the addiction begins

Hello everyone
I've decided to attempt a reptile career with ball pythons once more and have cleared some space in my garage for somewhat of a reptile room. It's fairly sized at 5'x12'. The problem is the ambient temp. The wall that separates the stuff we have stored in the garage are just shelving units and the big garage door is not functional so temp always fluctuates. I was wondering if I could still keep some reptilian creatures here. Ambient temp is high 60s low 70s

I was going to make another thread but I guess this fits the thread. I found a spider ball python for sale female at 130g and 3 months old for 60$. What do you think? Should she be the first resident? I'll try and post a pic

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...9-10-08-46.png

Photo of "garage"?

Little on the low side for pricing on that Spider, that always cautions me. Why so low?

I'll try and post a photo when I'm home
he had it set at 85$ but I told him 60 and he agreed
he also has a bumblebee female for 180

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What should I look for when buying a hatchling

I'm glad you're eager to get back into it :)
However, if make sure you have the temps and everything figured out first. 60-70 is too low. You want 78-80 degrees. I'd recommend a ceramic heater, or a space heater. My room has like zero insulation or something so when it's cold out, my room gets cold too (right now). I use a red infrared light pointed at the front of my rack/tubs about a foot or two away during the night and temps stay at 79-83.
Trust me, don't make my mistake. Get your set up don't first, other than that I'm happy for you! Cool spider btw


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I want to heat the room but the garage door is stuck open. So a heater would cost an abundance due to a constant air flow. Do you think a curtain or something will keep temperature stable if it acts as a wall?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Memo

I'll try and post a photo when I'm home
he had it set at 85$ but I told him 60 and he agreed
he also has a bumblebee female for 180

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What should I look for when buying a hatchling

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First of all, look for flickering of the tongue (with the tongue coming all the way out) fairly frequency, showing that the python is aware and active. Make sure that they provide you with information on feeding dates and check to see that the python has been feeding consistently. Look over the snake's body for any physical damage and listen out for any squeaking/wheezing sounds as it breathes. The most obvious one would also take a look at it's weight both down on paper and as you see it.

I would try to get the door fixed, if it's opened more than a few inches, it wouldn't be good


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Build some real walls and a ceiling with insulation. It is easier to do before getting animals than it is to go oh chit, i have to move them all and build a real room

Well it's definantley more than a few inches. It's the car door opened as much as it could be open and it's stuck in position. I'm not real skilled in construction so I was thinking a plastic drape of some sort to block it off and then a regular curtain over that. Opinions?

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Well it's definantley more than a few inches. It's the car door opened as much as it could be open and it's stuck in position. I'm not real skilled in construction so I was thinking a plastic drape of some sort to block it off and then a regular curtain over that. Opinions?

If you have a garage door stuck open(to outside?) You need more than just drapes. You need something insulated. Building an unfinished wall is not hard at all.

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Roll up door or walk through door?

sounds like the garage is totally unsuitable in its current state. if you are determined to use it, it'll need a remodel. new door and insulated walls and roof.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Memo

Well it's definantley more than a few inches. It's the car door opened as much as it could be open and it's stuck in position. I'm not real skilled in construction so I was thinking a plastic drape of some sort to block it off and then a regular curtain over that. Opinions?

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Well it's definantley more than a few inches. It's the car door opened as much as it could be open and it's stuck in position. I'm not real skilled in construction so I was thinking a plastic drape of some sort to block it off and then a regular curtain over that. Opinions?

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Opinion: If you can't afford to fix your garage door right you may want to venture in something else.

No offense but if you can't afford to fix your garage door then stop now. I don't know were you live but I'm sure its not 60-70 all year long. What would you do if it hits 100 outside??????? Then you need an a/c. How are you going to afford that with the garage door open??????? I think you need to take 20 steps back and think hard about this for the safety of the snakes.

I'm looking into building a wall to separate this room entirely from the garage. It has a roof and 3 insulated walls. So I would only need to close it up with that last wall

Honestly I think you need to take these wonderful users advice to heart. To me it sounds like you are just going to get yourself into a situation that will only get worse as time goes on. Take a step back and truly think about the health and well being of the animals you want to care for, not only you and your situation. You want to be the sole provider and care taker of these amazing animals, and this brings a lot responsibility along with it. Sometimes we want something so badly that we bypass all rational thought to get it.

Take some time and get either a room or the garage in order, built, insulated, and all your temps/humidity all dialed in. Get everything in place so that if/when you do get a snake you have a wonderful, safe and stress free home to bring it to.

Best of luck to you, I hope you truly take time and think about what you want and the repercussions of those decisions a year or so down the line. There is no rush, enjoy the process :)

-Greg

It sounds a little iffy to me... Like a situation that in temperature extremes it would be impossible to control their temps safely

Is there perhaps another room that you could keep them? If you start with one then why not keep it in your room, and start on fixing the garage and then when the garage is fixed you can move the snake into it, and get more snakes down the line.


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I'll be keeping the spider in my room for now and I will start on the wall in the garage. My mother has a fear of snakes and reptiles in general so she said I could use the garage to keep my pets there. That's why I'll have to save up some money to work on the garage. So cal weather isn't that extreme so I think I'll only need a heater for night times and winter but who knows. I will update this thread when the wall is up . Thanks for the opinions