Wanting a Ball Python

Hey all, new guy here. Let me give a little background. I'm 25 years old and have been researching pythons lately. In the past I have had corn and king snakes but they were to agressive for my liking, especially the king. So all the reading I have done leads me to beleive that the BP's are the most mild tempered. Is this true? I'm really curious if any BP owners here have been attacked by their snake. I'm looking for something thats going to be mellow and not snappy if you know what I mean.

The other question I have is whether this would be a big enough viv for a full grown ball. I will probably get a baby but want something that will sustain it for life...this is what I was looking at:

HERE

also, would you reccomend putting 2 heat lamps, 1 on each side? and what wattage bulb?I know it will need a heating pad underneath. Also is it best to feed them in a seperate space? I hear this makes them less likely to attack you when you put your hands in the cage. True? I really appreciate any feedback on this and any other information you may have to offer which may help me in my new snake endeavors. THANKS!

Hi.. welcome!

First I'd recommend you read our care sheet. It details most aspects of ball python husbandry:

http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules....warticle&id=52

As far as temperament.. there are aggressive snakes of every species, even ball pythons! That said, your average ball python is very docile, prefering to ball up rather than bite. Usually babies are the most likely to strike (though sometimes this is just a bluff and they don't even open their mouth!) because they are scared, but once they learn to trust you, 99% will be very docile.

I have never been bitten by my ball python.

The size of that cage is fine for an adult BP (typically you want a 3' long by 15-18" wide enclosure for an adult) however, a large cage is actually stressful for a baby BP, larger cages are also harder to heat and keep humidity in.

If you must use a large cage you have to provide LOTS of dark, tight, secure hides for your baby. BPs are very shy, and likely will not eat if thrown into a large cage with not many places to hide.

I do not like heat lamps for the fact that they kill humidity. I much prefer under tank heaters (such as flexwatt) I have 24 snakes and no heat lamps.. all under tank heat! You MUST have a thermostat to control the heater.. without one the heater will get too hot and burn your snake.

I do not feed any of my snakes in a separate enclosure. I would not recommend this with a ball python anyway, since they are such shy and finicky eaters, you will have a tougher time that way! As long as you open the cage occasionally for something other than food time (which you should if you're cleaning the cage and handling) you will have no problems with feeding.

Hope that helps :)

thanks so much for the quick reply. It sounds like the bp is for me then :) So if you reach in the cage and the snake balls up, do you leave it be? or pick it up anyway? Thats interesting what you say about the feeding because someone at the pet store told me he takes his out and puts it in a paper bag for feeding and thats supposedly better. I just thought i'd get on here and get some more feedback from people besides the pet store clerks. I've read through many threads here and at reptileforums.com...many of you have absolutely beutiful snakes. thanks again for the replies.

If you get a baby, it will likely ball up whenever you go to pick it up at first. When you first get the snake, it's important to wait one full week after you get it before you start handling. Then you feed it, and if it eats, don't handle for 48 hours after the meal (this is something you always do) if you handle before the 48 hours, there is a risk of regurgitation which is highly unhealthy.

Anyway, after the week and the feed, start handling just for short periods. Perhaps 15 minutes a day. Just sit still with the snake and let him/her relax and learn to trust you. Before you know it, the snake will be crawling all over, exploring.

EDIT: oh and there is nothing about feeding in a paper bag that is 'better'. I have one snake who will ONLY eat in a bag, but that's just her picky sand boa self. Typically, feed in the cage, at night. I leave the rat in the doorway of the hiding spot the snake is currently occupying. Some of my snakes grab the rat right off the tongs too.

i really want to help ya that cage seem fine for a bp but as far as fullgrown alll bp's have their own full grown lents and thats not big enough to keep some of the bigger sizes of snakes and fo that price u can get a larger 40 gallon aquarium and a screen top and lamp for a bit less than the price of that vivarium on ebay u posted and a 40 gallon can house full grown bp's even the big big females pushing 6-7 feet and as far as how docile i have 2 ball pythons and both are very docile and after a while i have come to trust them enough to let my little sister hold them so pretty docile and also about a small snake being stressed out in a large tank i can happen but not so much the big tank as the big open spaces in it as long as there are many pretty snug fitting hides it will be ok in any size tank

shelby i just took a look at ur gallery and im really impressed you're a very talented photographer. very very kool

Ninjapython - thank you. I love taking pics of my snakes.

Also.. ball pythons do not grow 6-7'. A big female will top 5', but 6' and beyond would be a true monster. A 3' long cage is fine even for the largest of females.

thanks again for the replys. So I think I have it covered...if I get a baby and put it in that cage make sure there are lots of snug hiding places. so there doesnt seem to be a consensus on using heat lamps? Guess its just a matter of preferance or whatever works best? somebody on another board mentioned that cage would be no good as is because the screen top would let out too much humidity. any ideas there? Basically if the heating pads get it to the proper temp on their own then I suppose there is no real need for the lamps...well, I'm glad I didnt just impulsively get one without talking to you all. I think I will slowly purchase all the materials needed (as i can afford it) and when I have the full set up I can go snake shopping :) in the pet store they had a "childrens python" too...do these have the same temperment/max size/etc.?

Another alternative is tubs. In fact, I'm breaking down my 20 gallon long right now and moving Kashmire into a tub and then all my kids will be tub and rack kids.


I was misting 3 x a day to keep Kash's humidity up and he fasted for 4 1/2 months early in the fall and he's on another 3 month fast. None of my tub or rack kids have missed a meal, except when in shed - and some don't even miss then.

I may be wrong - but I'm convinced that Kash just doesn't feel secure enough in his tank, so I'm done with it! LOL

Hopefully he'll settle in over the next week and eat next week for me, I'm starting to get worried about him. Compared to the eating ones, he just seems so thin.

Welcome to the site - and good job on doing your research. The one thing no one mentioned - all ball pythons should come with a warning - Ball pythons are known to be addictive. Kashmire was intended to be my only ball python as a pet. As I learned about the different color and pattern morphs, I knew that I also would like to own some of them some day, so I am in the midst of building my small breeding colony. By the end of the summer, I should have it complete and then settle into the next few years of raising them!

Again - welcome!

so yours you just keep in those big plastic storage tubs? Like the kind of ones you slide underneath the bed or whatever? That would be a cheap alternative but I'd kinda like something presentable if you know what I mean...so you just cut holes in the top of the tub and call it good? Maybe a picture would be helpful if you dont mind (or maybe there is already something floating around the forums I could look at?) Thanks for the welcoming and reply's...this seems like a great little community here :)

Yeah, if you're looking for more of a display enclosure - Rick has written up a great one here:


Here are few pictures of my tub set-ups (no lights are needed)

The three in the bedroom (this is before I had the heat hooked up as I was making sure they'd fit):

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...8/0/Setup3.jpg

This is a picture of how I wanted to lay it out:

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...8/0/Setup1.jpg

This is with a 250 gram snake - she's now on Aspen:

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...aEnclosure.jpg

The hides were made from 3 for $1 bowls from the Dollar Store that I soldered out the entrances, and that purple box is another hide that I made that was in a 3 pack for $3 from Dollar General. Some of the kids LOVE that purple hide, others prefer the bowls. Nice tight fits is what they love!

Oh, and these are Sterilite 1986 tubs that you can get from WalMart. They are 40 quart and I also have a 1280 gram female in one - her hide is a small kitty litter pan that I soldered out an entrance on - also from WalMart.

And yes, this is an awesome community - we're really glad you found us!

And this is my rack (not that I like showing it off or anything! LOL I just picked it up last weekend and LOVE it)! And in the second shot is the new girl I also picked up last week.


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...k/NewRack4.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...ck/NewRack.jpg

heh, heh...nice rack! :)

thanks for posting the pics..I now see what your talking about :) I think I'm still leaning toward something like the link I posted initially. do those digital thermometers you have in the tubs connect to the heat pads? and the heat is automatically adjusted by the thermostat? I'm starting to see what you mean by the whole addiction aspect of it :O your hooked :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by carcassfan

do those digital thermometers you have in the tubs connect to the heat pads? and the heat is automatically adjusted by the thermostat?

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The Accu-Rite thermometers are just for measuring temps. They have a great max/min feature on them. The thermostat is what you use to control the heat tape... most good thermostats have digital displays on them that you can set the heat tape to whatever temp you need to to get the correct reading on your thermometer that's inside the tub/cage/viv.

Most of us connect the probe from the thermostat directly to the heat tape. Using this method, you'll need the setpoint on the thermostat to be a tad higher than the temps you're actually trying to achieve. I keep my heat tape at 98.5 degrees.... and I get interior temps of 93.5-94 or so. My cool side always stays around 82-84.

Good luck, hope this helps!

thanks, that does help. supposing i got the cage in the first post, what would be your reccomended setup? I have a good idea about the furnishings, etc...maybe there is some package deal I can buy with all the necessary hardware items such as heat, thermo etc? Or can you point me to the individual items you would buy for that particular cage(minus the hides, bedding, etc.)? Sorry for being persistent but I want to get this right the first time :)

Did you take a look at the link that I posted for you with the pictures of the tubs? It is a link for setting up a glass viv.

woops, I overlooked that :oops: seems it has everything I should need...even mentions brand names. Thanks Rabernet! :)

Just looked at the link that you posted of the reptile housing - that looks like it's going to be very difficult to maintain the humidity in that. Have you looked at


Animal Plastics (look at the terrestrial ones - some people here use the T3 believe) or Boaphile Plastics? Similar look, but much easier to achieve and maintain the temps and humidity.

ok so I should probably just go for a 20L (20 gallon, long) glass vivarium as stated in the link YOU provided?

ohhh, ok...I see it says:

Quantity 1. Plexiglas with cut to lid size with a central hole for the CHE. $40. The mesh in the lid will allow too much heat and humidity to escape (the big problem with a glass vivarium). The plexiglas will cover the mesh except where you mount your CHE. We found a local plastics supplier (S&W Plastics) that cut us a piece to size including a square central hole.

Alternatively, you can use a piece of heavy clear vinvyl with a hole cut, which may be available from craft or fabric stores.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by carcassfan

thanks, that does help. supposing i got the cage in the first post, what would be your reccomended setup? I have a good idea about the furnishings, etc...maybe there is some package deal I can buy with all the necessary hardware items such as heat, thermo etc? Or can you point me to the individual items you would buy for that particular cage(minus the hides, bedding, etc.)? Sorry for being persistent but I want to get this right the first time :)

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Matt at MG Reptiles (www.mgreptiles.com) sells the tubs as a complete package. U just need to decide which set of goodies you want. :) The only thing is, they're tubs for adults, so for a juvie, you'll need a few extra hides or crumpled newspaper to start with to make Junior feel more secure. But after some growth, the tub will be his forever home. :) :)

Captain Overkill (Rick) guide to glass vivs strikes again!

Here's a picture of the setup described in that guide (Rick really needs to take step-by-step pictures, but he's lazy O.o!):
http://www.onlinethingy.com/files/gr...opic13_big.jpg

excellent! thanks for the pic Cassandra...that helps a lot. Now I can see exactly what he meant with the plexi glass, etc. :) I think I will definitely go that route. The tub route is cheaper and all but not nearly as presentable IMO. So now its time to turn over the couch cushions and look for $500, lol. Eh, like i said, I'm going to buy it bit by bit and hopefully one day soon I'll get to go snake shopping :)

you guys rock :partyon:

I was a glass tanker but it actually cracked horribly down the middle when my heatpad got too hot because the thermostat probe slipped out. the pad was way too hot!!! but fortunatly my BP Monty was unhurt (he was on the cooloside at the time). i had a massive problem and did what i always do when i need help. I came here and within days i had a T3 that i bought off of another user( thanks elevatethis!!!) and the T3 iwas exactly what i was looking for.


but if u are going with glass may i suggest a 20 gallon long and turning the whole thing on its side therfore u have more floorspace and less headspace so temps are easier to contol. however I wasnt using heatlamps so i dont know how this would affect it
WELCOME TO THE SITE!!!

PS and just a word of advise: the peeps here REALLY know what theyre talking about.

sorry for the ignorance but whats a T3? :oops:

T3 is a cage model from Animal Plastics I believe it is.. it's just the model number. It's the size that's right for a ball python.

You can check the link that I provided for Animal Plastics and take a look at caging - T3 should be listed.

theyre wonderful

Guys, how long would the RP be able to stay in one of those plastic tubs ??

Lisa,


The tubs that I posted? The girl pictured was about 250 grams at the time, and I have a 1600 gram female in the same sized tub, only the three hides have been replaced with a small kitty litter pan that's one large hide, dark enough to keep her feeling secure, but big enough that she can thermoregulate inside the hide.

thanks allot

Quote:

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Originally Posted by carcassfan

Hey all, new guy here. Let me give a little background. I'm 25 years old and have been researching pythons lately. In the past I have had corn and king snakes but they were to agressive for my liking, especially the king. So all the reading I have done leads me to beleive that the BP's are the most mild tempered. Is this true? I'm really curious if any BP owners here have been attacked by their snake. I'm looking for something thats going to be mellow and not snappy if you know what I mean.

The other question I have is whether this would be a big enough viv for a full grown ball. I will probably get a baby but want something that will sustain it for life...this is what I was looking at:

HERE

also, would you reccomend putting 2 heat lamps, 1 on each side? and what wattage bulb?I know it will need a heating pad underneath. Also is it best to feed them in a seperate space? I hear this makes them less likely to attack you when you put your hands in the cage. True? I really appreciate any feedback on this and any other information you may have to offer which may help me in my new snake endeavors. THANKS!

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You are going to have a really hard time controling the humidity with the open top. Either a solid wood top or one of the plastic containers that is always talked about on this forum are your best bets. Personally, I know how hard it was to get the humidity right and I didn't have the "open top" viv. There is no way to keep the moisture in for the NEEDED humidity on those vivs you posted.