Not a snake owner. Yet.

I am currently going through a divorce and I moved back to the state that I grew up in. I was talking to my daughter the other night and she brought up pets. She knows that I am a pet-lover, but I am not in a situation where I can have dogs or cats. She mentioned that one of her friends has a snake.

She called it a Rock Python and said that it doesn't get very big. Well, I Googled Rock Python, and I had to inform her that I consider an 11-foot snake to be pretty big. After talking with her some more, we figured out that she meant Ball Python.

I had never considered owning a snake as a pet, but after researching the Ball Python, I think it might be a good pet for me. I'm not sure when I'll be able to get one, but that's ok, I have plenty of research to do.

hey, welcome !! im ezra
i find snakes to be very relaxing.
i am mentally ill and being with my ball python completely changes my mood.

ball pythons are great for beginners.
honestly, my snake needs less attention than my cats or dogs.

hope you find what you're looking for!
feel free to ask any questions - everybody around here is very friendly.

Welcome and we are here to help.

Welcome to the forum. This is certainly the right place to be to learn about ball pythons and other species...

Thanks for the welcome! I have learned so much in the last 2 days on this forum. I can't wait until I can get my first BP. I think it's going to be a baby Pewter BP. Or a Calico. Or an Enchi. No, a Black Pastel. Or Mocha.

Why do I get the feeling that I'm going to end up with more than 1?

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Originally Posted by Bassball Fever

Why do I get the feeling that I'm going to end up with more than 1?

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I suggest you just start off with a 5 or 7 tub rack. LoL

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Originally Posted by Bassball Fever

Thanks for the welcome! I have learned so much in the last 2 days on this forum. I can't wait until I can get my first BP. I think it's going to be a baby Pewter BP. Or a Calico. Or an Enchi. No, a Black Pastel. Or Mocha.

Why do I get the feeling that I'm going to end up with more than 1?

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How can you not? They're like tattoos or potato chips lol

As Pit said, get a rack. Actually get two, one big one to hold your collection and a smaller one with a few tubs to use for quarantining new additions.

Personally I'd recommend starting off with something like a King snake. They don't have humidity requirements, stay much smaller, so you can feed just mice, no need to buy expensive rats. And they will almost always eat, unlike ball pythons which can be picky eaters (some will only eat live rodents). I'd say a ball python is more mid range snake experience wise. Keep in mind that a ball python can get pretty big, up to six feet long and over 10 pounds. They can also live over 40 years. Here's a photo of a 5000 gram ball python (over 11 pounds!):

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...Fhqdefault.jpg

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Originally Posted by cchardwick

Personally I'd recommend starting off with something like a King snake. They don't have humidity requirements, stay much smaller, so you can feed just mice, no need to buy expensive rats. And they will almost always eat, unlike ball pythons which can be picky eaters (some will only eat live rodents). I'd say a ball python is more mid range snake experience wise. Keep in mind that a ball python can get pretty big, up to six feet long and over 10 pounds. They can also live over 40 years. Here's a photo of a 5000 gram ball python (over 11 pounds!):

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...Fhqdefault.jpg

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I have some time before I will be able to get my first snake, so I have time to to some more research. I looked at King Snakes and Corn Snakes, but I'm much more drawn to the BPs. I actually like the size of the adults, and I'm not worried about the cost of the rats.

As far as the picky eating, I have been doing a lot of reading and it seems to me that each BP is different and it will be my job to figure out what will work for each one. I don't have experience with snakes yet, but I'm confident that I will be able to take care of a BP. After all, I have everybody here to help me if I get stumped.

I never would have guessed that I was considering a snake, but the more I read about BPs, the more I want one. I have some things in my personal life to clear up before I can commit to one. Once that is taken care of, I will be able to provide for one (or 2). I am hoping that next year at this time I will have everything ready and waiting for a new :snake: roommate (or 2).

I have to agree with cchardwick. BPs are really cool but they can be difficult sometimes. Picky eaters etc. All that stuff everyone else said. Kings or Corns don't really require any less care, but they are kind of like plug and play snakes. They don't go off feed and you spend way less time worrying if you are doing something wrong. They are more forgiving if your husbandry is off. I never worried over snakes so much until I got hatchling ball pythons. lol Having said all that, I love them. Very cool snakes...

This place can help you when your bp wont eat, you think it has an RI or need to know where to place your thermostat probe. lol

welcome! just jumping on the thread to say you've come to the right place for info! do your research, ask questions, and i'm sure any snake you choose will be a great experience.

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Originally Posted by Bassball Fever

She called it a Rock Python and said that it doesn't get very big. Well, I Googled Rock Python, and I had to inform her that I consider an 11-foot snake to be pretty big.

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Maybe she meant to say Pet-Rock Python? :D


Sorry couldn't resist, and I love my little guy. Corns and Kings may be more forgiving, but if you have the time and resources to keep its husbandry spot on, there's no reason why a ball python wouldn't thrive in your care.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bassball Fever

Thanks for the welcome! I have learned so much in the last 2 days on this forum. I can't wait until I can get my first BP. I think it's going to be a baby Pewter BP. Or a Calico. Or an Enchi. No, a Black Pastel. Or Mocha.

Why do I get the feeling that I'm going to end up with more than 1?

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Lol I'm on the same boat! I'm having difficulty settling on which morph I'd like as well hehe.

In my humble opinion, you seem to be putting in the due diligence. You're doing your homework and not going to a store, seeing something you like and coming home with all new equipment for your new animal. That being said, I think a BP would be fine in your care. I see no reason to get a corn or King if what you want is a BP. Get the snake YOU want. It's going to be in your care for YEARS, so don't let others persuade you in a different direction. I have a BP, a King and two hatchling corns and I love them all, for different reasons (my next will def be another BP). But it's YOUR animal under YOUR care. A BP is definitely more work getting things dialed in, and more unforgiving of husbandry errors, but you seem like you'll be on top of that, so I wouldn't sweat it. You'll be fine with whichever animal you choose. Since you seem drawn to BPs, the hard part will be choosing which morph, and then choosing your NEXT snake. I often say, tattoos and snakes, I don't know many people with just one...

Now, keep in mind, I am saying this about a BP, not a retic or burm or a GTP or ETB or something that I would advise keeping another starter snake for a few years prior to jumping on a larger (retic/burm) or more aggressive (GTP/ETB) snake. I would LOVE a GTP or ETB, but I'm a ways away still...

Anyway, I hope you get what works out best for you and your daughter and the animal brings you both years of joy!