Mom wont let me keep the python..

So, one of my friends has to get rid of her ball python, and I told her I would take it. Unfortunately, when the gravity of what I was asking sunk in, my mom decided she didn’t want me to get it after all.
Right now I am researching as much as I can about ball pythons, and trying to find something to convince her to let me keep it.
Any information at this point would be very helpful.

Oh, and is it true that they smell? :(

(If this post is in the wrong part of the forum, please forgive me, I just registered here a few minutes ago. :weirdface)

If you don't clean it's tank/tub, it would probably smell. I have two in our living room right now (1 tank, 1 tub) and haven't noticed any smell. More importantly, neither has my wife, and she's FAR more sensitive to that sort of thing.

What's your mom's hang up? The whole eating rats thing?

they dont smell. Well, mine dont. they dont get very big and there GREAT first snakes to have :) hope this help?:weirdface

Well, I'm not really sure why she doesn't want me to keep it. I think she thinks it would be too hard to take care of.

well not really, the hardest part is the initial inversion (buying snake, cage, thermostat, etc..) but if they're goin to give it to u, I guess u got that part cleared ;)

ask her? :weirdface I dont man I asked my mom for 2 years for a snake she said NO now she dont care how many I get :cool:

Alright, so I've thought of a few more questions. :D

How hard are they really to take care of?

How often do they have to eat, and where can I get food for him?

I was reading on another topic about a python escaping, does this happen often? Or does it depend more on the cage?

My mom also seems to think that owning a snake could be dangerous. Is this true?

I know I must sound like a total noob, but I'm just trying to gather as much info as I can to present a better argument.. Thanks for your guys help. xD

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Originally Posted by ellie.the.strange

Alright, so I've thought of a few more questions. :D

How hard are they really to take care of?

How often do they have to eat, and where can I get food for him?

I was reading on another topic about a python escaping, does this happen often? Or does it depend more on the cage?

My mom also seems to think that owning a snake could be dangerous. Is this true?

I know I must sound like a total noob, but I'm just trying to gather as much info as I can to present a better argument.. Thanks for your guys help. xD

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there not hard. fresh water easy. food pet store and maybe order offline F/T feed ever week or every 5 days they wont kill you LOL

I thought the most difficult part was setting up the enclosure. If you've got the temperatures and humidity holding steady, it's pretty smooth-sailing.

As far as "how difficult?", it's kind of hard to answer that. Keep reading posts on here, and you'll get a good idea of the difficulties involved.

Oh, if you want to have any hope of convincing her to let you keep it, you MUST find out what her specific objections are. That's actually true of anytime you're trying to convince anybody of anything.

Also, don't assume that if you tell her "It only gets to be 4 feet long" that she'll think that's small :)

How hard are they really to take care of?

Not that much, but as said before, read around so that u can look for the complication u might get.

How often do they have to eat, and where can I get food for him?

every 7 days when they're young (less then a yrs) then u can make it every 2 weeks. U might get life rats on a petstore, and frozen from rodentpro.com or lots or other websites.

I was reading on another topic about a python escaping, does this happen often? Or does it depend more on the cage?

I think it depends more on the cage, although some are real escape artists

My mom also seems to think that owning a snake could be dangerous. Is this true?

Not really with a ball, the worse that could happen is that if it's sick or something and bites u, u might get an infetion, but usually they're not sick and theyre quite calm...

hope this helps

[QUOTE=ChrisBowsman;714961]Oh, if you want to have any hope of convincing her to let you keep it, you MUST find out what her specific objections are. That's actually true of anytime you're trying to convince anybody of anything.
[QUOTE]

Well you see, thats the problem. She doens't really have a reason. She just said no, and when I asked why she said "Cause I'm the mom." :weirdface

lol typicall, read my previous post in this thread, it might b usefull

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Originally Posted by Dcommander

lol typicall, read my previous post in this thread, it might b usefull

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Does it matter if the rats are live or dead?

And the previous owner said she was feeding him once a moth. Is that not often enough?

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Originally Posted by ellie.the.strange

Does it matter if the rats are live or dead?

And the previous owner said she was feeding him once a moth. Is that not often enough?

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I was told 1 rat a month man its 1 a week trust me :) live or dead what ever they want to eat I feed live.

I told my son the same thing! Except, I was able to add "Because I'm afraid of them!".

We got into bp's without knowing enough and I have to say that the stores that we talked to say it was a walk in the park. Personally, I think it's been more difficult than what they said but after learning as much as I have on this site, I am better prepared to care for a snake. And I enjoy every minute of it. I've even caught myself thinking of the next one. But, that will have to wait.

It sounds as if you may have gotten some bad information so I suggest you spend some time reading the forum to get an idea what you would be up against. Who knows, maybe you decide that you really don't want to be bothered (which I doubt) or, you might have enough information to talk your mom into it.

I was against my son getting a snake but now that I understand more about her, I'm glad he talked me into it. I find them soooo facinating!

GOOD LUCK!

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Originally Posted by ellie.the.strange

Does it matter if the rats are live or dead?

And the previous owner said she was feeding him once a moth. Is that not often enough?

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Well, if rats are dead, ur snake doesnt have to hunt or strike, so she willl become way more calm, because he has no need to strike even to eat. I u are goin to come to me with the "it will loose it's instincts" story, forget about it, u will own the snake until it passes away, it needs no feedin or huntin instincts.

Feeding once a month wonth make it starve, but it will be hungry most of the time, so once a week until it is one yrs old would be better...

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Originally Posted by TanyaL

I told my son the same thing! Except, I was able to add "Because I'm afraid of them!".

We got into bp's without knowing enough and I have to say that the stores that we talked to say it was a walk in the park. Personally, I think it's been more difficult than what they said but after learning as much as I have on this site, I am better prepared to care for a snake. And I enjoy every minute of it. I've even caught myself thinking of the next one. But, that will have to wait.

It sounds as if you may have gotten some bad information so I suggest you spend some time reading the forum to get an idea what you would be up against. Who knows, maybe you decide that you really don't want to be bothered (which I doubt) or, you might have enough information to talk your mom into it.

I was against my son getting a snake but now that I understand more about her, I'm glad he talked me into it. I find them soooo facinating!

GOOD LUCK!

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Walk in the park? bp's ? whew hearing those two phrases in the same sentence is like hearing troops and pulling out of iraq

humidity and temp is a pain in the :colbert:
eating another :rolleye2:

My amazing girlfriend was not fond of the BP idea until she interacted with one at a petstore awhile back. I've only had mine 3 days now and getting everything setup and the temps and humidity perfect can be tricky and alot of work but I've got a few things down now and everything is doing great. As far as smell we haven't noticed any using the aspen and making sure it's not getting wet unless it's being misted a few times a day. Don't know if this helped any but this is my $0.02 worth

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Originally Posted by ellie.the.strange

So, one of my friends has to get rid of her ball python, and I told her I would take it. Unfortunately, when the gravity of what I was asking sunk in, my mom decided she didn’t want me to get it after all.
Right now I am researching as much as I can about ball pythons, and trying to find something to convince her to let me keep it.
Any information at this point would be very helpful.

Oh, and is it true that they smell? :(

(If this post is in the wrong part of the forum, please forgive me, I just registered here a few minutes ago. :weirdface)

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Tell her it's better than you getting a driver's license! :P No ,really, it's your mom's house and you're her kid and she feels she knows what is best for you and what you will reasonably deal with. I'm thinking that she doesn't want to be stuck taking care of the snake when the novelty of ownership wears off. I urge you to sit down with your mom and talk about this in depth. Caring for another living being is an enormous responsibility and she has concerns; address those concerns as honestly as you can. If, in the end, the answer is still 'no', accept it and try to understand her reasons. Perhaps you could spend the next several months showing your mom how responsible you are. Because this specific ball might not be for you does not mean that you will never have the chance to care for one.
Take care. Have fun!

why don't you try showing her this site. Explain to her that you have found a place to get good information on keeping and raising the snake, show her that you have already done some reseach on what it will take to sucesfull keep the snake and that you feel upto the responsibilty. Then tell her if she would like to check the site out and ask others here any questions she might have it may just turn into a project that brings you two closer togather and shows her your responsiable enough to have this type of pet.Do realize though that it's a very long term comitment that you are setting yourself up for as bp's can live 20+ years. I think if you try some of these ideas you may just be able to convince her.

they sell locks

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Originally Posted by Dcommander

Well, if rats are dead, ur snake doesnt have to hunt or strike, so she willl become way more calm, because he has no need to strike even to eat. I u are goin to come to me with the "it will loose it's instincts" story, forget about it, u will own the snake until it passes away, it needs no feedin or huntin instincts.

Feeding once a month wonth make it starve, but it will be hungry most of the time, so once a week until it is one yrs old would be better...

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This is not true. She may not have much of a feeding response if she gets to the point of being able to just throw a rat in the enclosure, but most often you will have to dance the rat in front of her to make her believe the rat is alive. I only have one BP that will eat a rat if we just throw it in the enclosure, the rest must have that stimulation before they strike to eat it. Be prepared to do the zombie rat dance every week if you feed f/t.

Her feeding response on feeding day may be completely different from how she is to handle. I have some killer feeding responses from some of my sweetest snakes. Every snake is different and judging their personality and stress management on the feeding response isn't accurate.

Bp's are picky eaters and many times, if they refuse prekill (pk) or frozen thawed (f/t), you will have to start her eating again with a live rat or mouse.

To the OP, keep asking away, the best way of learning is from other herp owners that have been the noob at one time or another. ;)

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Originally Posted by Dcommander

Well, if rats are dead, ur snake doesnt have to hunt or strike, so she willl become way more calm, because he has no need to strike even to eat. I u are goin to come to me with the "it will loose it's instincts" story, forget about it, u will own the snake until it passes away, it needs no feedin or huntin instincts.

Feeding once a month wonth make it starve, but it will be hungry most of the time, so once a week until it is one yrs old would be better...

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Seriously I've noticed like 4-5 wrong things you have said over the course of your info. They don't lose their instincts and they do not become more calm as a result.

Feed once a week ALWAYS. You will never need anything larger than a small/medium rat. I would be more careful feeding large or jumbo sized rats to a ball pythons, as they are way more than they need and they could do some damage to the snake. If you stick to small/medium rats there should never be a problem when feeding live.

Snakes are not supposed to escape or be expected too. If you have a tank(don't use tanks if you can get around it) but some locking clips.

Maybe he didnt mean to word it that way. Yes, snakes will try their very hardest to escape, so a very secure cage is KEY! Otherwise, you will be dealing with a lost snake. They are escape artists.

Not sure if it has been posted but you could have your mom join here and read the posts. Also she could ask the questions she has.

If she does not want to join she could still read.

Thanks for all your help!
Your information has been very helpful, I've read her some of the posts, and I've gotten her to re-consider. Now the hard part will be convincing my dad. :D

Brimstone111888 said not to use a tank if you can avoid it, but the girl who owned the python said it was already in a tank.
What is the downside to keeping it in a tank, and what other types of enclosures are there?

Also, she said the snake was in hibernation right now, and I think it was from lack of food. Is this a serious problem, and how do I wake it up?
Since it hasn't eaten in some time, do you think I will have problems getting it to eat again?

Bps do not go into hibernation. What she is experiencing is probably a fasting snake due to improper husbandry and assuming its just "hibernating".

The advantage to using a tub over a tank is that plastic holds in heat and humidity much better, thus making caring for the snake a lot less of a hassel. Having the proper temps and humidity are crucial to your snake feeding regularly.

Getting the snake to eat again could be a problem but it should not if you make sure the temperature and humidity requirements are met properly.

Sometimes no matter what you do they just won't eat though, and that is one of the hard parts, knowing how to stay calm through a fast and being ready to take the animal to the vet if significant weight loss occurs.

How long can a snake go without eating, and not suffer significant damage?

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Originally Posted by ellie.the.strange

Brimstone111888 said not to use a tank if you can avoid it, but the girl who owned the python said it was already in a tank.
What is the downside to keeping it in a tank, and what other types of enclosures are there?

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The tank can be tricky for some people, I for one had no problem getting my temps perfect in a tank and have had no problems. It just all depends on how stable you can keep the enclosure. Also there are tubs that you can keep your snake in, But you have to ask the others about that. I have never kept my snake in a tub.

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Originally Posted by ellie.the.strange

Also, she said the snake was in hibernation right now, and I think it was from lack of food. Is this a serious problem, and how do I wake it up?
Since it hasn't eaten in some time, do you think I will have problems getting it to eat again?

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I don't think they actually fully hibernate like a bear... Correct me if im wrong. Although they may refuse food during the winter time which has happened to me before. If the snake doesn't eat just try every week on a regular feeding schedule. Don't stray from the schedule cuz the snake will get hooked on a schedule and know when its time to eat. I feed every weds.

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Originally Posted by Spaniard

Getting the snake to eat again could be a problem but it should not if you make sure the temperature and humidity requirements are met properly.

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I agree, make sure the temps are right before trying to feed. The temps would be highest priority first.

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Originally Posted by ellie.the.strange

Alright, so I've thought of a few more questions. :D

How hard are they really to take care of?

- it depends. if you have a healthy, well adjusted animal it should be alright. they do have humidity, temperature and security requirements that MUST be met in order for them to thrive. they can be kept in glass tanks or plastic containers (think sweater box). there are two stickes in this forum for each i think and they have GREAT information.

How often do they have to eat, and where can I get food for him?

juvies and yearlings eat every 5-7 days, adults once every seven days. these animals can and do go off feed, generally because it is something husbandry related -- ie, the temps are off, humidy is off or they dont feel secure. balls can take live or frozen thawed (F/T), in the form of mice or rats. some snakes ONLY eat rats, some ONLY eat mice, some dont mind switching. if your snake only eats mice, by the time its fully grown it may be taking 2-3 mice at a time, that is the main reason i think most people switch to rats. a ball should never have to take anything larger than a small or medium rat. large and extra larges are not necessary for the species as they dont get that big and a food item that large could cause serious problems.

I was reading on another topic about a python escaping, does this happen often? Or does it depend more on the cage?

if you secure your tank/cage/box everything should be fine. this does not mean weighting the tank lid down with rocks. snakes are made of muscle. they're incredibly strong for their size. they need something they can not push off. i have a tank with a sliding, locking lid MADE for reptiles. fish tanks with screen lids are not something i'd recommend unless you figure out a way to MAKE SURE they stay locked in their boxes until -you- decide to let them come out, not the other way around.

My mom also seems to think that owning a snake could be dangerous. Is this true?

owning any animal can be "dangerous" i have owned dogs, cats, rodents and now a snake. i get more "omg, what if it bites you" comments about the snake than about any other animal i've ever had. combined. they have mouthes, they have teeth, there is ALWAYS the possibility they may bite. but balls tend to be very relaxed and docile and reluctant to bite. that was one of the reasons i chose to get one. their teeth are small and wont leave much more than a pinprick. if you're bitten? don't jerk away, the animal will figure it out. put it away (the snake) and wash the bite. you'll be fine. as for other dangers... its simple things. don't kiss snakes or other reptiles, don't put large snakes around your neck, etc.

I know I must sound like a total noob, but I'm just trying to gather as much info as I can to present a better argument.. Thanks for your guys help. xD

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you're certinly not a noob. i think its awsome that you're gathering all this info for your mom.

snakes are great pets for the right people.
good luck!

I own 30 ball pythons, and can tell you that they are easy to take care of. They do not smell. You just have to clean their cage when necessary, and feed once a week. They are great pets. You just have to make sure that you are ready of the responsibility. They depend on you for everything. You have to make sure that you can meet their requirements; for example, heat, humidity, fresh water, and food. If you are ready for that, then they will be happy. Hope this helps. :cool:

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Originally Posted by ellie.the.strange

How long can a snake go without eating, and not suffer significant damage?

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Every snake is different and the only way to know for sure is to monitor weights with a digital scale to keep track of the weight loss during the fast. I had my male fast for 8 months last year with very little lost weight in the process.

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Originally Posted by ellie.the.strange

Alright, so I've thought of a few more questions. :D

1. How hard are they really to take care of?

2. How often do they have to eat, and where can I get food for him?

3. I was reading on another topic about a python escaping, does this happen often? Or does it depend more on the cage?

4. My mom also seems to think that owning a snake could be dangerous. Is this true?

I know I must sound like a total noob, but I'm just trying to gather as much info as I can to present a better argument.. Thanks for your guys help. xD

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1. Not that hard. Ball pythons are considered beginner snakes.

2. I don't own a BP, but I think you should feed it once a week.

3. No. It depends how well secured the cage is. Keep the cage well secure and you should have no problems with it.

4. Not at all. Ball Pythons are usually really tame and hardly bite. Your mother probably thinks that the snake is venomous if she thinks they could be dangerous. Tell her (politely, of course) that no Python is venomous and that no one has ever been killed or mortally injured by a Ball Python.

You don't sound like a noob, you sound like someone who needs info about keeping a snake.

Thanks for all of your guy's information, it's been really helpful! :D

ball pythons are great man, really worth it

I Keep All My Snakes In One Room Check And Spot Clean Each Day When I Give Them Fresh Water

I urge you to take all the advice about to the effect that "it's easy" with a grain of salt.

Read the internet tips and caresheets (VPI, NERD, Kaplan, ProExotics, Ken Felsman, Bob Clarke and so on), do the leg work and find out all you can. Buy a book or two. This very thread illustrates the problems of "someone on the internet said...."

If you want to persuade someone to let you have one, cut and paste quotes from reputable (or at least reputable-sounding) sources about ease of care, docility and suitability for kids -- and then forget about ease of care. Minimally decent responsiblity for any animal requires learing and exotic pets require learning more and acting and often spending money based on what you know. If your snake looks pretty sick, the only really good answer to an inquiry here is "see a vet." If your parents let you have it, will they also pay a vet bill or force you to? And just where is your nearest vet who's good with snakes? Is there another owner or a reptile rescue if things don't go well?

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1. How hard are they really to take care of?

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Like arithmetic or driving, it's usually undemanding when you know what you're doing. But if you learn the have of it you'll have huge problems.

When i was 10, a little over 10 years ago I ordered a bp online from some pet store, went out and bought a money order and sent it to Florida. Told my mother the night before it came so she'd take me to go get supplies for the new pet in the morning. She was terriffied, screamed at me, and eventually refused delivery of the snake, poor littlw guy had 2 back to back trips, he lived though! :) When I was 17, one of my friends was giving away his bp before college, so i took him with me to URI(Rhode Island), came back after one semester, by choice not because of grades or anything, and now my house is FILLED with bp's(30 bps and growing!). So my suggestion to your mom would be to encourage your newfound hobby or you'll end up like one of us! At least it's not crack! lol!:gj:

Not that it should be the primary hobbyist's main reason, but you can also show your mom some of the positive articles on the bp market. It's shaky yes, but if you find some outlets for your snakes, there is still money to be made and fun to be had. Good luck!

Oh and if you've ever owned any pet in your life, you're going to say that BP's have NO smell, just pick up poo once or twice a week after he poo's his meal out, not that constant unreliable poo you're used to with your other pets, you can actually make poo-plans! Going out of town for a weekend....feed him on friday and he wont poo til Sunday! Just in time for you to pick it up... Snake poo...Makes other poo's cry! :rolleye2:

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Originally Posted by Hotshot

ask her? :weirdface I dont man I asked my mom for 2 years for a snake she said NO now she dont care how many I get :cool:

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Same here. I just went out and got one. She was a bit upset at first. But she loves him now. So I got another 3 and she really likes them. Once your parents realise that they arent as bad as people think then they are great:D

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Originally Posted by Pythonman

Snake poo...Makes other poo's cry! :rolleye2:

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:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Both parents have OKed the python petition!
Thanks so much for your guys help. I’ll probably be posting a lot more with a lot more questions as soon as I bring him home. :D

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Originally Posted by ellie.the.strange

Both parents have OKed the python petition!
Thanks so much for your guys help. I’ll probably be posting a lot more with a lot more questions as soon as I bring him home. :D

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I am very happy for you and proud of your parents for taking the time to think, talk and investigate this herp world! Kudos to all!!! :gj: We can't wait to share this journey with you!! :D

Good job on getting them to approve the new BP :)

if i was you (the original poster) from the way it sounds,for your 1st snake i'd run from the one that was offered to you, sounds like alot of problems,especially for a beginner, the snake sounds like it's current owner has no clue, so your off to a bad start , if i were you i'd get one from a reliable breeder and go from there, you will have alot less problems with a snake when it's healthy and you KNOW it's history

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Originally Posted by jeffjr464

if i was you (the original poster) from the way it sounds,for your 1st snake i'd run from the one that was offered to you, sounds like alot of problems,especially for a beginner, the snake sounds like it's current owner has no clue, so your off to a bad start , if i were you i'd get one from a reliable breeder and go from there, you will have alot less problems with a snake when it's healthy and you KNOW it's history

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OR, she rescues a snake from a friend who does not seem to have a clue and nurses it back to health with appropriate husbandry and feedings... Snakes deserve a chance to live especially when we humans have brought them into our care. Just my 2 cents.

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Originally Posted by ellie.the.strange

Both parents have OKed the python petition!
Thanks so much for your guys help. I’ll probably be posting a lot more with a lot more questions as soon as I bring him home. :D

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Sounds cool. I am glad that the snake is going to you, as you seem like someone who is willing to improve its situation and learn as much as possible. :D