NEED TO NO SOME THINGS ABOUT BALL PYTHONS??

YES I WOULD LIKE TO NO ARE BBP EASY TO TAME? IS IT A CHANCE THAT I COULD GET BIT ? HOW DO THE BITE FILL? DO YOU THINK IT IS A GOOD BEGINNER SNAKE? IM NEW TO THE WEBSITE FILL FREE TO ANSWER MY ?'S PLEASE.

THANK YOU

BP's are pretty laid back mellow snakes but can still occasionally get irate - some are nippy when young.

Maybe not the best choice for your first snake - certainly not the lowest maintenance and sometimes fussy eaters. You might do well by a Corn.

Welcome, and most people here don't really like all caps in the posts so just giving you a heads up.

Captive bred and born BPs are almost always tame, docile snakes. They do have small teeth, and can possibly break your skin if you are bitten. HOWEVER, most bites by ball pythons are only a result of the keeper's ignorance. If you handle rodents and then handle your snake w/o washing your hands, you BP has a right to strike at you. I've been bitten once by my first snake as I was placing a rodent in his feed box, he was really hungry, smelled the rodent, and tracked my body heat instead. I was startled, but no harm no foul. My BP now, Amber, is a sweetheart and has never been agressive to me, even during feeding time.

People argue for or against them being a good beginner snake. Yes, they are, because of their small size and calm temperment. No, because they are extremely picky eaters and will often go off feed for long periods of time.

BUT WHAT IF I NO ALOT ABOUT THEM AND I HAVE ALREADY BAUGHT THE TANK SETUP SUPPLIES FOR THE BBP AND I NO HOW TO HANDLE THEM BECAUSE MY FRIEND HAVE ONE DO YOU THINK I WOULD HAVE A CHANCE THEN

?

If you have never owned a snake before, I would personally suggest something like a Corn snake. Those are GREAT. Ball pythons are way too high maintanance, in my opinion, for a beginner snake.

Jennifer

DO YOU HAVE A BP EMROUL?

THIS IS CALLED "SHOUTING" - PLEASE REFRAIN.

Patience grasshopper - it will usually take more than one minute for folks to respond to your posts.

You COULD roll the dice on a Ball Python - but it would be iffy in all honesty - they require a higher degree of patience and invested time and maintenance than a Corn would. I could see you getting easily frustrated if you encountered feeding problems, temp gradient issues, etc.

Emroul has a number of ball pythons and breeds them as well. She is not a beginner and knows what she is talking about. By the way, a forum does not work like a chat room and it can often take hours before someone is able to respond to your post. Please be patient, and stop SHOUTING at everyone.

WHAT DO MEAN IT WOULD IFFY IN ALL HONESTY

OK here is the deal. A ball python is a great beginner snake if one has done the appropriate research and read every care sheet they can get their hands on. Ball pythons are notorious for refusing food. If you have a friend then maybe he can give you some pointers but getting information from many sources is better. A ball python can get 3-4 feet long and live like 20 years. Ball pythons are easy to keep if you give them the right conditions and the appropriate setup.

Pleae read this and ask more and more questions.
http://www.ball-pythons.net/Sections...s-secid-1.html

In all honesty, do what you KNOW that you can handle, and take care of properly. Everyone has to start somewhere, and us telling you not to get a ball python probably won't stop you from getting what you really want. Just please, for the sake of your new snake (whatever you may get) be sure to do TONS of research on it. Do not just "impulse buy"; that's how most ball pythons die.

Also, if you really want one, but you aren't really sure how to take care of it, that's what places like this are here for! Please, ask TONS of questions, it's really ok. (Just make sure these questions are asked BEFORE BEFORE BEFORE you buy the snake).

Oh, and yes, I have a ball python, lol. Actually I've got around 25 of them. As Marla said, I breed them as well.

Jennifer

Also remember if you buy a ball python make sure you are ready to tote it where ever you go. You might go off to college or some school and you wont have anyone to take care of it. They have to eat once a week and you have to provide them with veterinary care if they get sick. A snake no matter what size or species is a big responsibility. Please read the care sheet and when your done read it more. http://www.ball-pythons.net/Sections...s-secid-1.html

Please TURN YOUR CAPS LOCK OFF.

I mean it would be iffy because you seem pretty unsure about it - BPs leave a lot less room for error than Corns - thats all.

For a first snake, I would definitely recommend a corn snake. They are much easier to maintain temperatures for, stay a smaller size (so you can stick to mice, no need to switch to rats later on), and feed much more readily (this is important, especially when using prekilled or frozen/thawed prey which is a must). Ball pythons can be very picky eaters, and may fast for months at a time. They also live a LONG time, 30 years, with the record being 47, so you must be willing to make a LOOOONG term committment. This is not a snake to get because it is cool or your friend has one (in fact, no snake is). However, if you're really intent on getting a ball python, here's what I suggest:

1) Do your research. Find as many care sheets on the Internet as you can and read them all. Some will be better than others, but you will notice things in common between all of them, which are probably good rules to go by.
2) Sift through these forums, as there is a lot of great information here and a lot more personal experience shared than you'd find in any care sheets. Make sure you get clarifications in any areas you are unsure about. Ask questions, but be patient and polite. STOP USING ALL CAPS!!!
3) Fully setup your tank well ahead of time. Check that your temperatures and humidity are stable, and that your temperature gradient is sufficient.
4) Research a source for your ball python. You should go with a reputable breeder rather than some local pet store (although there are some very good pet stores, but they are the exception not the norm). Avoid wild caught at all costs!
5) Bring your bp home and tell us all about it!

well, everyone has their opinions. im still fairly new. my first snake, rex, which is a BP, march. ive read form all over that their great beginning snakes and fairly easy husbandry. they are laid back usually. depends were you get it. mines almost 2ft long and has a temperment problem. i have been bit a couple times. it feels like being stung by a bee or poked with a needle, although it is possible to draw blood. im having no problem with mine, which is my first snake. the only real problem is their eating, since they are well known to go off feed. and everyone is right about the caps, PLEASE STOP TYPING LIKE THIS. hope i helped a little

I agree with Smulkin. Start with Corns. Also, keep in mind that Balls are not snakes that should be handled a lot so if you are looking for a snake to 'play' with, Balls are not it.

I would go for a corn snake, they are more fogiving to mistakes. They dont need a specific humidity with the exception of when they shed. They are great eaters. They only need temps to be a little bit above room temperature. They dont get very big. They are very tame. They are a more active snake which is sometimes more fun anyway.
The problem with getting a ball is they have a lot more specific needs. The humidity has to be just right or they will have a bad shed if too low, and get scale rot if too high. They can also get respritory infections if the temps/humidity are not correct.
If their conditions are not correct, they get stressed out and stop eating. They will somtimes stop eating for no apperant reason for months at a time.

Anyway my point is, corns are easier to care for, they are a more active snake which doesnt mind being handled, they are dog tame, and they come in many different cool colors. Where as Ball pythons have a harder husbandry to meet, most dont like to be handled that often, they are shy, they dont move around much (they hide all day), and you are likely to have problems with going off feed at some point.

No one is telling you what to do though :)
Ball pythons are great snakes, just a bit harder to keep.
Good luck with whatever you choose and please stay and ask lots of questions. You can never learn enough :)
cya round!

i'm wondering should i get a bbp i no alot about them a whole lot i have a tank it could live in it's whole life i have enough money for it and i have owned a snake before. but the python would be new to me do any one think i should go ahead and bet a bbp? please be free and tell me what you think i should do.

What *is* a "bbp"? If you mean a ball python, and as you say you "no alot about them" then you should know if you are truly prepared to care for one for the next 30 years.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SnAkELoVeR

i'm wondering should i get a bbp i no alot about them a whole lot i have a tank it could live in it's whole life i have enough money for it and i have owned a snake before. but the python would be new to me do any one think i should go ahead and bet a bbp? please be free and tell me what you think i should do.

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Quick Answer = No!

Well, if you want a full evaluation, you should be more specific. What size is your tank now? How are you heating it? What snake or other herps have you kept before? How old are you?

Without more details, it's tough to make an informed judgement, but just by by going what you've said so far I would probably say no. Your attention span seems somewhat short so you should probably keep something more active to match that.

i have 30gallon high, i would heat the tank with a under the tank heating pad, i have kept a rough green snake, and a red sided gartersnake, and im 15

You will probably need to add a lamp for your heat. The aquariums dont hold heat so well. Do you already have substrate, hides, a water dish, somthing to climb on, a thermometer, and a hydromter? How do you plan to keep the humidity up?

Rough scaled green snake huh? Those are cool little guys. What happend to him?

im going to buy all the accessories today or tommorow and im gonna wait intil about a week to get the ball python. my rough green snake i gave it to my friend and its doing fine. im looking for a snake thats a bigger challenge and that cooler.

Hey Samuel whatsup?

I dont know if this is right for you.....a Ball Python is ALOT different than a Rough Green or Garter.

And a 30 HIGH wont due bud...your gonna need a 40 LONG.

What do you mean "cooler?" I find Rough Greens just as neat as the Ball Python

Oh where the heck did ya get BBP from? Just curious

Cya Samuel

is anyone online?

There is a large list of people on the left. It says "Users Online" for some reason. Don't know though sorry.

Well, if you're 15 you're most likely still living with your parents, so you should check either a) check with them first to see if they don't mind having frozen mice/rats in the freezer, or b) have some means of humanely euthanizing mice/rats (carbon dioxide is the most recommended method). Also, you will probably need your parents to feed your snake when you go to university, so make sure they know and are willing.

You will need those supplies that green_man mentioned. Also, the recommended housing for a snake is roughly a square foot of area for each foot of snake. Your 30 gallon high, depending on its length and width dimensions, will probably be fine until your snake is about 3 feet long but you might need housing with more area after that.

I would still recommend going with a corn snake first though. Keeping green snakes and garter snakes is more like keeping lizards than it is keeping pythons. Feeding rodents is a LOT different than feeding insects. A corn snake would definitely be a good intermediate step.

In any event, do more reading/research before you make a final decision.

i think this is troll thread.

I hope........haha

For those who watch Dave Chappelle......you will get the Samuel part

what do you mean by what u said shizzle

i mean that i think this is a troll thread.

Shizzle? Whoa buddy!

Um ya just read those links please. ?'s are good..........most of the time!

When you're on the main forum index page, there's a list of users at the bottom. THAT list is most current, letting you know that someone has been active within the last five minutes. The list to the right shows who's been around for the last 20 minutes or so...not really sure how that one works.

I have to agree with Don that a 30tall is not an appropriate tank for a bp. It won't have enough floor space for a fully grown bp, and it'll be a bear to heat and humidify because of the extra height. A 40 long, as Don said, would work much better...but will be a bit large for a baby. You'll either want to start with something smaller, or be sure to make the larger home as secure as possible with extra hides and "foliage" that the snake can sneak around in.

You keep saying you know a lot about bp's. If this is the case, then you should also know if you can successfully take care of one or not. We have many folks here at this forum who have kept bp's quite happily as their first snake. Whether it CAN be done is not really a question...but more, whether YOU can do it. And we are not in a position to make that judgement call. If we have to make that call based on what we've seen here...most of us would probably assume that you're not ready to take care of any sort of pet, much less one that has special requirements and long-life like a bp. But we really don't know you, do we?

Owning an animal (any animal) and caring for it means you have to be capable of making your own decisions about things. You have to make daily judgement calls about what your animal needs and how well it is thriving. Any number of things could go wrong, such as an escape, an injury, or illness...and you'll need to be able to make snap decisions about what to do...and then be able to do it.

More than anything else I've seen or read from you to this point...your inability to decide what you should do after you "know so much"...makes me wonder if you're ready.

mr meyer do you on a python?

Mr Samuel Jackson I do infact, own a female Ball Python. SHe is a baby.

I also own what is in my sig.

And JLC pointed out a very good point. If you do infact get a 40 long....put a TON of hides...I mean literally a ton.

how did you no that you were ready for a ball python mr meyer

Thats not needed...what is needed is do YOU know if YOUR ready.

Frankly I dont.

Sorry.

troll thread indeed

mr meyer how old are you and can you give me some pointers

I am 16 and we gave you so many pointers dude.

Read caresheets...quicker than waiting for a reply........

but i already no those pointers if those are all the pointers you need to owning a ball python i dont see the problem of buying one

You can know a ton...just because you know stuff about them.....doesnt mean JACK!

Its if you have the time, money, space, AND commitment.

What happens if this Ball Python gets sick. I mean it was only $20 for the Ball Python right? So why pay an $80 vet bill....

Its stuff like that you can't read up on.

Keep that in mind buddy.

feed the fire gasoline why dont you.

Well, knowing about caresheets isn't enough... you actually have to go out and read them. Aside from the ones on this site, it wouldn't hurt to check out these:

http://www.anapsid.org/ball.html
http://www.newenglandreptile.com/CareBall.html
http://randy.ball-pythons.net/caresheet.html

well do you no where i could get a regular corn snake?

why do you keep asking for our permission?

bc he's bored and feels like stirring trouble... and most likely is a very avid herper with a terrible attitude.