thinking about getting a ball python????

i was thinking of getting a ball from lllreptile.com the price is 49.99. Is that a fair price? i love ball pythons i held one today it was cool. if you know of a web site that has great stock for the same money that would be awesome
thanks for the help

matt

I've never bought live animals from LLL, but I have ordered various supplies from them and they ship orders out the same day they are placed. Their prices are retail, but carry a lot of hard-to-find stuff.

I have bought three snakes from LLL.. all extremely healthy! I'd buy from them again.

Do some research before you decide if you want a ball python for sure.. they aren't a short-term commitment, and their husbandry is more involved than you may think if you've talked to pet store employees.

Check out our caresheet for a start: http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules....warticle&id=52

thanks for your thoughts. i have been doing a lot of reading. luckly for me i live 15 min from lllreptile store. that is where i buy all my critters. just wanted to see if any of you knew of a better place. I was torn between the red tailed boa and ball python. the guy at the stor said "dont get a ball because everybody has a ball". all that says to me is that there must be a reason that ball pythons are so popular. could it be that they make better pets? i would rather be unorignal and have a great ball python. than be origonal and have less of a pet.


thanks
fish

All types of snakes have their pros and cons...personally I'd recommend a cornsnake, milksnake, or kingsnake for the first time snake keeper. Like Shelby explained Ball husbandry is a bit more involved, and at times can be down right frustrating.

I'd stick away from the redtail right now unless you are prepared for a snake that hits a girthy 6 foot minimum. Its definitely alot of snake to handle, feed, and house. But on the plus side, if frequently worked with, and kept on a consistent schedule they can be puppydog tame and will hardly ever refuse a meal.

Ratsnakes (corns,milks, kings) are great snakes, "tame" very easily, feed well, and are very low maintenance living in much smaller enclosures, and they come in a huge variety of morphs.

Ball Pythons are great snakes as well, but you definitely need to do a bit of research before you jump into a purchase. Like any snake however they all have their individual personalities and limitations, so you'll find some that are quite tame, and some will always lunge and strike.

With all that said, do yourself a bit of research, and if possible attend a reptile show in your area so you can see several different types of snakes. Research, research, research, buy the best equipment for the specific snake, and then find a reputable source (LLLreptile;) ) to purchase your snake. Find one that suits your lifestyle and that you wouldn't mind keeping for anywhere from 10+ years.

Good luck with your decision!

As has been said, do a ton of research on any snake you might want to buy. Most of them live 20+ years so this is a major committment of time, energy, cash, etc. I'd say just look at what your lifestyle is now and what you expect it to be in the next few years, how much time you have, space, etc. and then find the snake that best fits you....not what some pet store guy thinks or what is "cool" or whatever. You'll be cleaning snake poop for many years to come so you may as well love the snake you picked (Adam's words of wisdom!). Once you decide on the snake, get it's housing all bought and set up, find a steady supply of high quality prey....then find the right store, or better yet, a good breeder and then you are good to go.

Oh and btw, JBall, love the quote! LOL

i got my python today he was the prettyst one in the cage he had the lightest color. i got him home got him in his new set up. after an hour i droped a adult live mouse in and he struck almost instantly. and devowered it. so much for ball pythons being pickey. haha( i understand that they can be pickey.) the issue with it living a long time is not that big of a deal i allready have turtles that will live about a nother 80 years haha.

thanks for all the help yall

fish

What happened to:

Quote:

---

dont worry i am still doing reasearch. i still need to get a under tank heater. and hideing half log. i do this with all my reptiles. i do reaserch first then get the set up. then the reptile. this would be my frist snake.

---

As of this morning, all you had was the tank. No way did you have enough time to get the enclosure set up, and temps regulated (that takes a few days) before you got it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fish21

i got my python today he was the prettyst one in the cage he had the lightest color. i got him home got him in his new set up. after an hour i droped a adult live mouse in and he struck almost instantly. and devowered it. so much for ball pythons being pickey. haha( i understand that they can be pickey.) the issue with it living a long time is not that big of a deal i allready have turtles that will live about a nother 80 years haha.

thanks for all the help yall

fish

---

Well, what's done is done. If you'd done the research that you said you were doing, you would have known that you should not have even attempted to feed your snake until at least after a week of acclimating.

Now, please - give this poor snake a chance to acclimate for at least a week before handling any more.

How many hides do you have for him in that 60 gallon tank? What are you using for heat and how are you measuring it? What are your temps and humidity now?

i went to lll reptile and they sold me a under the tank heater, and seeing as how it is a 30 min drive i picked it up today. i already had the basking light and stone cave and substrate around( i am a reptile breeder) and seeing how i have been reading about them for about a 2 weeks now ( there are only so many care sheets on the web, i know i printed about 20 off from different sites and read all of them seeing as how i have lots of free time at work.) as far as setting up the temps i allready own a thermostat wich i am use ing right now and it is working great.

but thanks for your concern

fish

actually most of the care sheets and inital set ups said to feed the first day to make sure your python is a good eater. if it does not you should take the snake back. but i guess it is just a matter of opinion. i have 3 hides one in the left middle and right. cold side middle and warm side. i have a digital temp guage and humdity gauge. the humidity is 70 and the temp on hot side is 89 and the cold side is 75.

i resent you refering to my ball python as ( this poor snake) i spend extensive time and care with all my reptiles.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fish21

actually most of the care sheets and inital set ups said to feed the first day to make sure your python is a good eater. if it does not you should take the snake back. but i guess it is just a matter of opinion. i have 3 hides one in the left middle and right. cold side middle and warm side. i have a digital temp guage and humdity gauge. the humidity is 70 and the temp on hot side is 89 and the cold side is 75.

i resent you refering to my ball python as ( this poor snake) i spend extensive time and care with all my reptiles.

---

Fish, this is the wrong way to go in an effort to become a part of this community. The people here are experienced and give advice because they know what they are doing. I don't know what caresheet told you to feed the first day but its dead wrong. So are your temps and humidity. 82-84 on the cool side, 92-94 on the warm. No more than 60% humidity except during shed. You didn't spend any extensive time or care, you made an impulse buy. So do what's right and listen to people who may know a thing or two about Ball Pythons.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fish21

actually most of the care sheets and inital set ups said to feed the first day to make sure your python is a good eater. if it does not you should take the snake back. but i guess it is just a matter of opinion. i have 3 hides one in the left middle and right. cold side middle and warm side. i have a digital temp guage and humdity gauge. the humidity is 70 and the temp on hot side is 89 and the cold side is 75.

i resent you refering to my ball python as ( this poor snake) i spend extensive time and care with all my reptiles.

---

First of all, we are all here to help and if you are refering to Robin she's not at all being rude. She's asking some fair and reasonable questions. She has more than a few ball pythons and definitely knows what she's talking about. Personal attacks are not welcome here.

Also, I'm not sure which care sheets you are looking at, but I've never read a care sheet that recommended feeding the animal the same day you take it home. The move for any reptile is stressful enough, and many will not eat until they are fully acclimated to their new enclosure...in your case you got mighty lucky.

Oh, and might want to reconfigure those temps both are way off.

Good luck with the new snake.

you cant tell me that the tone in wich was used wasnt absolutly condicending.

thank you for your positive tips j ball python. i will look in to that.

thanks

fish

Ok now folks, this forum will not tolerate any name calling. You have to realize that sometimes the tone of a post may not come across as it was meant. Robin is only concerned about your animal.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fish21

you cant tell me that the tone in wich was used wasnt absolutly condicending.

---

I've been a member of this community for the past few weeks and I'll tell you, Fish, that's definitely not a way to talk to the members here. Myself and most of the forum respect Robin as well as the others here leaving you advice.

The caresheet provided on THIS community is quite adequate and have been referring back to it even now, after two years of experience.

You don't disrespect people who have your animal's best interests at heart. Especially not the people here.

Maybe you should think about what you post from now on. I honestly don't think you did the right amount of research and Robin's comment about your "poor snake" aren't far off.

Take it from people who've been around these snakes longer than both you and I combined: You don't talk back to them and you sure as hell aren't rude.

I'm done.

Everyone can make mistakes, even our long time members.

This just isn't being addressed with the right attitude. Let's not all attack Fish. I agree that the comments made were inappropriate, and it has been taken care of.

Let's continue this thread in a more helpful manner, please.

i relly am sorry that hole thing got out of control fast. i was just so happy. then well you know the rest. i have allready adjusted the temps they are cool now.

the humidity is at 63 that is the best i can do seeing as how i live by the ocean and the humidity is high here. i talked to the people at the store and they said it can be lowere but it is just humid here.

sorry to all i do respect the knowledge of the owners here.

thanks

fish

Is there any way you can post a pic of your enclosure? That'll help if you'd like more advice to tweak your setup.

So temps are 82-84 cool and 92-94 warm now? If so, excellent.

It sounds like you got off on the wrong foot with a couple of people here. Hopefully this wont deterr you from being a part of our community. Theres alot of knoledge here, and we're all very friendly believe it or not. If ya stick around you'll learn everything you wanted to know about Ball Pythons and stuff you didnt even know you wanted to know. This is easily one of the most knolodgeable and friendly forums out there!

yha that got out of hand. i look foward to learning a lot on here. sorry i cant put pics up till this weekend. the temps are 94 on hot side and 82 on cold


thanks fish

Matt,


No harm, no foul.

Oh.. I'd love to see pics of your ambilobe if you get the chance. Chams are so gorgeous.. especially those panthers.

i will post some pics after this thursday (pay day for the military) i need a new memory card for my cam but i will put the pics up as soon as i can of all my critters around here it is a regular zoo. but i love em all. the ball python are a little hard to care for but not nearly as hard as the ambalobe he tackes about 45 mins of work a day.

thanks for all the help everybody.

fish

the only thing my encloser is lacking is a branch for climbing i will also get that this weekend. but the peps at LLL said that he would live with out it for a bit.

BPs do not need a branch as they are terrestrial, but most BPs will climb from time to time if given the chance. None of my snakes have a climbing branch.

I have 20 bp's, and only one has a climbing tree/branch. He used to climb on it when he was younger... but he doesn't touch it anymore...

Having something semi-rough to allow better shedding might be a good idea. That's what I've always found to be a good addition, but hey, who knows, right?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Melicious

Having something semi-rough to allow better shedding might be a good idea. That's what I've always found to be a good addition, but hey, who knows, right?

---

I thought so too, until I noticed none of mine ever used it. UGH! Silly things, didn't they know that they were supposed to utilize the wonderful edges I provided for them?!?!?! :evileye: Most of mine still shed in their hides. I've only seen one of them ever shed outside of their hides. Grrrrr. Of course you might have one that likes it. It can't really hurt, but it sure can drive a girl nuts. :imslow:

?????is it normal for them to spend a lot of time in there hides. like all of it. just couerious. it look like i have a set up but no snake hahah. i guess he just needs to adjust to his new home. at the store he was with about 40 other balls.


thanks fish

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fish21

?????is it normal for them to spend a lot of time in there hides. like all of it. just couerious. it look like i have a set up but no snake hahah. i guess he just needs to adjust to his new home. at the store he was with about 40 other balls.

thanks fish

---

My gopher snake never comes out of his hide unless we lift it off him and wake him up. Laziest snake in the world! LOL The BP spends 95% of her time sleeping as well, but at least she will come out around 10:30pm or so and cruise for a bit...and occassionally during the day I may see her with her head and neck extended out of one hide, chin resting on another...or catch her switching from one hide to another.

If you wanted an entertaining display snake, you picked the wrong one. LOL

hahah yha thats what i figure. i dont care he is so beuitfull . he is the prettyst yellow color. all the other babbys in his tank wer much darker.
thanks for the info

fish