NEW to BPs

Hi all,

I am a new forum member here, and this is my first post. I do not yet have a ball python - but I am looking to get one shortly!
I recently bought my first snake (a corn snake), and I am already interested in BPs. I have read many care sheets about these animals, and have ordered a few books as well.
I am wondering if there is any advice anyone would like to share with me about getting started with ball pythons, about their behaviour, or more specifically, some important DOs and DON'Ts when I first get him/her?? I know that's a very broad question; I'm thinking less about vive set-up, and more about the little details you'd sometimes fail to read elsewhere.

Thank you very much in advance, and for my future posts as well.

Cheers!

Welcome. I'm sure you will find tons of information on this site. You are doing the right thing by researching before buying.

Welcome to the forums, and just ask lots of questions. You'll get as much help as you need here.

welcome.... the number one thing to do when dealing with bp's is to check ur bank account and make sure u have a good job because this is a very very expensive hobby .. 1 bp turns to 3 and 3 turns to 6 very quick .. just ask whatever u want to know about .. most people on here have rack systems and use tubs as enclousres u can use a tank its just more work to keep things at par .. but bp's are not hard to keep .. if ur bp is always hiding and shedding in one piece u r doing a great job .. good luck

Thanks everyone.
My bank account is that of a university student... so you can imagine ;)
But the reason I am interested in this now is because I just happen to have some extra money saved up. I don't plan on going full-throttle into this hobby (as of yet!), but would like to start somewhere!

i dont think none of us planned for it .. but its like pringles once u pop u cant stop lol .. i always wantd a snake from as long as i can remember my mom never wanted me to have one so i never got one always had lizards .. now that im older and living on my own i wanted to get back into my reptiles and i thought wow i can finally get my ball python .. so i bought one and that was it .. that was in april now 4 months later and i think 10 snakes later i cant stop lol .. the thing is well .. was for me is i started with a normal and then i seen a bumblebee and i was like i want that but i was like it be cool to make my own so i got a pastel and spider then i i was like i need a female pastel then i seen this butter and was like hes cool then this fire and i love pied so i y not get some hets now clowns and gosh love those bel's already got the butter soooo a pastave female wont hurt .. while im at it wanna start doing some albino stuff so lets throw a het female in there .. lol it dont stop and if i didnt have bills id have a lot more bp's

:welcome:

It always starts with one ;)

My advice is to make sure your enclosure is set up before getting the snake. Make sure you get a proper thermostat, thermometers, and heating.

Also, try to find a local breeder to get your snake from. Most chain pet stores are over prices and contain unhealthy animals.

When you get your snake, leave it be for a week before trying to feed/handle.


Good luck!!!

My advice would be to start with a morph because if you start with a normal, and you are on here a lot looking at people posting all of their beautiful snakes, you will want one. There are some fairly inexpensive single gene morphs, like butters, or pinstripes etc. Unless of course you prefer the look of normals, then by all means save yourself a few bucks ;) Also this might be a moot point since you already have a corn, and are buying feeders, but don't waste your money buying feeders from those big pet stores, try to find someone local with better prices. Oh and start with rats, or if it's on mice, start with those but as soon as it's feeding reliably, make the switch to suitably sized rats.

I'm actually really new to this too (I've had her for 3-4 weeks), but I'm just loving my normal girl, I hold her for about an hour a night (while I watch TV), and not so much for her benefit, but just because I love holding her; she's so calm, but still inquisitive, and not boring.

Welcome to the forums! Things that come to mind right away....

Don't feed in another enclosure. You're causing unnecessary stress and asking to get bit.

Give the snake some time to settle in, handling can/will stress them out. Moving is also a big change for them and does cause stress.

Other than that, do all the reading you can on here!

Number one advise is to sell your corn snake because once you get into ball pythons. You'll realize that ball pythons are far better than corn snakes

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Originally Posted by Shera

My advice would be to start with a morph because if you start with a normal, and you are on here a lot looking at people posting all of their beautiful snakes, you will want one. There are some fairly inexpensive single gene morphs, like butters, or pinstripes etc. Unless of course you prefer the look of normals, then by all means save yourself a few bucks ;) Also this might be a moot point since you already have a corn, and are buying feeders, but don't waste your money buying feeders from those big pet stores, try to find someone local with better prices. Oh and start with rats, or if it's on mice, start with those but as soon as it's feeding reliably, make the switch to suitably sized rats.

I'm actually really new to this too (I've had her for 3-4 weeks), but I'm just loving my normal girl, I hold her for about an hour a night (while I watch TV), and not so much for her benefit, but just because I love holding her; she's so calm, but still inquisitive, and not boring.

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This is fairly true for me. I had a choice of pastel or normal at the time and I choose normal over pastel. I never regretes it but I gotta say I want another one with morph haha

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If you are up to it, check Craigslist. I know our local CL is fullll of ball pythons that people just don't want anymore. :-( It really breaks my heart, too, because an animal is alnost like a child to me. Once you make a commitment, you need to do everything in your power to stand by that commitment. I know there are some instances where the animal has to be given up, but most of the examples I've seen are just people who have gotten bored of caring for the animal. My mom actually found my snake on there and got her for me. I absolutely love her, too!!! :-)

Anyway, it's a place to start if you don't have a lot of cash to work with at the moment.

I didn't read through all these comments(in case I repeat), but my advice is learn your Ball python. A corn snake and Ball python are two very different creatures. My corn snake has never been aggressive and never struck at me. Of course I realize your snake may have a differently personality. But when I got my ball, I thought it would be the same. I learned quickly that was not the case. Learn to know when it's okay to reach in his tank and when it is not. They're very moody. Mine will even not talk to me for two weeks after I helped him shed (had to, didn't want to, but he's shedding on his own now)! By not talking I mean he stays in his hides and sits in my hands when I hold him when he normally moves around. Not happy with me! Haha. But make sure you can tell his moods.

Thank you everyone for the comments/concerns!

I do plan on setting up my enclosure well before I get my ball python :) and yes, I am actually looking forward to them being different than corn snakes. I got my corn snake as a sort of "rescue" from a closing pet shop, she's over a year old... and fiesty. Wasn't handled properly and so she bites. She's calming down, slowly, but very nervous girl. We're working it out ;)

I would LOVE to get a morph if I can, and actually there is the Canadian National Breeders Exhibition coming to Toronto in two weeks that I will attend. I'd like to get a young python there, from a local breeder, who has her/him on f/t rats (perfect scenerio).
Being in Canada, I don't really use Craigs List... we have Kijiji. But I don't think I'd ever get a snake from there, simply because I am too inexperienced to deal with the possible issues that other's pets may come with.

I do like the idea of feeding the snake outside of the enclosure, because that is what I do with my corn and it is working for her - then again, I know ball pythons are not as hardy as corns...
I really just want a good "lap snake" (as I have heard some people call BPs), one that doesn't bite.

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Originally Posted by CrazySnakeLady0

They're very moody.

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I do not agree with this. Ball pythons tend to be calm and shy, not moody. But yes, every snake has its own personality.