Hi~

Just wanted to say hi to everyone. I found this site in my endless quest for finding all the information available on ball pythons on the internet. I do not have a ball python, yet I am hoping to get one this holiday season. My only challenge is to convice my parents that its not going to be a problem, they are a little snake-phobic. Hopefully in a couple of weeks I'll be able to report in on my new Ball Python!

hey, welcome to the site! you stumbled upon the best site on the net! at least i think so...hmm..anyways welcome to the site and goodluck on convincing your parents....my mom said there would never be any snakes in the house....now i have 3 :)

Indeed you did. Plenaty of good info here and a number of great voices to share it with you - glad to have you register and join us. If you can't find anything you are looking for using the search feature never hesitate to ask!

Thanks. And I suppose I do have one question. You know those tanks that have the tops that are just essentially wire mesh, are those acceptable tanks or will it cause the humidity and the temperature to be impossible to regulate?

Welcome!

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Originally Posted by Andrew00

You know those tanks that have the tops that are just essentially wire mesh, are those acceptable tanks or will it cause the humidity and the temperature to be impossible to regulate?

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With the right set up, aquariums with screen tops can be used with success. But, you're correct, you'll have to work harder at maintaing heat and humidity than with a commercially available plastic enclosure or a cage with a solid top.

I actually prefer to see people use aquariums because I am a huge advocate of having a good air exchange in a ball pythons enclosure.

-adam

Cool. I also started to look at different sites that offer cages like precisioncages.com, and the boaphile cages. I likes the precision cages. Anyone recomend the best kind. And I'm not sure what size I'll need, I do not mean to cramp the snake, but I would want to get a tank that wont need to be upgraded to bigger size and yet is still not too large. I figure I'll probably take it to college in a couple of years so I can't get soemthing too big. Thanks again!

Welcome to the site! And good luck getting a snake, my mom said I couldn't have one until maybe she got used to the idea after a year (three years ago... hoping I'd forget, maybe?) but she fell in love with Eleanor at a reptile expo, and well, I've had Eleanor for thee years :)

i would say welcome, but i'm pretty new here myself. my mom said no, too, then i brought home pandora and she fell in love with her.

Well, if you got a 30 gallon breeder, and filled it with TONS of hides (like 5) then you could use that for your ball pythons whole life.

Actually a 40 gallon breeder tank is a little better for an adult ball python. Some females can get pretty big.

-adam

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Originally Posted by rex322

my mom said there would never be any snakes in the house....now i have 3 :)

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Ditto.. just don't give up on your parents! Good luck. ;) I also think you've found the best place on the web to find answers to your questions pertaining not only to ball pythons, but practically any herp that strikes your fancy to keep.

Welcome!
I am glad to see some one doing the research BEFORE buying! So refreshing! :D

40 gal breeder or a 36"x18"x12" (or somthing with simular specifications) works great for bps.
As mentioned before, make sure you have alot of hides and fullage if you are starting with a large tank. Lil guys get stressed easily with open spaces.

Good luck convincing the parents! I recommend talking them into going to the pet store with you. If you can get them to hold one, they will give in for sure. :)

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Originally Posted by green_man

If you can get them to hold one, they will give in for sure. :)

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I wish all people were that easy. At my job, sometimes people touch the snake and jerk back and say 'eeewww' and they flip out. :? :?: I don't get it but.. people are weird. I hope your parents are sane about the snakes, Andrew.

Welcome! I don't know your parents, but it often impresses parents in general when you can demonstrate that you've prepared and done the necessary research for something you want. Learn its housing needs, how often it needs to be fed, what its food items are and how much they cost and where to get them, how to properly clean and disinfect an enclosure, good handling practices, whether there's a reptile vet in your area (see http://www.arav.org/ to check if you're not sure) and how much they charge for a checkup or deworming meds or a fecal check, and (very importantly ;) ) how to keep the cage secure to prevent escapes. If you go to your parents armed with all that information, I'll bet it significantly improves your odds of success. :)