Why Are Ball Pythons Beginner Species?

[The Letch]

I dunno about that. I bought all of my animals because I thought they we're cool!

See what happens when I make a blanket statement? I get my foot in my mouth.

It goes back to this not being a good medium for full expression. Short story... I went to pick up a mouse for Bhodi and there was a young man (early 20s) and his girlfriend looking at a Red Tail that the store had. He insisted that they get the snake and was telling her how cool it would be to have a snake. She wanted to do some research to see how big they got, care, feeding etc. The guy at the pet store was just looking to make a sale and was down playing how much room they'd need and how big they really can get. He had no idea what he was about to get himself into. He just thought it would be "cool" to have a snake. Luckily his girlfriend won out and he agreed to research snakes before buying one. Had the GF not been there he'd have been one of those "coolness factor" people I was talking about.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

Ball pythons are good (if not the best) beginner pets because (just a few things off the top of my head):

*They don't require much work at all
*You only have to feed them once a week
*you can change their water out every couple of days and be fine
*you can show your friends, and let them hold the snake without worry of harm to the snake or the friend
*you can handle them regularly without harm to the snake.
*Once they get used to you holding them they become VERY calm. I have a few balls that will sit on my chest during an entire football game.
*If you go thru a busy period in life, and don't have much time to spend with the snake, it will be fine. just a couple minutes a week to clean, water and feed. That snake does not care one bit if it goes months without hanging out with you.
*as soon as a BP realizes you are not food, they will NOT bite you.
*If you are bitten, the worse you will get is a scratch
*Once you get the temps / setup right, you are done. other than cleaning, feeding, and watering nothing else is needed
*the little bit of work they do require teaches responsibility... but it is not so much work to be overwhelming
*they don't get too big
*they are VERY inexpensive to keep compared to a more traditional pet like a cat or dog
*you don't have to train a ball python!!!
*It is extremely rare for them to die young if you are doing everything right.
*If they do escape, 9 times out of 10 you will find them sooner or later unharmed
*they don't require any special / expensive lights
*setup can be as simple as a tub, uth, water bowl, hides from tuperware containers, and newspaper
*setup can be as complicated as you want, tank, bowls, limbs, greenery, fancy hides, lights, fancy substrate, ect
*they can be as inexpensive as a $20 - $30 normal at a show
*they don't bark in the middle of the night, dig holes, or chew up valuables
*they don't pee all over the house, and rip things up with their claws
*you don't have to worry about them going outside and coming bag pregnant
*you would have to be pretty dam unlucky for them to get hit by a car
*a kid who gets a BP at 10 could have the snake when he is 40. that in my opinion is priceless
*If you ever had to get rid of the snake, it is not hard to find someone who will take it. ( I would venture to say it is MUCH easier find a home for a 6 year old python then it is a 6 year old cat or dog or whatever else)
*As Americas #1 pet snake, there are huge amounts of information on the web and in books.
*as the keeper grows up they can infinitely grow their hobby. the sky is the limits! they can get into morphs, and breeding, and everything else that most of us now do.
*They are SOOO cool!

Now I challenge you to find another pet or snake species that can meet all the above stated points at the same time. Cornsnakes and other colourbrids are a close second, but they are second. Just the fact that they don't want to sit still and are harder to handle is enough for them to be second to the BP.

[Nate]

I do disagree.

disagree with what? That I came here to ask questions?

[snakecharmer3638]

I have a few balls that will sit on my chest during an entire football game.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

oh dear...

[RichsBallPythons]

I say ball pythons are not a beginner snake. As most beginners wind up buying from a pet store and suckered into a huge tank and heat lamps.

Then we find them on here asking same question over and over why wont my python eat or shed right and i cant keep the humidity at the right level.

IMHO ball pythons should be your 2nd or 3rd snake so you can get the skill of caring for a snake more tolerant of humidity and temp failures/fluctuations.

Ball pythons need SPECIFIC requirements to be met if not you have picky eaters and or unhealthy all around.

That's why i say no to beginner snake.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

I say ball pythons are not a beginner snake. As most beginners wind up buying from a pet store and suckered into a huge tank and heat lamps.

Then we find them on here asking same question over and over why wont my python eat or shed right and i cant keep the humidity at the right level.

IMHO ball pythons should be your 2nd or 3rd snake so you can get the skill of caring for a snake more tolerant of humidity and temp failures/fluctuations.

Ball pythons need SPECIFIC requirements to be met if not you have picky eaters and or unhealthy all around.

That's why i say no to beginner snake.

Ok, so what then would you consider a beginner snake and why?

[RichsBallPythons]

I consider a good beginner snake to be King snakes,Corn snakes, Basically any colubrid as they are more tolerant of beginners mistakes. As in temperature fluctuations and humidity levels being off during sheds and daily requirements.

They also are garbage disposals as they eat almost anything when offered properly sized meals. Ive yet to have a king,rat,or corn or gopher refuse a meal from me in all my years.

Also colubrids when adults don't mind larger setups as well. Since ther more active love to climb and roam more. Ball pythons don't roam like them and refer the smaller tighter setups.

This is why i dont refer Ball pythons as beginners unless you have prior knowledge of them and feel you can provide all the specific requirements for them.

[RichsBallPythons]

And to add for people who already have ball pythons set up, they seem EASY for us to go buy one and set them up in 3 mins.

Think back to your first and how much you thought on setting them up.

[Spaniard]

All the points that have been brought up so far for owning a colubrid seem to be their flexibility when it comes to husbandry. How forgiving they are to mistakes made by the owner. Makes me feel like this thread should be titled "Best snake for negligent pet owners?" (Nothing against those who own them)

I don't feel that there is a specific beginner animal. Everything is relative to the potential new owner. What do THEY want in a snake. What can THEY provide that snake in the terms of care. How much effort do THEY want to invest. Its up to the person buying to do the research and make the appropriate decision to fit their unique situation. Because some people fail miserably at this does not mean that it is the snakes' fault.