Brand new to snankes and this forum :)

Hello!!
well i just picked up a new Ball Python, not sure how old or if male or female. Anyway i didnt know much about snakes and was stupid to buy it before research but its alittle to late for that so anyhow. Im just wondering how old do you think it is based on the pics, also about how much bigger will it get? How long should i wait before the 1st feeding. His cage includes a new 30gal tall tank with locking lid, Ecoterra heat-wave battom heater, a heat light with day/night heat bulbs, hideing rock, water bowl, Tropic aire humidifier & air exchanger, and a Tetra Wisper air pump for the humidifier. Tomorrow im going to get a temp gauge, humidity gauge, and some logs and what not. Also the heat bulb i got dosnt put off much heat at all, actually it feels less than a regular light bulb. Its the Exoterra heat bulb, any recamended other bulbs i should pick up that are carried at local pet shaps like petco? Also how much more will it grow, seems to be over a foot now, im just afraid it will get to big. I dont really want i big snake. Anyway sorry for the 1st long post but here are some pics:)
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...Picture003.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...Picture001.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...Picture004.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...Picture013.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...Picture012.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...Picture010.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...Picture008.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...on/Picture.jpg

This caresheet will help alot:
http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules....warticle&id=52

The following was originaly posted by Daemonox from another forum

Welcome to the world of snakes; your right about researching first, but your one step ahead of many people as they dont care about researching. Your setup looks pretty good, although a few suggestions would be a log or branch or something in there to give it a little more ground cover. Snakes, especially young ones, stress out in large open areas like that (theyre wide open to preditors), and you'll probably hardly see it out of the hide, not to mention he could be too afraid to eat. Did you ask abot how he was eating when you got him? Whether it was live or frozen? If not I would go back and ask. One more thing you need is a good thermometer. The best ones are the indoor/outdoor digital ones with a probe you can get at places like target or walmart. Dont get any of the cheap stick on the glass ones, they are very innacurate and measure the temp of the glass more then of the air. You will also need at least one more hide, how you have it set up right now your making him have to choose between feeling safe and being at the temp he needs to thermoregulate. Definatly do as much research as you can, and ask any questions you may have. As for the age I would guess its under 6 months old; just a baby

like daniel said check that care sheet and be sure you have all the husbandry issues addressed. you have a fairly young snake there. be sure to give him/her some time to settle in and do try to fill that cage in a little bit. i would imagine all that open space may stress it out. and u most likely will want a hot and cool side hide. welcome, hope you enjoy your snake and stay in it for the long haul regardless of size. he/she will max out in around the 5 foot range.

hum 5 feet seems huge, might be alitte too big for me, maybe i should take it back for something smaller. Ive only had it 2 days. Are there any good beginner snakes that are smaller than bp as adults? Thanks.

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Originally Posted by drel83

hum 5 feet seems huge, might be alitte too big for me, maybe i should take it back for something smaller. Ive only had it 2 days. Are there any good beginner snakes that are smaller than bp as adults? Thanks.

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5 feet isnt as big as you think...people think 5 feet in a STRAIGHT LINE. They arent that big. I had that illusion untill i saw and held a full grown one

i'm not really sure to be honest. i am sure that there is someone else that posts on the site that does know. if you really think that based on size and the information that you found in the caresheet that this snake may not be for you, taking it back is probably your best bet if they will accept it. considering it will live for 15 to 20 years. hope everything works out well. and if you have any other questions i'll do what i can to give you a good answer.

the size is what scares me haha

Males will usually be in the 3.5-4 foot range, females may get up to 4.5-5ft. They are NOT big in the sense that you may be thinking of as big. They are bulky(think slightly thinner than a soda can when adult), but they do not get big at all.

Your tank is going to be harder than a snowman on a cold day to heat because of all of the air space. The Ball Python is never going to make any use of that space, not to mention that it is entirely too big for a baby ball. Such a vast amount of open space is very stressful on such a small snake, and he/she probably won't feel secure enough to eat until the situation is remedied. You may want to go to WalMart or Target and get a smallish, locking underbed box such as a Sterilite/Rubbermaid/Iris(16-24quart). It will make your snake feel very secure, they are easy to clean and heat/keep humidity in, and are easy to replace when the snake outgrows them. Pick one that has more floor space than height(think 6-7" in height). Put 2 -3 lines of small holes using a soldering iron($3 at dollar store or $10 at WalMart) along the top edges of the sides. Do not put holes in the lid.

You also need one or two more hides. You can get clay pot SAUCERS at WalMart. Saucers are what the planter pot sits in and it catches water. You knock small entrance holes out of the sides with a hammer and turn them upside down. They make excellent hides as they are low to the ground, small and dark. You want one in the cool side and one on the warm side.

As for temperatures, you will want to measure them accurately with a DIGITAL thermometer/hygrometer(measures humidity). You can get a good model by the name of Acu-Rite at WalMart for around $12-15. When you get it, place the probe in the warm side hide and then place the unit itself flat on the floor of the cool side. This will measure the hide temps on the warm side and the floor temps on the cool side as well as the relative humidity of the enclosure. Accurately measuring your temps are EXTREMELY IMPORTANT in the care of Ball Pythons. They can be very specific on what their temps and humidity are, and any fluctuations won't be a good thing on their part.

Speaking of temps and humidity, temperatures should be between 92-94 on the warm side and 82-84 on the cool side. Ambient(air) temps should be in the low to mid 80's. No temperature should ever fall below 80, and if it does you are asking for a respiratory infection for your snake. Humidity should be between 50-60%. You can up it to around 70%, or if you decide to house the snake in a plastic underbed box, then you won't have to worry about it.

UNTIL you get everything situated regarding housing, temperatures/humidity and proper hide spots, then do not feed the snake or handle it. After everything is up to par, then wait a complete week for the snake to get settled in the new surroundings, and then attempt to feed, in the enclosure and at night. After the snake has successfully fed 2-3 times, and you have waited AT LEAST 48 hours after the last meal, you can begin short handling periods of about 5 minutes per day for a few days of the week.

In my experience, you really need to get the housing and heating situation under control. That size of tank is really not going to be the best environment for a small ball python. Go with either a 10gallon(long) sized tank, a 20 long, or better yet, a locking, small, underbed box that is around 16-24 quarts. Floor area is much more important than air space. Besides, the plastic housing is MUCH easier to heat and the slightly opaque sides help the snake feel secure. You will have a much better snake-keeping experience, as well as less hassle on getting your new snake to eat, if you decide to go with that housing option.

Hope this has helped a bit, and if you decide to not keep the Ball, another good beginner snake that doesn't get very large is a Cornsnake. They may get around 4-5 ft, but that 4-5 ft is extremely slender. They don't stress as easily and are very hardy. Whatever you decide, we'll help you get everything straightened out :)

Good luck!

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Originally Posted by drel83

the size is what scares me haha

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its really not that bad! he will probly never even strike @ you!

2 month ago my girl friend ask for a snake for xmas i told her no way i am scard of snakes! lol now we have 4 lol and one is 7foot 30-40lbs and she is a big baby! now i love them and would not trade them for anything! just hang in there you and your snake can grow toghter! u will get to the point where u going to want her/him to grow trust me!

If you do in fact decide the ball python isn't for you, best to call the pet store immediately to find out what their return policy is, each is different. As well, rather than jumping into another snake, perhaps a credit from the store that will give you time to better research, prepare and decide which snake would suit you best before bringing it home.

If you decide to keep this baby ball, there is tons of information on the caresheet as well as the combined experience on this forum to help you quickly get up to speed and get that baby settled in properly.

Best of luck. Please let us know if there's anything we can do to assist.


~~Joanna~~

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Do not put holes in the lid.

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Rut Roh!!!! I already did that for the girls that are coming in a few weeks! Three vertical rows on the lid (a row down the middle and a rowd down each side).

But, I guess what I like about the plastic tubs is that you can always cover up holes if needed, or they're so affordable, just buy another and try again! LOL

Oh man, where are my manners? Welcome to the forum, you've come to the right place for information on caring for your new baby, should you choose to keep him or her. I think he's a beautiful baby, but he also looks a little overwhelmed with all that floor space and only one hide.


If you do decide to keep him and also keep him in that enclosure, fill it up with hides and foilage, or even better, lots of loosely crumpled newspaper until he gets settled. The newspaper will give him more of a sense of security to move throughout the viv when he needs to thermo-regulate himself.

Five feet does sound like a lot, but the thing that attracted me to ball pythons is that they are a smaller python (and to me, one of the most beautiful snakes there are - I have no desire (at least not yet) to own any other species of snake). Five feet stretched out is long, but know that most balls can comfortably live in the equivalant size enclosure as a 30 gallon aquarium for life. They aren't giant snakes (like burmese pythons, anacondas and such).

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. If you decide to keep him, be sure to ask questions. My motto - the only stupid question is the question that isn't asked!

Once again- Welcome!

nah dude dont go sellin him. i have a BP, dimebag, and if your freakin out because you think hes gonna get too big... don't. they're very docile animals and do like lots of hides and foliage to hide behind. and you dont allways have to buy straight from the pet store. this is what i did... for foliage i ordered some fake plants from the flower shop, which works out a hell of a lot cheaper than the pet stores and they are exactly the same, ask for nice variations or small amounts of different plants. you will get away with paying $10 for the equivillent of a tenth of the flowers you would get for that price at the pet store. and instead of buying a new hide. go for a walk in the woods and get some sturdy, but not bulky branches and build them up nicely around the cage to make whats called a "jungle gym" not too many so that you can't see him but just enough so as you can dangle plants and stuff. BUT, before putting those branches in their, bake them in an oven over some tinfoil on a tray for around an hour or so, but keep an eye so they dont get black... not too hot. this will kill all bugs and external parasites that might make your snake sick. you can also do the same for an extra hide, but if your baking a hollow rock or a cement half pipe, make sure its not been wet and is dry, otherwise it could explode when baking it, lol. you also want a bigger waterbowl, eventually, once you start finding out about humidity and stuff that will become clear but sometimes if he wants to have a little soak he can. nothing too big but like maybe an inch and a half of water and about four inches diameter. a thermometer is a must, get a good one with a probe and digital display. you want his temps to vary from one side to the other. one side should have a basking temperature of around 84-88degrees farrenhieght and a cooler side of around 76-80 degress farrenhieght. this is so he can thermoregulate, which is like if he wants to cool down he goes to the cool side, and vice versa. generally then be creative with his enclosure. dont touch him and annoy him for at least two week unless picking out soiled substrate or changing water. his water should be changed every day, or it is a risk to its health. you have to remember your producing a little bit of africa in your room, so respect that, and you'l be fine. and after like two weeks, handle him every other day in phases of 20 minutes, and you'll begin to realise your choice of pet was not a bad choice at all!! although dont overhandle him. build it up to around a maximum of an hour every other day for the first month. but remember leave him alone for the first two weeks and you'll appreciate it when he doesn't get sick or unwilling to be himself. even if your friends want to see him... i know i know... but just be patient, patience is a virtue when keeping a snake.



ok woow. just search around for addition info to this. but this should be enough to keep you busy and the snake happy for a while and shouldn't take too much time, and no money if you use the bake theory.



glad to be of assistance, Steve

oh.. send us some pics when its you get that stuff done. cant wait to see um.


KEEP UR BALL!!