Question about BP's

Everytime i go to the pet store with my daughter she just stands in front of the snakles and looks at them. for about the past month, she has been asking for a snake and always points at the BP's that the store has. I have never had a snake, never really wanted to either. But i did some reading up on the BP's and they don't sound as bad as i once thought them to be. The wife is ok with it but she has said she want no part in feeding them. my question is would a BP be ok for someone that has never owned a snake. My biggest fear is being bit. is there a way to handle a snake to build up trust? are gloves ok to us for a wuss like me until i build up enough confedence to pick it up with out gloves. i held my first snake last week at a pet smart, it wasn't to bad.

thanks

I was the same way as you about a month ago, then My friend (who I bought his collection and setup) let me hold one of his BP's, I was scared at first but after a bit he was fine, very gentle actually and calm. Ever since them I have done so much research and been absolutely in love with them. I never wore gloves holding a snake but I dont think I would, the snakes are very clean and feel really cool, you don't need gloves. Feeding them is pretty intense IMO. They can be very gentle and calm animals if treated right. Make sure you do alot of research before buying one, I could not have cared for one if I did not do as much research as I did.

Unless your daughter is capable of taking care of the snake on her own I would not buy any snake. All too often a child loses interest in a new pet and the responsibility of caring for the animal falls on the parents. Your wife has said that she is not interested in feeding the snake and since that's pretty important that means you will most likely be the one who has to take care of the animal. Pets are hard enough to take care of when you love them. If this is going to be a burden and not a love then the animal is the one who will suffer. Owning a snake without getting bit is like, owning a dog without your stuff shoes getting chewed, or owning a cat without getting your furniture scratched. Its certainly possible that you can get your new snake and never get bit, but you should not go into snake husbandry with that expectation. A ball python bite is nothing. I am twice as afraid of getting a flu shot, paper cut, or stubbing my toe.

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Originally Posted by matt08

Everytime i go to the pet store with my daughter she just stands in front of the snakles and looks at them. for about the past month, she has been asking for a snake and always points at the BP's that the store has. I have never had a snake, never really wanted to either. But i did some reading up on the BP's and they don't sound as bad as i once thought them to be. The wife is ok with it but she has said she want no part in feeding them. my question is would a BP be ok for someone that has never owned a snake. My biggest fear is being bit. is there a way to handle a snake to build up trust? are gloves ok to us for a wuss like me until i build up enough confedence to pick it up with out gloves. i held my first snake last week at a pet smart, it wasn't to bad.

thanks

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I was was like you once, I got my frist snake ever a BP and was scared of it. lol sept mine tried to take my hand off every minute it could. but about 800 grams later shes a sweet heart, I just got done cleaning here tub with her around my neck. BPs are great frist time snakes you just gotta learn that they are more scared of you then you are of them, just reach in pick them up and dont think about getting bit its what I've done for three years and I've never been tagged

Ball Pythons can be a bit more work to get set up properly than some others (like corns). They require temprature gradiants (warm on one end of the enclosure and cooler on the other end). The best way to do this is with under tank heat like flexwatt, and it must be regulated with a thermostat. Humidity is also a big issue with BPs. They like 60% and higher. If you decide on a BP make sure you have a set-up already maintaining proper temps (80 cool side 90 warm side) and stable humidity BEFORE you get the snake. This is the biggest mistake people make. Don't let the snake suffer while you figure it out.

As far as biting goes... It doesn't hurt. And the odds of you getting bit when you only own one BP are very slim. It usually only happens when someone has been handling rodents or petting the cat and then forget to wash the smell off before reaching for the snake. BP's are about the most gentle creatures on the planet.

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Originally Posted by Egapal

Unless your daughter is capable of taking care of the snake on her own I would not buy any snake. All too often a child loses interest in a new pet and the responsibility of caring for the animal falls on the parents. Your wife has said that she is not interested in feeding the snake and since that's pretty important that means you will most likely be the one who has to take care of the animal. Pets are hard enough to take care of when you love them. If this is going to be a burden and not a love then the animal is the one who will suffer. Owning a snake without getting bit is like, owning a dog without your stuff shoes getting chewed, or owning a cat without getting your furniture scratched. Its certainly possible that you can get your new snake and never get bit, but you should not go into snake husbandry with that expectation. A ball python bite is nothing. I am twice as afraid of getting a flu shot, paper cut, or stubbing my toe.

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I guess I wasn't clear in the first post. I was asking with the intent of me being the one that would care for the BP. Like i said early, I never gave any thought to owning a snake. but once i started reading up on the BP i have become open minded to owning one.

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Originally Posted by matt08

Everytime i go to the pet store with my daughter she just stands in front of the snakles and looks at them. for about the past month, she has been asking for a snake and always points at the BP's that the store has. I have never had a snake, never really wanted to either. But i did some reading up on the BP's and they don't sound as bad as i once thought them to be. The wife is ok with it but she has said she want no part in feeding them. my question is would a BP be ok for someone that has never owned a snake. My biggest fear is being bit. is there a way to handle a snake to build up trust? are gloves ok to us for a wuss like me until i build up enough confedence to pick it up with out gloves. i held my first snake last week at a pet smart, it wasn't to bad.

thanks

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OK this my experience.

Ball Pythons are great snakes for beginners, just do some research before you buy one. Do your self a huge favor and stay away from petsmart. A lot of people like the glass tanks. A lot of people hate them with a passion. Rich at reptilebasiscs.com can hook you up with a great cage at a reasonable price.

You must have a thermostat on what ever you use to heat the cage. The cheapest one i would buy is $119 at reptile basics.

Remember that they can live up to 30+ years... how old is your daughter? What happens when she goes to college. Are you willing to care for the animal if she looses interest? Play what if for about 45 days while you get all the necessary supplies.

There is less of a chance for you to get bit by a BP then most other snakes. They get their name from the fact that they ball up and hide their head when scared. You will get bit. Every one does. After the first time you realize its not that bad. Does it feel good? No, but it aint the end of the world. Some people do wear gloves just don't use the gloves you use for feeding.

You can buy your BP from any reputable breeder. Adam at 8ballpythons.com is who I have gotten my snakes from. Do your research on what kind you want. It would be a shame to buy a normal when what you really want is a spider or pastel or lucy or mojave or albino or lavender or.... Well you get the point!

Also you can get the majority of snakes on F/T (frozen/thawed) so you don't have to feed live mice or rats. You just have to deal with mice in the freezer. Some people empty out an ice cream tub and put the bag in there so you don't see them every time you reach in there.

Learn what you want, the caging, the snake, the breeder, where you will keep the animal, what will you do if the snake gets sick, and any thing else any one can think of.

All in all you can't go wrong with getting a ball python, just one last warning...

They are addictive, you wont just stop with one.

Sorry if I missed anything, I am still really new and know very little.

if you feel that you will be comfortable caring for it then get one, just make sure your tank is setup properly and running before you bring it home, good luck with one if you decide on it.

Hoax, it funny you said petsmart. that was one of the places i did check out. The reason i looked at petsmart was it was captive hatched not import. I also like the idea that they are already being feed F/T which is what i would prefer to feed them. There is another pet store that has BP's in the next town over, but all the pet stores around this area get them from the same breeder in Richmond VA. The petco said they feed them live, but there sign on the glass said F/T, so maybe i spoke to the wrong person over the phone. I haven't been to the petco to see them yet. as for Vet's i checked last week and we have a great vet about 20 miles from where i live. He is mainly a reptile vet and some other exotic pets too.

Hello and Welcome,

I am new to snake ownership - for the past 6 months I have had my normal ball and have really enjoyed her. I wouldn't get the snake if you yourself don't really want it - because like stated before, your daughter will grow tired of it and then who will care for it.

I have to say that when I bought my normal ball for $50 - but also spent upwards of $500 to get her all outfitted with everything she would need, cage, thermostat, RHP, bedding, food, etc..... I never realized just how much money I would be spending to keep her comfortable.

Good luck with your decision, just go into with the attitude that it will be your snake and your responsibility for many years to come.

About the biting, I've been bitten 2 times. It was my fault. I held a rat then picked up the BP right after. It is absolutley not painful. It's such a small scratch it was gone by the next day. The strike scared the poo out of me tho. When i realized how insignifigant it was, it made me laugh.

Everyone is recommending, and i agree, that you do some serious research and get completly set up before you actually get the snake. Make sure you can maintain the enviroment before you add a living creature. Vet bills for reptiles can be very expensive so being prepared by having your setup working early is a must.

i am done preaching. when you are ready, DO IT. i hate furry animals so my snakes are great. And i think having them is a very rewarding experience. My two year old daughter walks around with our juvie on her neck. She loves them. and she loves the attention she gets shen people notice too.

welcome!

I forgot this as well and someone already said it, flexwatt is a must and Helix is a GREAT T stat I would also think about using tubs unless you got a good hum%

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Originally Posted by matt08

Hoax, it funny you said petsmart. that was one of the places i did check out. The reason i looked at petsmart was it was captive hatched not import. I also like the idea that they are already being feed F/T which is what i would prefer to feed them. There is another pet store that has BP's in the next town over, but all the pet stores around this area get them from the same breeder in Richmond VA. The petco said they feed them live, but there sign on the glass said F/T, so maybe i spoke to the wrong person over the phone. I haven't been to the petco to see them yet. as for Vet's i checked last week and we have a great vet about 20 miles from where i live. He is mainly a reptile vet and some other exotic pets too.

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Captive hatched means they are hatched then imported captive breed means they were breed and born here in captivity.

Most people don't have too hard of a time switching their BP from live to F/T.

I am about 90% sure www.bhbreptiles.com feeds F/T I could be wrong about the hatchlings but unless the snake just refuses F/T, they feed that way.

The BP I got from Petsmart had mites... A lot of people have had the same problem... They will tell you the snake is eating but it may have refused meals. I am not 100% anti petsmart/ petco but you would not buy a snake from Wal Mart would you? They are the same. Buy a bunch, don't give a darn, just sell em. Now there are some people and less managers that give two farts about the animals or the products. Their corporate policy is horrendous and I will never buy another animal from them again.

When I bought mine the "snake expert" sold me a bunch of garbage that is absolutly worthless, he told me that the zoomed UTH regulates itself... (UTH have cause severe belly burns when unregulated) and so on and so on. He supposedly owns several BPs, an Anaconda, and a tiger retic. I wasted alot of money listening to his advice.

Like I said there are some that do care, I am just not going to risk it. If they do not house them properly then i would not buy from them.

Proper housing is 1 BP per tank, at least one hide per tank, and proper humidity. Those little analog disk thermometers and hygrometers are worthless. They are notoriously inaccurate, you might as well play fetch with your snake with them.

Well im very wet behind the ears when it comes to owning a snake..I got my BP about a week or so ago. The main problem i had was getting the tank set up right. After that was over, i had to deal with feeding her for the first time, and it wasnt that bad....


But i havent been tagged yet, and my BP really doesnt care when i pick her up. Her head never comes anywhere near my hand. I always make it a habbit to wash my hands before i handle her, not just because of the scents, but i dont want to transmitt any germs to her.


But to be honest, you have to learn, and as bad as it sounds, your going to make mistakes, thats where this awesome forum comes in to play


but good luck to you and happy snaking

Petsmart = bad idea

I'm reading posts about how much money you HAVE to spend on the setup, but what nobody is telling you is that there are less expensive, but just as (if not more) effective ways of obtaining and maintaining a proper environment for your snake.

I don't dispute that Rich at Reptile Basics is a great guy and provides stellar customer service. (I've never done business with him, but I have heard nothing but great things about his products and services). But, I want to throw out some other options, as food for thought.

When you first talk to the pet store associates about getting a snake, they're going to tell you about all these things that you "need" for your new snake. The first thing they're going to try to sell you is a big, expensive, glass aquarium. They're not going to tell you about how difficult it will be to achieve proper temperatures and humidity inside this really big expensive tank. Researching before you buy will save you a ton of money in the end. Ball Pythons prefer small, cramped living spaces. For the size snake you can buy at a chain pet store (Petco, Petsmart, etc...), you can go to walmart or target and spend $5 on a 12 quart plastic tub (Rubbermaid or Sterilite) which will actually hold temps and humidity better than glass. Drop another $12 on an Accurite indoor/outdoor thermometer/hygrometer (I think they call it a weather station). Grab a roll of plain white paper towels for substrate, a couple cheap plastic bowls to use as hides, and a small ceramic dish for water. Melt holes in the sides of the tub with a soldering iron (or you can drill the holes, but be careful you don't crack the plastic) for ventilation. Melt or cut holes in the plastic bowls for entrances into the hides. The most expensive part of the setup will be the heating elements. You do need to have flexwatt or an under-tank heater you can buy at your local pet store. What you can't buy there THAT YOU REALLY NEED is a thermostat. You can find a cheapo thermostat (ReptiTemp 500R for $20-30) online that will work just fine if you maintain steady temps in the room your snake will be housed in.

So, all in all, you can buy everything you need to house your ball python effectively for less than the cost of the display tank the pet store employee will try to sell you.

Oh, and I'm not saying you SHOULD go buy your snake from a chain store like Petco or Petsmart (I personally got my first snake from Petco and have had NO problems with her). But definitely do your research there as well. Some pet store snakes are sold with mites or respiratory infections that could add pretty hefty vet bills to the initial purchase price.

The ball pythons you're going to see in the chain stores are all normal ball pythons. There's nothing wrong with a normal, but they're going to try to charge you $79.99 for one. You can usually locate a breeder with normals available anywhere from $15 to $50, but from a reputable breeder, you're sure to get a healthy animal...

I guess the main point is to do your research, and not to blindly trust one source of information. There are many different ways of doing the same thing...

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Originally Posted by hoax

OK this my experience.

Ball Pythons are great snakes for beginners, just do some research before you buy one. Do your self a huge favor and stay away from petsmart. A lot of people like the glass tanks. A lot of people hate them with a passion. Rich at reptilebasiscs.com can hook you up with a great cage at a reasonable price.

You must have a thermostat on what ever you use to heat the cage. The cheapest one i would buy is $119 at reptile basics.

Remember that they can live up to 30+ years... how old is your daughter? What happens when she goes to college. Are you willing to care for the animal if she looses interest? Play what if for about 45 days while you get all the necessary supplies.

There is less of a chance for you to get bit by a BP then most other snakes. They get their name from the fact that they ball up and hide their head when scared. You will get bit. Every one does. After the first time you realize its not that bad. Does it feel good? No, but it aint the end of the world. Some people do wear gloves just don't use the gloves you use for feeding.

You can buy your BP from any reputable breeder. Adam at 8ballpythons.com is who I have gotten my snakes from. Do your research on what kind you want. It would be a shame to buy a normal when what you really want is a spider or pastel or lucy or mojave or albino or lavender or.... Well you get the point!

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Vincent Vega would think this remark is very offensive. There are cool morphs out there, but the normal started it all. If there's a good looking BP out there, it's a "normal".

Just to give you an idea on cost for a new BP set up

10-20 gal tank $20-$40
aspen bedding $8.00
2 hides $16.00
water bowl $10.00
UTH (under tank heater) $21.00
Lutron rheostat light dimmer (to use to control uth)@ Homedepot $10.00
accurite humidity/thermometer w/ probe $12.00
Temp gun $20.00

total cost with out snake $117-$137

The joy that your new BP will bring you PRICELESS!

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Originally Posted by llovelace

Just to give you an idea on cost for a new BP set up

10-20 gal tank $20-$40
aspen bedding $8.00
2 hides $16.00
water bowl $10.00
UTH (under tank heater) $21.00
Lutron rheostat light dimmer (to use to control uth)@ Homedepot $10.00
accurite humidity/thermometer w/ probe $12.00
Temp gun $20.00

total cost with out snake $117-$137

The joy that your new BP will bring you PRICELESS!

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Careful with this one :)

I live in an area that it would be really hard to keep a ball python in a tank with heat controlled by a dimmer. Dimmers only work well if the temp in the room stays pretty darn constant; like within a degree or two.

OP: You are much better off looking at thermostats to control the heat source and, as has been suggested, RBI has great reptile cages that hold the heat and humidity really well, are nice to look at, and easy to clean. I have 6 of their cages and use their radiant heat panels as the heat source. I also use Helix's or Herpstat's to control the heat. If I had to choose, I'd use all Herpstat's :gj:

well i did a little more looking around in the net and found a breeder about 2 hours away. Morph makers. I spoke to a lady for about 20 mins talking about there different morphs they have, and going over tank/tub setups. She was really helpful and very nice. She also gave a ton of advice just like you guys have been.

I also found another pet store that get's there reptiles from a up state breeder. And they sell for much less then petco/petsmart. So now i have 2 options.

That's good news. Not saying a Petsmart BP WILL cause you problems, and a breeder's BP WON'T cause you poblems, but you're way better off with a local breeder. Morph Makers has a pretty good reputation, and will have many more BPs to choose from than any Pet-Chain.

Sounds like you're off to a great start. You may never know how much trouble finding this Forum will end up saving you! Hang around and ask all the questions you want.

You've already been given several good options for housing a BP. I would advise you do some research on the web and decide which housing set-up best works for you and your budget, then get started on setting up the enclosure so it has time to settle in before you bring your new BP home.

Be warned, they are addicting!!!