First time ball python owner

Hello, I recently bought a ball python and before I got him and even up until now I've been doing research about handling and care for them. I've talked to the pet store people about how they care for their personal snakes (not their store snakes) and reading a bunch of articles online. Well now I'm wanting to ask for any tips on here. Any help would be appreciated :)

One of the best tips you'll ever get, make sure your husbandry is correct. Lmao.

On another note, congratulations on your purchase! :)

Fairly new owner myself, going on about 3 months now. Number 1 tip/advice is never use a UTH without a thermostat. My zoo med UTH unregulated ran 158F at the glass and would burn a snake if not properly regulated by a thermostat.
Next bit of advice is to not get to freaked out about every little thing. These guys seem keep you guessing at times. Don't freak out if your snake refuses a meal, they just seem to do that sometimes to mess with your head 😊
This is a great place for advice and knowledge, but also remember these guys seem to have their own little personalities, go SLOW with your handling to lesson stress, 3 months in my snake has just now really gotten somewhat comfortable with handling.

Congrats! First and foremost, the ball python care sheet under the "Caresheets" forum contains some great info. Actually all of the care sheets in that forum are excellent.

Second, other than the advice already given, I will pass along what I was told when I purchased my first ball python: get a rack, you will end up with more of them!

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Originally Posted by Atrox

One of the best tips you'll ever get, make sure your husbandry is correct. Lmao.

On another note, congratulations on your purchase! :)

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Thanks and what do you mean by husbandry?

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Originally Posted by Smitty33

Fairly new owner myself, going on about 3 months now. Number 1 tip/advice is never use a UTH without a thermostat. My zoo med UTH unregulated ran 158F at the glass and would burn a snake if not properly regulated by a thermostat.
Next bit of advice is to not get to freaked out about every little thing. These guys seem keep you guessing at times. Don't freak out if your snake refuses a meal, they just seem to do that sometimes to mess with your head 😊
This is a great place for advice and knowledge, but also remember these guys seem to have their own little personalities, go SLOW with your handling to lesson stress, 3 months in my snake has just now really gotten somewhat comfortable with handling.

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I've already figured about the food thing and UTH as in heating pad correct? I've already been handling my snake just a little bit at a time, sometimes when he comes out from his little hiding place and sits on the cool side of the tank I will pick him up for about 3-10 minutes before putting him back. I let him crawl around me freely and I don't confine him from exploring, he seems to do pretty good with handling already and he ate Friday without any hesitation.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Congrats! First and foremost, the ball python care sheet under the "Caresheets" forum contains some great info. Actually all of the care sheets in that forum are excellent.

Second, other than the advice already given, I will pass along what I was told when I purchased my first ball python: get a rack, you will end up with more of them!

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Wish I could get more, he'll probably be the only one I'm going to have for the next 5~ years unless I can get a good paying job!

http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7mka7ae3.jpg
http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/...pssohrbaik.jpg


That's the little guy, he's approx 18" and I'm not sure on weight though.

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Originally Posted by Walkingdragon

Thanks and what do you mean by husbandry?

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Husbandry = maintaining correct temperatures and humidity inside of your BP's enclosure. If they're too low, at best he'll end up going off of food and having crappy sheds, at worst he'll end up with a respiratory infection.

So, you have a tank with a light. Do you have a cover on the tank? Because if not it's a given your humidity will be way too low. A UTH on a thermostat to create a hot spot about 90*F on the floor of the tank is a better option. Put one hide over the UTH, and another in a cool part of the tank, so he can thermoregulate.

Also, light tends to stress out ball pythons, in the wild they spend the day underground in termite mounds, and they hunt at night. If you need the light to maintain ambient temperature in the tank, replace the bulb with either a red one or a ceramic heat emitter (but you'll still have the low humidity issue).

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Husbandry = maintaining correct temperatures and humidity inside of your BP's enclosure. If they're too low, at best he'll end up going off of food and having crappy sheds, at worst he'll end up with a respiratory infection.

So, you have a tank with a light. Do you have a cover on the tank? Because if not it's a given your humidity will be way too low. A UTH on a thermostat to create a hot spot about 90*F on the floor of the tank is a better option. Put one hide over the UTH, and another in a cool part of the tank, so he can thermoregulate.

Also, light tends to stress out ball pythons, in the wild they spend the day underground in termite mounds, and they hunt at night. If you need the light to maintain ambient temperature in the tank, replace the bulb with either a red one or a ceramic heat emitter (but you'll still have the low humidity issue).

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I have both a UTH and heating lamp, I turn the lamp on and off during the day depending on the internal temp of the tank and I give him enough water (about 1-1 1/2 inches) to maintain humidity, if the air in the tank begins to feel dry, I lightly mist the tank down as to not over-dampen the substrate too much. I don't have a second hiding spot yet but he curls up under the branch when he goes to cool down and as for the cover it's a screen top and I put a thick towel on the cool side as to retain heat and moisture (?) in the tank.

I used aluminum tape to cover my screen top all but where my light sits. Red light keeps my ambient temps about 80-82. You will need a hydrometer to keep track of humidity as a tank set up will dry out fast. I mist mine about every day to keep it around 60% and twice a day at least during shed.
You may also consider getting a background or black paper to cover the back and sides of your tank to help your snake feel more secure. He looks really good and healthy!!

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Originally Posted by Walkingdragon

I have both a UTH and heating lamp, I turn the lamp on and off during the day depending on the internal temp of the tank...

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You need a thermostat to do that for you. Hopefully you have one on the UTH at least.

I got my first Royal last year and one peice of advice I'd give you is keep calm and don't freak out over feeding issues, this site is great for advice and info :)

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Originally Posted by bcr229

You need a thermostat to do that for you. Hopefully you have one on the UTH at least.

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It's a spliced thermostat.

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Originally Posted by Smitty33

I used aluminum tape to cover my screen top all but where my light sits. Red light keeps my ambient temps about 80-82. You will need a hydrometer to keep track of humidity as a tank set up will dry out fast. I mist mine about every day to keep it around 60% and twice a day at least during shed.
You may also consider getting a background or black paper to cover the back and sides of your tank to help your snake feel more secure. He looks really good and healthy!!

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Noted, once I get the chance I'll do that. Thanks, he's pretty active and he seems to be warming up to me quite fast.

I would get a PVC cage with a RHP and a real good thermostat. It has been much easier for me to deal with a PVC cage rather than a glass cage.

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...psjd1po4bo.jpghttp://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...psb6ibzwyy.jpg

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Originally Posted by Skeletor

I would get a PVC cage with a RHP and a real good thermostat. It has been much easier for me to deal with a PVC cage rather than a glass cage.

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...psjd1po4bo.jpghttp://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...psb6ibzwyy.jpg

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How much did your whole setup cost?

I got my first snake in November and got another one in February and there are two rules, above all else, I would recommend....

1.) The thermostat. You'll see it mentioned ad nauseum on these boards and there is a very good reason for that. Had I not lurked here for months prior to purchasing my lesser I probably would have just got a heat mat and called it good, then poor Howie would been screwed, all burnt up and whatnot. I got myself a hydrofarm thermostat off Amazon for 35ish bucks and just ordered a herpstat 1. If there is any one thing you shouldn't skimp on its how you regulate your heat source.


2.) Don't trip. There quirky little fellas and will sometimes do weird stuff. My lesser gets scared by his own body on a routine basis and I once saw my black pastel wrap it's tail around its neck like a choke hold, then tried to fight it's way out for a few seconds til she realized she could just let go of her head. Try to get to know your specific snake and then go from there.

$425 for cage, 40 watt RHP and Vivarium VE200 thermostat.

So I'm curious now, how often should I handle him? Without over stressing him but attempting to bond with him rapidly

I don't mess with my BP after he eats for 2 days after or he's going through a shed. During other times I can literally come home from work, let my BP know Im home by turning on the light. I will come back 20 mins later and he will be out of his hide. When he does this, I can pick him up without him flinching one bit. It's almost as if he wants to be picked up. I handle him for a little bit every single day. As long as he didn't recently eat or in a shed. If he's in a shed its a good 2 weeks you can't even bother with him. He will warn you with a little sound he makes. Nothing aggressive just like air blowing out of his nose.

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Originally Posted by Walkingdragon

http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7mka7ae3.jpg
http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/...pssohrbaik.jpg


That's the little guy, he's approx 18" and I'm not sure on weight though.

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So cute. Congrats on the purchase [emoji4]


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by Skeletor

I don't mess with my BP after he eats for 2 days after or he's going through a shed. During other times I can literally come home from work, let my BP know Im home by turning on the light. I will come back 20 mins later and he will be out of his hide. When he does this, I can pick him up without him flinching one bit. It's almost as if he wants to be picked up. I handle him for a little bit every single day. As long as he didn't recently eat or in a shed. If he's in a shed its a good 2 weeks you can't even bother with him. He will warn you with a little sound he makes. Nothing aggressive just like air blowing out of his nose.

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And what about regularly? Like how many times a day and for how long when nothings going on?

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Originally Posted by Megz

So cute. Congrats on the purchase [emoji4]

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Thanks :3

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Originally Posted by Walkingdragon

And what about regularly? Like how many times a day and for how long when nothings going on?

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This question can only be answered by your snake.
Observe it, let it tell you when it's had enough handling. For the first 6 months I had him, it was maybe 10-15 minutes until he got antsy and I returned him to enclosure. 2-3 times per week. Usually at night (after 9 pm), with the room lighting low.

Last night I had my guy out for about an hour which was:
5-10 minutes in hands, until he was calm. Put him down on sofa for a few minutes while I misted the enclosure and then
10-15 minutes of 'The Royal (Ball) Treatment' - wiped him down with a moistened paper towel, and used a towel to dry him off afterwards. He was wrapped around one arm, not moving much so I think he enjoys this. Then, put him down on sofa for a few minutes while I tossed out the paper towel. (I'll try video recording this next time - maybe Sunday night).
20 minutes alternately handling/playing/letting him roam around on sofa and floor - and me. I had him around my neck a few times when needing to go from one room to another.

Then I noticed he was trying to pull away and get away from me with a little more effort/urgency, so it was time to return him to tank. The terrarium has sliding doors so I held him near the door and let him 'decide' to go back in at his own pace.

EDIT: but each snake/owner is different; some people handle their snake almost every day, others leave their pet alone and only take it out for feeding in a separate tub, showing to friends, or when cleaning the cage.

^^^^ This right here. Every snake will be a little different. Mine is very timid, to the point he's never hissed or struck as he appears to me anyway almost too afraid to do that. Thus I've kept my handling kind of minimum to maybe once a week. I go 2 days after a feeding and I don't handle him the day before I feed him so he's not stressed out on feeding day.
Saturday evening was the first time he actually came out of his hide when I was by his tank. He acted either hungry or just curious. I got him out for about 30-40 minutes and he was the best I've ever handled him. Even let my daughter hold him as he was very calm and relaxed. Sunday I got him out and put him in his holding tub while I cleaned his tank, maybe 45 minutes. Now whether it was this or a combination of having his tank "changed" on him also but he seemed pretty stressed. He crawled around maybe 20 minutes checking out his new clean tank and has been in his hide ever since.

I have my ball python out every day except for feeding and shedding times. She roams all over the house, up the carpeted stairs, on the radiators (when they are cool enough) and other areas. She is very calm and good about doing so and doesn't get into too much trouble (I watch around the sofa and rocking/recliner chair so she doesn't get out of reach). Some times I put her back in her enclosure and she will promptly turn around and come back out the door. I take my boa out with the same frequency but she is a bit more timid (still new to me and the house) and stays attached to my arm or close to me and doesn't venture too far away. I think that interacting is an important facet of ownership (if you want your snake to be a pet and not just for breeding) and working with them makes them so much easier to approach. My boa is a bit defensive about her enclosure/hide but is great once out so I'm working with her to ensure that she knows what I'm all about.

Thanks a bunch guys, if I ever get any more questions I'll be sure to post on here :)

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Originally Posted by Walkingdragon

And what about regularly? Like how many times a day and for how long when nothings going on?



Thanks :3

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I usually handle him for about 15 minutes per day. Today I checked on him and he was perched up in his tree. I didn't bother him because I already know he won't let go of that branch mostly because he recently ate. Wednesday will be the third day after he ate. I can bet he will be roaming around in the evening looking to explore. I will take him out during this time and let him explore. You sort of learn to read these snakes after a few months.

So I've been wondering, I see people that have snakes have like a little log or branch. I was wondering if they were either plastic/ceramic or real de-barked branches and if they were real how do you sanitize it?

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Originally Posted by Walkingdragon

So I've been wondering, I see people that have snakes have like a little log or branch. I was wondering if they were either plastic/ceramic or real de-barked branches and if they were real how do you sanitize it?

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I got some nice wood ones but tossed them because the snakes like to "go" on them. Wood is porous so that mess just doesn't clean up. Now I use plastic or PVC.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

I got some nice wood ones but tossed them because the snakes like to "go" on them. Wood is porous so that mess just doesn't clean up. Now I use plastic or PVC.

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Did you buy them from the store or did you de-bark and sanitize them yourself?

Bump...

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Originally Posted by Walkingdragon

Did you buy them from the store or did you de-bark and sanitize them yourself?

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If you live near a body of water you can pick up some driftwood. It's often well-cured and without bark already, so all you have to do is pop it in the oven for a bit to sanitize, and maybe sand down any particularly sharp edges. Easy to replace, too, if it gets soiled. I have a couple of nicer pieces that I found that I coated in polyurethane to make cleaning easier. If you go this route just be certain to give the poly a week or so to cure, until there's absolutely no smell.

Mine were store-bought. Now I stick with plastic or PVC, anything easy to clean and disinfect.