New guy here!!

So iv been peekin around the forum for past few days after I held a baby ball python. You guys do seem to know your stuff so thought id join. First off I do not own a Ball Python....yet i fell in love with the baby female I held, and as much as I wanted to take her home then and there I want to do a lot of research before I do so I can provide her with the best home possible. So here I am, any words of advice on ownership, how big of a tank/terrarium should I purchase (im also great with my hands so advice on building one would be cool too) what materials do they like/avoid and well just looking to learn more about the species and ownership and responsabilities that come with them. Also if you can reccomend some good reads id more than gladly look into them. Iv been reading about the basics of them online/forums for the past few days but without asking theres only so much you can learn right! So anywho heres where I turn it over to you guys oh and im from the s. side burbs in chicago so also any reptile breeders/shops reccomendations would be appreaciated. Thanks for reading! And thanks for responding!

Welcome! and congrats on your excellent decision to get a ball!
Here's some things I've picked up so far on my short venture into the herp world.

First off, get very familiar with the care sheets! Make a list of everything you'll need to get a good setup running, and do a dry run to make sure temp and humidity is dialed in before coming home with your new guy or gal.

A word on your housing:
I know I was opposed to the idea of a rack when I first got my ball, but now I can't wait til I save up enough to get mine up and running. Mostly so I can fill it with more snakes :) That said, be careful, because few people are able to stop at just one ball python!

A rack or even a standalone tub is way more economical than going through countless terrariums and tanks. It's also much easier to maintain.

I'm definitely kicking myself now when I think of how much money I've spent on reptile 'junk' that I don't really need. Definitely skip the aquarium that many pet shops recommend. Get a $10 tub at Walmart, or if you want something more aesthetic, go for a quality PVC setup.

Also,be prepared to make mistakes :) And for your ball to be very forgiving. Luckily there are awesome people on this forum to help out with just about any problem you may encounter :)

I definitely recommend going to wal mart or target and just get a sterilite container that is semi-see through (abouttt 3 feet long by 1 foot high) and drill holes in it as opposed to getting a tank. there are much less problems with temp and humidity, it's way cheaper, plus you can still kinda see in if you need to. and I always put a towel over mine after she eats so she can have some nice alone time lol.
I was afraid I had been handling my girl too much after I got her because I just couldn't help it! but now I am noticing her getting more comfortable with me. so my advice is to just build a relationship with your new snakey and respect them :)
snakes are smarter than people give them credit for. that goes for most animals ;b

Hey guys thanks for he feedback, i had read a little about the containers,n read that the snakes react well to those over the glass tanks. my thing is how do youkeep the environment at the right temp n humidity for them, because dont they also require a heating element and im not sure how much heat them containers could take. If theres a thread here maybe showing setups or somethin id appreciate a push in that direction

Welcome to the forums and to the enjoyment of ball pythons.

MootWorm is correct in the fact that BPs are addictive and you most likley will not stop at just one. There are always tons of people on this site that are extremley helpful with any questions you have on the care and maintnance of the snakes.

I have switched to tubs and racks because they do not take up as much room as the tanks do, they are easier to maintain and the snakes do better in them.

This is one of the best tub set ups I have seen. It gives a good step by step look at how to set everything up.

Vypyrz Tub Set-Up, The Basics...*DUW*

That just completely answered my question on the tub issue thanks Drake Moonslayer! Any of you guys know any good breeders or pet shops in the s. chicagoland area that might be worth a visit? Iv heard good things about Chicago Reptile House

Also, what about general demeanor, i know it varies with their personality. As with us, but what have your guys experience been. Specially if i buy a baby as i plan to. I have read that they are generally docile

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Originally Posted by Juan89

Also, what about general demeanor, i know it varies with their personality. As with us, but what have your guys experience been. Specially if i buy a baby as i plan to. I have read that they are generally docile

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Ball pythons tend to be docile, calm and a great python for beginners and experienced people. In my opinion they are a way better starter snake than, for example corn snakes, because they are easier to handle. I can not even imagine switching over to any other species of snakes. Plus there are soooo many different color mutations and patterns. One warning though: they are addictive (and you better believe it!!) :P

If you have more questions, don't even hesitate to ask us on bp.net. We (or atleast I) love to answer questions as best as we/I can.

I have to agree completely! They are super addictive! I just got my first ball a few weeks ago. I totally thought one would be enough. WRONG I already have a second and currently working on the hubby to get a third. Plan ahead for the addiction! LOL:D

Thanks for the replies! You guys are awesome! I will have plenty of questions as im new to the world of repltile companions haha what big precautions should be taken with them, specially when they are young?

haha thanks for he heads up! I know how addictions go, well the good ones i mean haha i started with i tattoo (ironically of a king cobra) and now have 9 lol

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Originally Posted by Juan89

Thanks for the replies! You guys are awesome! I will have plenty of questions as im new to the world of repltile companions haha what big precautions should be taken with them, specially when they are young?

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When they are young they tend to be a little more skittish. The most important thing with a baby <or a bp of any age> is making it feel secure. Offering 2 hides, one on the hot side, one on the cool will help as a hiding ball python is a happy one. Wide open spaces will make them nervous so you want to clutter the tank <or tub in your case it seems> so he or she thinks you can't see it when it does come out. Some use newspaper, others use vines and leaves for a more natural look. In the case of a tub, newspaper will probably be easier.

Handling? Once you get him or her all set up and temps/humidity is correct, leave it alone for about a week. This settling time will make it more comfy and ready to eat. I'd try to feed it once before you bring him or her out. Leave him alone for 2 days after that. Once ready, slow steady movements, avoid coming at him from above and you might want to avoid his head/face. Loud rooms will scare him, their immediate defense is to roll themselves into a ball. LOL, I had my girl out once and the man didn't know it and let my 6 month old Golden Retriever in. Poor snake, scared the heck out of her.

Oh and always have a camera ready for that inevitable bite that will no doubt result in a massive gushing wound that will require stitches and possible amputation from such a devastating and life threatening booboo. :P

I would actually recommend not getting a baby but rather an adult or subadult with some size. Yes, you can't watch them grow up, but bigger snakes are generally more even-tempered (babies tend to react defensively to anything and everything because they're so small and unsure) and are more forgiving with newer owners, at least as far as husbandry goes. I started out with a 100 gram hatchling, but I also lurked here for about 9 months so I was confident I knew what I was getting into with a baby. I would recommend a female that's at least 500 grams. Female because it's fairly inevitable you're going to want more and possibly to breed so when/if you ever get a male, you'll already have a girl that's up to size and you're not waiting around for a baby to grow up. 500 grams because they're not a baby baby but they're still small enough that you feel good watching them get bigger and bigger.

I agree with the previous post. My baby is way more skittish. Nagini is 7 years old. I can lay her in bed with me and she will "snuggle" up to my body and lay there for hours. Dude is only a few months old. He will lay there for a few mins and then want to explore (ie. look for an escape). Although I have no problems with Dude eating, babies can be a finicky eaters. I wasn't really aware of that in the beginning, but I got lucky. Do your research and if you have the patience either will work. ;)

Wow! Thanks for the great info! I had no idea weight and anything in that aspect would be anything to even think ok!

I def. will. Its why im here! Haha i thought who better to ask then curren owners. Like i said as much as i fell in love after holding her i wont get one untill i know as much as possible so i can give it the best home.

My babygurl Nagini <sorry, yup... we share a name even though you had it first. hope you don't mind.> is an amazing girl. She's only about 4 months old and is about 175gr now but very docile and eats like a champ. This may not be others experiences. I wanted a baby specifically, love watching her grow. She has never once even tried to strike at me. Babies will likely be more curious when taken out to explore, I don't see this as a downside. It's fun. One who didn't would be like a puppy that doesn't play... boring.

I second the notion of getting an older animal if you can. I got my first one when he was 500g and he's always been a big puppy dog. I got my other one when she was a hatchling, and I'm not sure if its her age/size or just her general temperament, but I've been bitten more times than I'd care to admit lol. Don't let that turn you off balls though. Bites don't really hurt, just very surprising pinpricks :) She's super feisty, but is definitely calming down.

Yea the bite part is not really a concern for me at all, just since itl be my first, i want to get something right size and temperment and specially one that will eat! N be more forgiving of a new owner. I like the baby because like mentioned befoe id love to watch it grow but one already a little grown dosent sound too bad either

Juan89, Im also from the chicagoland area so I know this area very well. I also belong to the Chicago Herp Society and work the Reptile Fest every year! If you are looking into a new scaled friend , I would suggest going to the Scott Smith All Animal Expo. It is held twice a month at the Dupage county fair grounds. Here is the address...2015 Manchester road, Wheaton IL. next show dates are Sunday Aug. 18, Sat. Sept. 7 ,Sun Sept 15. etc. Its open from 10am-3pm and has a $5.00 cover, BUT the place has everything you could ever want and more , from animals to cages, to supplies to feeders. ( this is where I buy all my feeder rats from and let me tell you I save a fortune as apposed to buying from the big box stores! I could not afford to own all the reptiles I do if it wasnt for the fact I get a great price from here. You are lucky to live in an area that has MANY shows like this so its virtually a reptile Buffet! Remember what the other members were saying about addictions!!!!!!!! lol.:snake:

Wow! Thanks for the info man! I may have to take a day of work to check that show out then.

We can totally share the name MsMissy!!!! LOL I agree with you too. There are pros and cons to the age thing. I love my baby to death and honestly he can be waaaaay more interesting. LOL Nagini is my lazy girl and Dude is my active guy! I do like being able to snuggle with Nagini. Crazy for a snake right!?!?! As far as the feeding thing goes. Make sure he/she has eaten a few times consistently and be sure to give he/she plenty of time to acclimate to his/her new home and things should go smoothly.

How do you handle them after their feeding to put them back in their regular enclosure, and also how big n well different should their feeding enclosure be as iv read its best to feed in one and house in another and what should they have in it?

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Originally Posted by Juan89

How do you handle them after their feeding to put them back in their regular enclosure, and also how big n well different should their feeding enclosure be as iv read its best to feed in one and house in another and what should they have in it?

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I say make it easier on yourself and just feed in the enclosure. Save your money and reduce your chances of getting chewed on :)

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Originally Posted by Juan89

How do you handle them after their feeding to put them back in their regular enclosure, and also how big n well different should their feeding enclosure be as iv read its best to feed in one and house in another and what should they have in it?

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feeding in separate bins is a topic of wide debate. I personally started off by feeding in separate containers because I read that cage feeding can produce aggressive behaviors. I switched from doing that years ago however because to me it seemed like fiction or myth, much like ball pythons need belly heat to digest food! ( That is another total myth.) Moving a snake after it has just eaten is very stressful to the animal and can cause regurgitation. It is best for the animal if it feeds in an environment that it feels safe and comfortable in. As for cage aggression and the snake biting you when you reach in its cage... well as long as feeding time is not the only time you enter its cage , there is no risk of the snake forming habits. The snake is not going to know whether you are entering its cage for handling or for maintenance or for feeding. Regular handling and common sense like washing your hands BEFORE entering its cage and all will be fine!!!

Ok, so iv heard both things suggested for here feed in same enclosure and get a different one. I know this is gona prolly open a can of worms but what do the majority of you guys do and at what ages did you start with them also results?

Feed in enclosure. Moving to feed increases your chance of getting bit either before when the snake smells dinner on you, or after when they're still in feeding mode. That isn't aggression that makes them do that, it is hunger. Moving them to feed also causes stress and some won't eat if you move them. I've only ever fed in enclosure so I have nothing to compare to feeding out of enclosure, but we do have snakes that if you even stick your hand in their tub on feeding day (without the smell of rat in the air at all) you're likely to get tagged because they're hungry and ready to rock. And getting hit by a 1500 gram female (or bigger) who's in feeding mode is not fun.

I too started out feeding my first ball in a separate tub. Honestly I don't think he really cared where he ate, as long as I dangled a juicy rat in front of him lol. He did strike at me once when I went in to move him back to his enclosure after a feeding. After that, I did some research and decided it was much easier and safer to feed in his enclosure. However, I do feed my hognose hatchlings in a separate tub, but that has nothing to do with aggression. They're dopey, and I don't want them eating all the substrate.

You may want to check out the Tinley park show in october.
betore that build a 3 to 5 tub rack. the diy section has some good one's .
Hook up heat tape and a thermastat to your rack, get a temp gun.
hot side 87-90, humidity about 60%water dish and a hide.
Stock up on frozen rats!
enjoy Tinley and get some snakes!
And welcome to the addiction and BP.net

Haha yea iv heard o the tinley show, and as much as id like to build a rack, i wana start out small and just have 1 since itl be my first time with reptiles no need to overwhelm myself yet

All this info iv recieved and read just makes me want to get one even more now haha

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Originally Posted by Juan89

Haha yea iv heard o the tinley show, and as much as id like to build a rack, i wana start out small and just have 1 since itl be my first time with reptiles no need to overwhelm myself yet

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You're gonna need a rack. Just sayin :)


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Haha oh im sure i will lol but like i said one thing at a time. Dont want to rush anything, specially with a new type of pet. Nothin breaks my heart more than neglect and taking on too many things at once when ur not experienced always turns into a clusterf*** pardon my french

I would go for a single tub set-up. Invest in a good thermostat like a Herpstat so when you do want to move up to a rack, you'll already have a thermostat that can run a rack very easily and won't have to invest in it then. Get one, take care of it for 6 months or so to get some experience, then think about getting another. You can and will use that time to windowshop morphs.

Exactly, thats what i plan on doin, i wana focus on doin things right n stuff more than anything.

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Originally Posted by Inarikins

I would go for a single tub set-up. Invest in a good thermostat like a Herpstat so when you do want to move up to a rack, you'll already have a thermostat that can run a rack very easily and won't have to invest in it then. Get one, take care of it for 6 months or so to get some experience, then think about getting another. You can and will use that time to windowshop morphs.

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Rock solid advice!

You've gotten some great advice so far. I just wanted to say Welcome and yes they are addicting! LOL. :)

Yea, i feel the same! You guys have been nothing but welcoming here and answered all my questions so far. I cant say thanks enough! Cus i def plan on getting a scaled friend soon, and like i said before nothing breaks my heart more than neglect so all the usefull advice iv gotten so far i feel iv learned a bit so far and will def be on the right track.

Welcome aboard!

Ok, nother question haha so when selecting my new friend, what are the things i should look for/ask to make sure its healthy depending on what age/state of life its in?

Pretty awesome I still live with my parents because I'm 13 so I have to keep my ball pythons out side in the shed but in florida temperature here are perfect for breeding, feeding, everything.
Anyway I say if it is your first ball python get one over 100 grams and from a reptile expo or a local breeder never buy from petco or petsmart those BP's are wild caught don't eat and die.
Start with a 10 gallon wait till they are 400 grams and then throw them in a 20 or 30 gallon either is fine for a adult females can be put in 40's because they get bigger.
I like prekilled rodents over frozen thawed and live heat lamp at 60 watts heat pad a2 hides one cold one hot eco earth mix or aspen. Of course you need a water bowl and throw in some decorations you can probably stay below $100 dollars easily.

Ohh and last thing get a clip in lid that secures tightly because they will escape if you don't use any clips:banana:

Congrats

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Originally Posted by samthemanz3n

Pretty awesome I still live with my parents because I'm 13 so I have to keep my ball pythons out side in the shed but in florida temperature here are perfect for breeding, feeding, everything.
Anyway I say if it is your first ball python get one over 100 grams and from a reptile expo or a local breeder never buy from petco or petsmart those BP's are wild caught don't eat and die.
Start with a 10 gallon wait till they are 400 grams and then throw them in a 20 or 30 gallon either is fine for a adult females can be put in 40's because they get bigger.
I like prekilled rodents over frozen thawed and live heat lamp at 60 watts heat pad a2 hides one cold one hot eco earth mix or aspen. Of course you need a water bowl and throw in some decorations you can probably stay below $100 dollars easily.

Ohh and last thing get a clip in lid that secures tightly because they will escape if you don't use any clips:banana:

Congrats

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not all ball pythons bought from petco or pet smart do not eat and die. ( hugely over priced yes, BUT not always neglected! ) when I first got into snakes I got my first two ball pythons from petco AND am happy to say that 5 years later they are alive and well! I obviously dont buy from them anymore because there are MUCH better deals to be had else where but it really depends on any particular store and how those employees are taking care of those particular animals if you are going to get a good one or not!

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Originally Posted by samthemanz3n

Pretty awesome I still live with my parents because I'm 13 so I have to keep my ball pythons out side in the shed but in florida temperature here are perfect for breeding, feeding, everything.
Anyway I say if it is your first ball python get one over 100 grams and from a reptile expo or a local breeder never buy from petco or petsmart those BP's are wild caught don't eat and die.
Start with a 10 gallon wait till they are 400 grams and then throw them in a 20 or 30 gallon either is fine for a adult females can be put in 40's because they get bigger.
I like prekilled rodents over frozen thawed and live heat lamp at 60 watts heat pad a2 hides one cold one hot eco earth mix or aspen. Of course you need a water bowl and throw in some decorations you can probably stay below $100 dollars easily.

Ohh and last thing get a clip in lid that secures tightly because they will escape if you don't use any clips:banana:

Congrats

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Pretty damn sure I can prove that Petsmart/Petco comment wrong. My baby under 100gr when I got her from PETSMART, she's a beautiful healthy girl who eats like a pig.

Exercise caution with blanket statements like that. Oh and please, no throwing of the poor snake into a 20/30/40 gallon tank... Poor devils.

p.s. what kind of thermostat are you running for set up up outside?

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Originally Posted by Juan89

Ok, nother question haha so when selecting my new friend, what are the things i should look for/ask to make sure its healthy depending on what age/state of life its in?

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Pretty much the same things you would look for in any other pet. You want a healthy-looking animal. Ball pythons are heavy-bodied and should be more round than triangular. If you listen to them breathe, you shouldn't be hearing any wheezing or be seeing bubbles outside of the mouth. If possible, have the owner open the mouth. If you see lots and lots of bubbles (a few are fine) or a lot of mucus, run away. A ball python shouldn't have a lot of loose skin and should be rather firm and muscular (the lower third or so of females who have just laid eggs will feel kind of mushy, but that's normal). One of the best ways to check for mites is to look at the bottom of the snake's head, where there's a crease. Mites and ticks will tuck up under there but if you see them crawling anywhere (little black specks, about the size of a period on this page) then run away.

I would ask questions about what it's eating, when it last ate, how often the owner is feeding it, as well as when it last shed. These are all things you'll want to know if/when you own the snake. If you're purchasing a supposed het, ask who the breeder of the animal was and if it has any paperwork. The paperwork on its own means nothing, but you can track down the breeder at that point and ask them if the animal is actually a het or not.

Look for active tongue flickering. If the Ball python seems sluggish or unresponsive, I would be a bit wary, especially if the snake feels warm. A snake that's been on its cold side for a while will be slower to get moving, but after you've held them for a while, they should get more active.

Defensive striking in babies is fine. I've gotten tagged more than once by a baby because they're scared out of their tiny little minds of me. I would be more wary about "aggressive" behavior in adults. I have yet to have an adult snake try to grab me (but then I also don't have any female I need to pull off eggs) but I have had them hiss and bluster at me.

Just use your common sense. If you get the feeling that anything is off, if any red flags pop up at all, I would pass. Your gut instinct is usually (almost always) correct. If you've been lurking on here for a while reading threads and stuff, you'll do just fine.

Hey man thanks a lot for the info! Yea, im definitely going to be adding a BP to my life. I will probably be a month or so before because i just want to learn as much as humanly possible. I wont give petco/petsmart a bad rep just because i havent had any experience in buying animals from there and from what iv read its 50/50. Their veterinarian services i have used before and generally on that iv had a good experience. Also I will be purchasing from a breeder. I mentioned to a friend about getting a BP and turns out he knows an experienced reputable breeder so il be in contact with him as soon as i do feel im ready. Again, thanks for the info guys, youre a big help!

Another question, where do you guys keep the snake when cleaning out their enclosure, do you have a separate tub or what would be recommended?

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Originally Posted by Juan89

Another question, where do you guys keep the snake when cleaning out their enclosure, do you have a separate tub or what would be recommended?

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Pillowcase lol. Or just have someone else hold him for a bit. I do have a separate tub I could use, but they seem pretty content to chill in a dark bag. If you have an extra container, great. But I wouldn't go out of my way to buy an additional tank or tub.

I have a locking sterilite tub will holes drilled and a softish towel on the bottom for each of my no legged pets. Can be used for during full cleanings, they work great as a soaking tub if need be, and they will useful if I ever need to get them out of the house fast.

When I'm cleaning the cage, since my snakes are currently babies, I wear a heavy duty necklace - a friends dog tags, I just loop them around the necklace and they're content as can be. They'll do their own thing, and I get to be hands free. Never had an issue with it - just if you've got long hair, brush out your hair first or they WILL find every single knot in your hair... Learned that the long way. Eventually had to give up trying to free him, and had to lay down and wait for him to decide to come out.

Welcome to the hobby, I swear it's addictive. I'm up to three snakes - 2 corn, 1 ball - and am already planning my next addition - champagne male I'm gonna call Dallas... Have fun, and don't stress over the little mistakes. My snakes are extremely forgiving thank god... My male escaped and got stuck on tape and left me panicking, then he escaped, I couldn't get the temps right on my female corn, my female ball has picked up mites. They're mighty forgiving though, so don't stress the little things, just learn from them!

I just... put them on a counter or the floor or something. My snakes don't book it out of there and even if they do, I can pick them up pretty easy. If I'm scrubbing tubs down completely, they are either handed off to somebody else or forced to share a big tub for 10 or 15 minutes. But if I'm just changing newspaper or something I set them to the side and make sure to keep an eye on them.