A Lurker No More...

Hello All.

My name is Bryce and I'm in Bowie, MD. I've been lurking for quite some time, but decided it was time to come out of the dark and into the light known as BP.Net. I'm a big Ball Python fan, though I've never owned one. I was always interested, but as a child my parents would dare not let me have a snake in the house as they are deftly afraid. Just a little about myself, I'm 32 yrs old and married (my anniversary is July 7!). I work as a Web Developer for the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacist. I'm buying a Ball Python very, very soon from BP.Net's own Adam Wysocki. Adam is the GREATEST and lives sooooooooooooo close to me! Bowie and Laurel are neighboring towns here in Maryland. He has been such a valuable source of information and believe you me, I've picked his brain a great deal and even spoke with him once on the phone. Great guy and class act! Thanks for everything Adam. I'll be buying a Normal Female from Adam in a month or 2 and will name the little girl A'Kashja (After the character Akasha from Queen of the Damned). I'm currently purchasing my husbandry needs and recently sent a list to Adam to look over. For those interested here are the things I settled on.

Cage: Animal Plastics T3 w/Sliding Glass Doors, Belly Heat, and Sliding Door Locks. Per Adam's suggestion, I will keep the top solid and also add a Pro Products Radiant Heat Panel. I know this is a very large cage for a Hatchling but will be purchasing 6-8 hides along with using Adam's crumpled newspaper suggestion. Until acclimated, I'll use Newspaper as a substrate and then either switch to Cage Carpet or Aspen Bedding (still undecided).

Temperature Tools: ProExotics PE-2 Tempgun w/Case, Acu-Rite Thermo/Hygrometer, and a Spyder Robotics HerpStat. I've already purchased the Tempgun and the Acurite along with 12'' Hemostats which should be here this week. I also plan to feed f/t (starting hopefully with rat pups) from RodentPro. For a water bowl, I was going to pick up a 5 inch ceramic water bowl from reptiletubs. Is that a good size water bowl?

Well as you can see I'm long winded and love to talk about Ball Pythons! I'm very much looking forward to being an active member here and also keeping everyone involved in A'kashja's rearing (it takes a village to raise a child!) LOL.

Thank you all!

Bryce

Oh how cool! I lived in Bowie for a couple years while I attend UMCP!! (of course it was my parents house and they still live there) Ever go to the Chesapeake Wildlife Sanctuary off of 301? I love that place (the little hole in the wall that it is) Such a small world. :D

Congrats on the soon to be new addition. You'll have to post pictures when you get her. (we love pictures!) Glad to have you and welcome to the group!!!!

welcome to the site! sounds like you got all the bases covered. are you going to have alot of bp's or just one? (they are addicting) lol. ap makes some really nice racks also, good for housing alot in a small space and on one thermostat. adam is a great guy to deal with and his customer service is top notch. no matter what you purchase from him he makes it feel like a vip expierence.


vaughn

Welcome to the forum Bryce, glad to have you here! We are also purchasing from Adam. We are waiting now (like freakin expectant parents LOL) for our male lemon pastel to hatch. Really funny, when I was pregnant my husband would ask every day if it was "the day"....now he asks every day "did Adam email yet?" :)


This will be our first foray into the world of morphs (we currently have one unsexed 5 month old normal) and Adam has been hands down the best as far as quality, payment plans and just plain unending answers to all our questions both here in this forum and in private emails. I'm sure we will be as thrilled with our snake as you will be with yours.

That sounds like a really nice setup you've got and it's great you are getting everything organized and setup ahead of time. We did our research and setup before getting our first snake and thank goodness, found this forum as well. It's been a great experience so far and I think all the planning ahead and support from these wonderful folks has really contributed to a lovely healthy snake and a great first time experience for our whole family.

Feel free to ask any questions Bryce. This forum is truely one of the best resources you'll ever find, especially in the first nerve racking months of owning your snake. (Did I forget to mention the "free case of raging OCD with every ball python purchase"? ;) )

~~Joanna~~

Hi

I was a lurker too until recently doing my homework and research before we got our baby. Joanna's right - this is a lovely board and everyone is so helpful.

I'm sure I would be buying from Adam too (he is so knowledgeable) but I live in the UK.

The big vivarium sounds good. I'm thinking of going for a large one although we currently have a small one which is proving difficult regards keeping temps and humidity at the exact levels. I, too, will be interested in what everyone else thinks.

Best of luck with your new arrival.

Sue

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Originally Posted by kavmon

welcome to the site! sounds like you got all the bases covered. are you going to have alot of bp's or just one? (they are addicting) lol. ap makes some really nice racks also, good for housing alot in a small space and on one thermostat. adam is a great guy to deal with and his customer service is top notch. no matter what you purchase from him he makes it feel like a vip expierence.

vaughn

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Wife says only 1....LOL

Got the Acurite today. Tested it out. It seems cool. PE2 Tempgun and Case and 12 inch Hemostats should be here in a day or so.

Thank you all for making me feel so welcomed.


Bryce

Welcome to the site. It looks like you are set and great to see somebody else from Maryland. I am down by Waldorf.

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Originally Posted by oorob00

Welcome to the site. It looks like you are set and great to see somebody else from Maryland. I am down by Waldorf.

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Cool. I'm in Waldorf quite abit. I'm also heavily into Car Audio and my installer lives in Waldorf on Bannister Circle. Also, my frat bro, lives in White Plains, so I'm in Charles County frequently.

only 1 ball python? well that won't last LOL!

Actually we're kind of lucky in this house as both my husband and I share a love of these fascinating critters. We have 4 kids who also think snakes are very cool though our oldest is more of a corn snake kinda gal. We actually have to schedule who gets to feed Baby (our only bp right now) as the 3 older kids and my husband and I all argue over who gets the "honor". It's actually great to see the kids so interested in this snake and wanting to learn how to properly care for it's more specialized needs.

I bet once you get that first snake and your wife sees how really lovely they are, she might not be opposed to a second (or third...or fourth) one. You could always put really amazing ball python morphs on your computer desktop to tempt her LOL. Hmmm maybe I'm the only wife and mother in the world who was actually more happy to get a baby ball python for Mother's Day then roses or candy????? :P


~~Joanna~~

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

only 1 ball python? well that won't last LOL!

Actually we're kind of lucky in this house as both my husband and I share a love of these fascinating critters. We have 4 kids who also think snakes are very cool though our oldest is more of a corn snake kinda gal. We actually have to schedule who gets to feed Baby (our only bp right now) as the 3 older kids and my husband and I all argue over who gets the "honor". It's actually great to see the kids so interested in this snake and wanting to learn how to properly care for it's more specialized needs.

I bet once you get that first snake and your wife sees how really lovely they are, she might not be opposed to a second (or third...or fourth) one. You could always put really amazing ball python morphs on your computer desktop to tempt her LOL. Hmmm maybe I'm the only wife and mother in the world who was actually more happy to get a baby ball python for Mother's Day then roses or candy????? :P


~~Joanna~~

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I hope so, because once they are affordable, I'd like to have a albino, caramel albino, or clown morph, i think those 3 are soooooooo sweet! I'm taking her to a Reptile Show in Havre De Grace, Maryland this weekend. Hopefully, she'll come out of the fear zone!

Hope to see you there Adam!

Bryce

I'll be at the show on Saturday, just not sure when yet???? Trying to coordinate meeting a bunch of people to do bizz with and I'm having schedule melt down!!

-adam

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

I'll be at the show on Saturday, just not sure when yet???? Trying to coordinate meeting a bunch of people to do bizz with and I'm having schedule melt down!!

-adam

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I'll email you my cell # and maybe we can meet up there. How long of a drive is it? Will you be wearing an 8Ball Pythons Tee?

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Originally Posted by bg1906

I'll email you my cell # and maybe we can meet up there. How long of a drive is it? Will you be wearing an 8Ball Pythons Tee?

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The drive is like 45 minutes from my shop (just outside of b-mo) but I drive like a bat out of hell!! ;)

Yes, I'll be wearing one of my shirts, but be warned ... I'm usually not the only one walking around with an 8ball shirt on at the All Maryland Show ;)

Hit me on the cell when you get up there!

-adam

Will Do!


Bryce

Is your wife really afraid of snakes Bryce or just has never been exposed to them much. We're constantly amazed since we got our first bp how little people really understand snakes or why they make such fascinating pets (tho I really hate using the term "pet" in reference to a snake...it just doesn't fit like a dog or cat fits that wording).

I always get the "it's so gross how they eat mice". My response is...put a live mouse in a room with your lazy pet cat....that my dear is gross.

Have a great time at the show and say hi to Adam for us. We'd love to be there but northern Michigan is just so far from anything LOL.


~~Joanna~~

I don't know if this offers any hope or not, but my husband does not like them. I had to do some major coaxing to get the first one. It was much easier to talk him into the second one, and now I've even got him agreeing to letting me get two more. It's awesome! He isn't afraid of them, just isn't a big animal fan in general. Getting the first one is the hardest I think.

Oh and Happy Anniversary! :cake:

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Is your wife really afraid of snakes Bryce or just has never been exposed to them much. We're constantly amazed since we got our first bp how little people really understand snakes or why they make such fascinating pets (tho I really hate using the term "pet" in reference to a snake...it just doesn't fit like a dog or cat fits that wording).

I always get the "it's so gross how they eat mice". My response is...put a live mouse in a room with your lazy pet cat....that my dear is gross.

Have a great time at the show and say hi to Adam for us. We'd love to be there but northern Michigan is just so far from anything LOL.


~~Joanna~~

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Yes she's afraid, but willing to conquer her fear. I think its exposure. I was afraid the first time I saw a snake. But despite fear, and after holding and handling several I became not afraid. I decision for a Ball Python was easy for me. They don't get super large like a burmese or retic and they have a normally docile personality. That's what I need for her to lose her fear with and such a snake is very good for us as 1st time reptile owners. I'd love to have a Clown Ball Python one day and also a Blood Python. I think Bloods are fascinating, but I also hear they are a bit more agressive than Balls and not a got 1st timers snake. Plus the get fairly large in girth and my wife is concerened with those things. I did get her to hold a baby once. She enjoyed that, but that was so long ago and now she's afraid again. In fact, several weeks ago, she went outside to relieve the dog and I heard her scream....Ahhhhhhhhhhhh Bryce a big black snake! Outside basking on the bricks was 5 ft+ Black Rat Snake. He was just soaking up some sun. I told her don't mess with him and he won't mess with you! I went out and just watched him. After while he went about his business and slithered through the fence and off to his next adventure! I'm just hoping to get her used to the idea of being around reptiles without fear. Maybe have Adam talk to her to reassure her.

I hope it works!

LOL

Bryce

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Originally Posted by tigerlily

I don't know if this offers any hope or not, but my husband does not like them. I had to do some major coaxing to get the first one. It was much easier to talk him into the second one, and now I've even got him agreeing to letting me get two more. It's awesome! He isn't afraid of them, just isn't a big animal fan in general. Getting the first one is the hardest I think.

Oh and Happy Anniversary! :cake:

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Thank you! It's our 3rd Anniversary!

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I'm buying a Ball Python very, very soon from BP.Net's own Adam Wysocki. Adam is the GREATEST and lives sooooooooooooo close to me! Great guy and class act!

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Wow Adam, is all this adulation giving you a god complex yet?? :P ;)

Well, I can't wait to come to the shop in August with Christie to see if all the rumors are true... :devilish: ;)

I don't think we have to worry about using Adam and God in the same sentence. It just doesn't sound right. Maybe satan, with all that dark and sinister stuff. :devilish: LOL! ;) :D

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Originally Posted by tigerlily

I don't think we have to worry about using Adam and God in the same sentence. It just doesn't sound right. Maybe satan, with all that dark and sinister stuff. :devilish: LOL! ;) :D

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LMAO ... now that was cute! :D

-adam

Congrats on your anniversary as well Bryce!

Hopefully with daily exposure to a young snake your wife will become more comfortable with them. I know some b.p.'s can be a bit nippy but our young one is amazingly well tempered. With supervision even our youngest child who is 4 handles her. We're hoping with exposure to snakes at such a young age he'll develop respect for them but no fear.

We had neighbours years ago that were so afraid of snakes they would kill any snake that innocently slithered through their yard. Poor lil grass snakes weren't doing any harm at all and there were no naturally occuring venomous snakes....they just seemed to think all snakes were pure evil and you couldn't tell them any different. We eventually offered to come over and remove any snakes to a safer place rather than see them destroyed needlessly.

Hope you and your wife enjoy the reptile show. When will you be getting your first snake from Adam?


~~Jo~~

Many, many people seem to have a major aversion to snakes. I really don't know why but it a rarity that people are geniuinely interested in snakes as a pet. Most, you can see goosebumps running up their arms even as you speak about them. The fact that your wife is willing to try is a really good thing. With time I'm sure she come to love them too. Just make sure you keep that enclosure tightly secured. It might be a deal breaker for her if she wakes up with one in bed. ;) :D

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Congrats on your anniversary as well Bryce!

Hopefully with daily exposure to a young snake your wife will become more comfortable with them. I know some b.p.'s can be a bit nippy but our young one is amazingly well tempered. With supervision even our youngest child who is 4 handles her. We're hoping with exposure to snakes at such a young age he'll develop respect for them but no fear.

We had neighbours years ago that were so afraid of snakes they would kill any snake that innocently slithered through their yard. Poor lil grass snakes weren't doing any harm at all and there were no naturally occuring venomous snakes....they just seemed to think all snakes were pure evil and you couldn't tell them any different. We eventually offered to come over and remove any snakes to a safer place rather than see them destroyed needlessly.

Hope you and your wife enjoy the reptile show. When will you be getting your first snake from Adam?


~~Jo~~

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Thanks for the well wishes. Seems to be August sometime I believe. Hoping to get a very nice "odd" color/patterned normal girl! My wife I believe will be OK. She just needs exposure. I hope! :)

Wonderful! Let us know when you get your lil snake. Our normal bp Baby is just lovely and getting prettier (or more handsome) with each shed it seems.


~~Jo~~