Finally I can have a snake for a pet! BUT need some advice from experts

Hi! I'm new to the snake world (I have kept bearded dragons though before) and I have mainly kept saltwater fish for my whole life(sharks, eels, puffers, rays, lions, etc). I would like to have a ball python, since my mom would never let me, but since I'm at college now I finally can!!
So I need some advice from you experts. I plan on researching stuff in May since I'm busy with tests. I would probably be getting one near the end of June. But I need some advice such as whats the best food? Frozen mice? Live Mice? What Vitamin supplement and how to give it to them. Temperature (i live in Florida) they should be kept at, etc. So looking forward to all the info !!:snake:

Oh I forgot. There's a reptile show in June hear in Orlando. This is where I got my bearded dragon 12 years ago. ANyways, would this be the place to buy a baby ball python since there will be breeders there? If not where should I buy the snake?

Hi and hope the exams go well. Im new to the BP world but here is a great care sheet for you to look at.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules/...warticle&id=59

One thing that concerns me about the prospect of you taking on the responsibility of a snake is the fact you are in college. All snakes are prone to anxiety and nervousness when their environment and "comfort zone" feels threatened or is changed. If you are away at college staying in a dorm or apartment, I would think twice before investing in a snake such as a Ball Python. During furloughs such as Spring Break, Holiday Break and Summer Recess, chances are you would have to bring the snake with you wherever you went in order to ensure it's safekeeping and welfare. This type of continous movement is extremely stressful for a snake and can induce sickness, loss of appetite and even death. These animals are creatures of routine and when their routine and normal balance of things is disturbed, it affects them in many different ways. My first bit of advice to you is to be completely honest with yourself and make sure that you can provide the care necessary to ensure a long, healthy relationship between you and the snake you choose as a pet. I would also doublecheck with college policies if you are staying in a college dorm or frat house to make sure pets like these are allowed. Many institutions strictly forbid pets of this type to be kept in on campus residential facilities.

Grim,

I have a my own apartment (not at school). Basically I'm living in the city where my school is. So i'm not worried about time and stuff. And I do have roommates to take care of them when I do go home for no more than 2 weeks. Thanks though:)

Now what about vitamins? And does anyone know of breeders in the state of FLorida? There is a reptile show coming in June...I'm assuming this would be my best pet to get one from a breeder? Are breeders the way to go instead of pet stores?

Oh and another question. ABout regulating heat on both sides... how would I go about making one side in the 80s and the other in the 90s? I'm assuming a heating pad to keep one side in the 80s and a basking lamp to keep the other side in the 90s

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Originally Posted by cartman89

Now what about vitamins? And does anyone know of breeders in the state of FLorida? There is a reptile show coming in June...I'm assuming this would be my best pet to get one from a breeder? Are breeders the way to go instead of pet stores?

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Originally Posted by cartman89

Oh and another question. ABout regulating heat on both sides... how would I go about making one side in the 80s and the other in the 90s? I'm assuming a heating pad to keep one side in the 80s and a basking lamp to keep the other side in the 90s

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There are a lot of good breeders in Florida, but most breeders will also ship. :] Cruise around a bit, some good bp breeders are;
www.baileyreptiles.com Tim and Monica Bailey
www.8ballpythons.com Adam Wysocki
www.bhbreptiles.com Brian and Lori (I can't spell his last name for the love of me)

Those are some good breeders that are big. There are a lot of small breeders on here though as well. Breeders are always a much better choice than pet stores. Don't get advice from them either.
They do not need any vitamin supplements. However, it is important to get their husbandry as perfect as possible with that care sheet above.
Reptile shows are a good place to see a lot of breeders as well. :]

Basking lamps are useless. If you want one for appearance, get a florescent tube light that doesn't emit heat. Basking lamps suck out humidity and make it terrible in an enclosure.
For a baby ball python, you can get tubs (if your not looking for appearance) or you can get a 10 gallon tank. Then level up to a 20 gallon after 1-2 years. Do not go right to a 20 gallon for a baby, it is too much space and is stressful for the animal.

For heat, one thermostat with a proper UTH on the warm side should regulate temperatures properly if the cage isn't overly large. You'll have to get a couple probe thermometers and hydrometers as well.

For food, I suggest switching to f/t (frozen) or asking the breeder to switch to f/t for you. Unless you plan on breeding your own mice and rats, you will have size issues and it will be very expensive from pet stores. You can purchase frozen in bulk from many online stores and pick any size of rat (I suggest feeding rats starting at a rat pup for a baby bp because they are fuller and have a better size capability for ball pythons).

Good luck!

Why don't I need a basking light? Then how would I make one side in the 90s??

hey,

My advice, as a new ball python owner, is to take advice from people on bp.net, as well as through care sheets, breeders etc.

I will leave the specifics up to the experts here, but with a thermostat and UTH on one side, if you cover part of your top (screen lid) the hot side should be around the 90s

good luck

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Originally Posted by cartman89

Why don't I need a basking light? Then how would I make one side in the 90s??

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An under tank heater and a reliable thermostat are your best bets. Basking lights and ceramic heat emitters totally suck humidity out of the air. Balls need around 50% humidity all the time. Thermostats that come highly recommended are Johnson controls, ranco, herpstat, helix and sypder robotics.

Personally, i'd get a real thermostat and be happy and stay away from rheostats and stuff like zoomed repti-temp 500Rs. Those are only really good if your room temps NEVER fluctuate. There are people on this site that use them with success, but I could never get a rheostat type thing to work for me without hourly adjustment.

You also don't need a basking light because ball pythons do not bask.

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

You also don't need a basking light because ball pythons do not bask.

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Not entirely true. ;)

BPs have been documenting getting heat from hot rocks after the sun went down... a type of basking, no?

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Originally Posted by DutchHerp

Not entirely true. ;)

BPs have been documenting getting heat from hot rocks after the sun went down... a type of basking, no?

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Basking is when you sit out in direct sunlight, they don't do that.

The sun heats the rocks and they get the heat from the rocks, not from the sun above.

bask
Pronunciation:
\ˈbask\
Function:
verb
Etymology:
Middle English, probably from Old Norse bathask, reflexive of batha to bathe; akin to Old English bæth bath
Date:
14th century
intransitive verb
1: to lie or relax in a pleasant warmth or atmosphere
2: to take pleasure or derive enjoyment <basked in the spotlight>
transitive verb
obsolete : to warm by continued exposure to heat

In several herp books I've seen that getting heat from rocks is referred to as basking. ;)

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Originally Posted by DutchHerp

bask
Pronunciation:
\ˈbask\
Function:
verb
Etymology:
Middle English, probably from Old Norse bathask, reflexive of batha to bathe; akin to Old English bæth bath
Date:
14th century
intransitive verb
1: to lie or relax in a pleasant warmth or atmosphere
2: to take pleasure or derive enjoyment <basked in the spotlight>
transitive verb
obsolete : to warm by continued exposure to heat

In several herp books I've seen that getting heat from rocks is referred to as basking. ;)

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Ah well, I guess my definition is a little different. Although there have been cases of ball pythons coming out to lay on rocks to get warmth, it really isn't all that common. Especially in captivity where we can make it so they don't have to leave the security of their hide and make themselves vulnerable in order to heat themselves properly.

now I thought a thermostat just tells you the readings of the temp and humidity? It actually heats the tanks up? So all I really need is a UTH to heat the tank up? Well I going to ask alot of questions in the following months...even if they are dumb lol. I'm moving away from fish for awhile and getting my hands back on a reptile, something new and adventurous!

The thermostat will regulate the temp of your UTH. It's a necessity if utilizing this method of heat for your snake. The UTH's can get VERY warm and if left unregulated could result in your snake being seriously injured and burned should they decide to lay on the section of the tank it is mounted to. Also, when using the UTH, put it under one side of the tank, NOT in the middle. This will assist in establishing a "hot" and "cold" side for your pet.

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Originally Posted by cartman89

now I thought a thermostat just tells you the readings of the temp and humidity? It actually heats the tanks up? So all I really need is a UTH to heat the tank up? Well I going to ask alot of questions in the following months...even if they are dumb lol. I'm moving away from fish for awhile and getting my hands back on a reptile, something new and adventurous!

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Thermometer -- temperature reading :)

Thermostat -- temperature regulation :)

No such thing as a dumb question. There is a lot of awesome information on this site (the search feature on the sidebar is also very very nice )

my advice is to do a bit of research on the multitude of species available. You might think you have your heart set on a ball python and then realize there's other cool species you didn't even know about that you might think are even cooler, more fun, better sized etc. It's easy to get the idea in your head that you want the snake you keep seeing in pet stores all the time, simply because you see them the most often.

People who are and stay excited about their pets make the best keepers.

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

my advice is to do a bit of research on the multitude of species available. You might think you have your heart set on a ball python and then realize there's other cool species you didn't even know about that you might think are even cooler, more fun, better sized etc. It's easy to get the idea in your head that you want the snake you keep seeing in pet stores all the time, simply because you see them the most often.

People who are and stay excited about their pets make the best keepers.

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Yeah I wanting a ball python because of how tame they are...a snake that my girlfriend won't freak out about. I would really like to get one of the exotic mixes but they are WAAAY to much so I have to stick with the regular morph bp

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Originally Posted by cartman89

Yeah I wanting a ball python because of how tame they are...a snake that my girlfriend won't freak out about. I would really like to get one of the exotic mixes but they are WAAAY to much so I have to stick with the regular morph bp

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You can find some cheaper visual morphs now. Spiders and pastels are petty inexpensive now.

hey what sex are the least aggressive? male?

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Originally Posted by cartman89

hey what sex are the least aggressive? male?

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That seems to be an individual characteristic. All but a few are docile after getting used to being handled.

Ok cool. Now should I place rocks on top of the lid to make it escape proof? Cause thats what I do with my eels tank

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Originally Posted by cartman89

Ok cool. Now should I place rocks on top of the lid to make it escape proof? Cause thats what I do with my eels tank

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No, that is very dangerous, if they manage to squeeze their way up through the tank lid,they will be crushed by the pressure.

Get some clamps for the lid. I have a couple and they work very well.

Sorry, but why would rock not work?

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Originally Posted by DutchHerp

Sorry, but why would rock not work?

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Because rocks can be moved. Especially if you have another animal like a cat or a dog or something they can move the rocks off and then the snake can escape, or the snake can try to budge out most likely damaging its nose and if it does manage to get part of its body out there is no way it can get it back in because of the weight. A snake caught in this position will most likely die i'd imagine.

I'd recommend locking lid enclosures if you're set on glass tanks, or the tank top clips (ive seen them and they're very affordable). Binder clips are excellent for rubbermaid type enclosures and cabinet locks are good for professional glass cages.