :)
  • 03-22-2012, 08:19 AM
    DooLittle
    Re: Hey All!!!
    Welcome! If you want a book, that's fine. However, there is way more information on here, and probably more current too. Besides, if you have have a question, post a thread. This forum is full of good, knowledgeable people, and responses are usually pretty fast as this is a very active forum as well. The care sheets are very helpful. We started out with tanks, but now everyone is in tubs, and love it so much better. Temps and humidity don't fluctuate, and it takes up less space. Ball pythons are addicting. Many people have more than one. You definately could get a normal at a reasonable price. For $600 you would be getting a decent morph. You could check out kingsnake classifieds, also many people here breed. I would go that route, not from a pet store. Some people have gotten them from ok pet stores, and they have been fine. But seems the majority of them have one issue or another. RI, mites, won't eat. Thank you for doing your research, and feel free to ask any and all questions!
  • 03-22-2012, 08:20 AM
    Rob
    Welcome buddy, yup 600 can go a long way especially if you go to a expo, and it's about that time where expos pop up everywhere.
  • 03-22-2012, 08:56 AM
    Mike41793
    welcome to bp.net!!
    If you just want a normal ive seen males as low as $15 and females for $25 at shows. If you wanna spend $600 you can get a wayyy nicer one. I would reccommend against getting a glass aqaurium if youre concerned maintaining correct temps will be a problem. A nice PVC enclosure from somewhere like Animal Plastics may be a better investment and save you some aggravation. Thats just my opinion. If you have any more q's feel free to ask. Everyone here is more than willing to help :)
  • 03-22-2012, 09:29 AM
    RetiredJedi
    Welcome. I agree that you should forego the tank and use a tub. Checkout this thread by Vypyrz that is very detailed-- Basic Tub Setup --. I think this will keep you and you BP very happy. It also shows how to do a stand alone rack but if you don't want to go that far just read and setup your tub like the first part of the tutorial.
  • 03-22-2012, 10:20 AM
    Slim
    I own 14 books on ball pythons written in English, 2 written in Spanish, and 1 written in Arabic. They all share one thing in common...the information is static. I mostly collect them for the pictures.

    You'll find far more and updated information about BP husbandry, morphs, and breeding on this forum than you will in any book. And as an added bonus, this forum is easily searchable :gj:

    The best recommendation I can give you is to not waste money on a glass aquarium set up that will give you fits with humidity and temp control. Instead, invest in a PVC cage and go from there. You won't regret it!
  • 03-22-2012, 10:42 AM
    CherryPython
    Hey hey :) Welcome :D

    They certainly are fun to own! 600 is a lot...you can get a lot for that I think. Wonder how long it'll be after you've got your first until you want another one :P There is SO much info on these forums, and so many helpful members you'll probably hardly need the book if you do get one :) Also, tub over aquarium :) Oh and well done for checking out all the facts and everything first, sensible :sweeet: Can't wait to see pictures, and have fun!
  • 03-22-2012, 10:47 AM
    RetiredJedi
    Re: Hey All!!!
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by RetiredJedi View Post
    Welcome. I agree that you should forego the tank and use a tub. Checkout this thread by Vypyrz that is very detailed-- Basic Tub Setup --. I think this will keep you and you BP very happy. It also shows how to do a stand alone rack but if you don't want to go that far just read and setup your tub like the first part of the tutorial.

    I would suggest also that you have the enclosure setup about a week prior to getting your new BP to make sure the temps/humidty are ok and then all you do is put the BP in and everything is set. That way you don't have to make adjustments while the BP is in there and taking a chance of stressing him/her out more (like during the time they are getting adusted to the new environment) and things just get compounded from there.
  • 03-22-2012, 01:39 PM
    UrbanSlayer
    Re: Hey All!!!
    Thanks again for all the replies.

    I have plenty of time right now to learn more and prepare as I shouldn't get one until August or so when I move out of my current apartment, I feel that would stress him/her out too much moving from on environment to another. Also, what I would plan on doing is getting an enclosure set up and going a couple of weeks prior to getting the Python, and practice keeping my tempuratures level, and making sure I am learning everything properly.

    Thanks so much again, and like i said earlier, I do not plan on spending 600 at all, way out of my range, between 50-100 is where im looking.
  • 03-22-2012, 10:47 PM
    Klogue1
    I'd just like to say Welcome! If you've never had reptiles before, I can tell you it's an amazing adventure owning one (or more!!) :) If you find you like BP's then be prepared to want more, as a lot of people say it's an addiction! I'm more of a leopard gecko addict but I love my BP too.

    Good luck and I hope you have a great time with your future BP! I would add something but it looks like everyone else has taken care of the details.
  • 03-22-2012, 10:56 PM
    Daybreaker
    Welcome!

    Good advice given so far, and I'll add in that I recommend a tub setup over a clunky tank setup also. Holds temps and humidity better, cheaper, and very easy to transport (or hide) if need be.

    15qt-41qt tubs range from $5-$8 at Walmart, a UTH ~$20 or so from a petstore, a GOOD thermostat will be $100+ but I'm sure others can suggest a nice one that's cheaper (I use Reptile Basic's VE-200 for my racks, $115 and it's a proportional thermostat) or a lamp dimmer for a short-term regulator for $10 at Home Depot, aluminum HVAC tape if needed if the UTH doesn't stick to the tub, some binder clips or luggage straps to secure the lid ($2 or so for binder clips), and you can get a cheap dog bowl for $3 at walmart and some fake brush and hides there too. Digital thermometer for ~$10 and I use a temp gun also ~$30 from Lowes to check hot and cold spots.
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