Tips For New Owners

I wanted to start a thread for various tips for new Ball Python owners, so here it is. Feel free to post your own advice or any questions.

My advice:

- Don't worry too much. This can suck the joy out of owning a Ball Python. Practice proper husbandry, but don't over do it.

- Buy the right supplies for your Ball Python. This will cost more money, but it will make your life easier and your Ball Python's life better.

- Don't over do cage decorations. This will make cleaning a lot harder. Your Ball Python doesn't care about decorations. Two hides, a water bowl, and a branch or vine is perfect.

- Have fun! That's the reason you got a BP isn't it?


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:D Get a thermostat before you buy the snake

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Originally Posted by Cyndymei

:D Get a thermostat before you buy the snake

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Very true. I think everyone makes the mistake of not doing this. I sure did!


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Originally Posted by BPavery

Very true. I think everyone makes the mistake of not doing this. I sure did!

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Not everyone. Some of us are prone to way over planning. ;)

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

Not everyone. Some of us are prone to way over planning. ;)

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That's true too. I over-planned for about six months before getting mine. I was just so eager to get one the moment I saw him. When he arrived I wasn't prepared.


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Thanks! I appreciate this information! I just purchased a ball python for my dude on June 9th for Father's Day. We purchased another terrarium for him on Sunday to accommodate his growth later on. We have 2 hides, a small artificial tree, and a water bowl. We also have a little aspen moss in there also. I would appreciate more information on caring for our snake in the future. Thanks a lot!

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Originally Posted by snakelady609

Thanks! I appreciate this information! I just purchased a ball python for my dude on June 9th for Father's Day. We purchased another terrarium for him on Sunday to accommodate his growth later on. We have 2 hides, a small artificial tree, and a water bowl. We also have a little aspen moss in there also. I would appreciate more information on caring for our snake in the future. Thanks a lot!

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Your welcome! Your cage setup sounds great. Another tip I would like to add is don't worry about your Ball Python going off feed. It will most likely happen, and it's a natural occurrence. They can go months without food and will sometimes stop eating throughout winter. My ball python finally ate a few days ago after eight months of being off feed and he is perfectly healthy.


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Yes I did not get a thermostat before i got my first 2 snakes and did not sleep for 2 weeks pushing a light dimmer around chasing the natural temperature changes in any given day.

I want to start out on the right foot. Can someone please post a picture of what an enclosure should look like. Getting nervous and surely don't want to get in over our heads. Please tell me what you think I NEED to know prior to making a purchase of a hatchling...

If your husbandry is right (get a thermostat!), your snake is not losing weight (get a gram scale!), they aren't exhibiting signs of illness (research first!) and you know they know how to eat (get a good breeder/established hatching!) CHILL OUT if they eat any given meal or not.

People make themselves crazy about this, switching prey/size/food/presentation/everything under the sun, offering the snake food every day or every other day, and just obsess about it.

Don't. They're ball pythons. Be sure of the husbandry, watch for weight loss or signs of illness, and then relax. All the obsession and stressing on your part won't help a thing.

My other tip (besides not stressing, getting a t-stat and gram scale, and doing research) is to skip the freaking tank. Seriously, just skip it. Changing the bedding in those things is a nightmare, even if humidity isn't a problem. Go with the plastic tub. Your back will thank me.

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Originally Posted by tootteabugs

I want to start out on the right foot. Can someone please post a picture of what an enclosure should look like. Getting nervous and surely don't want to get in over our heads. Please tell me what you think I NEED to know prior to making a purchase of a hatchling...

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Try this thread on for size and let us know if you have questions after: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...With-Pictures!

Happy reading!

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Originally Posted by Wyrd

Yes I did not get a thermostat before i got my first 2 snakes and did not sleep for 2 weeks pushing a light dimmer around chasing the natural temperature changes in any given day.

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:) That's not fun!


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Originally Posted by tootteabugs

I want to start out on the right foot. Can someone please post a picture of what an enclosure should look like. Getting nervous and surely don't want to get in over our heads. Please tell me what you think I NEED to know prior to making a purchase of a hatchling...

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Here is my Ball Python's enclosure:

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/07/03/y4y6uzab.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/07/03/udu4yguz.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/07/03/adybupus.jpg

It features two hides on the warm side and cool side, a large water bowl (large enough for him to fit in comfortably), an artificial reptile branch (optional), Cypress mulch, a hygrometer, a thermometer, and a Zoo Med thermostat controlling a UTH heat pad. That's all you need. :)


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Also, it's a 40 gallon tank because he's an adult Ball Python. Hatchlings will do well in a 10 or 20 gallon tank.


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I have successfully kept all my ball pythons with the above advice, and maybe a couple changes, but I one thing I will add, and I think is very important. Get an infrared temp gun, that way you KNOW what the temps are in various places of their cage :)

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Originally Posted by BiggBaddWolf

I have successfully kept all my ball pythons with the above advice, and maybe a couple changes, but I one thing I will add, and I think is very important. Get an infrared temp gun, that way you KNOW what the temps are in various places of their cage :)

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I would recommend temp guns to. They are the most accurate way to get a temperature reading.



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