which one....

[dorado29]

i went to the nearby petco the other day and talked to the guy there(who used to breed bp's). apparently, they aren't very good starter snakes because they have problems shedding, eating, get stressed out easily etc.... and that i should consider a king snake. how are bp's with shedding? is it really that difficult if you get temps and humidity right? also how are kings with musking and whatnot? i definitely don't want that to happen every time i handle it

[Moriar]

personally i like bps its not that hard to get correct husbandry. and i wouldnt advise buying a bp from petco

[Noek]

I think they make great starter snakes. The only time they would have problems shedding, eating, or beng stressed out is when they're not cared for properly.

It's like not feeding a dog and then wondering why he's so aggressive.

Of course, this is just my opinion....

[dorado29]

grrr i cant decide between the two

[JLC]

Whichever species you choose, you're going to run the risk of getting an animal that doesn't care to be handled. That's just part of having a snake. They're not like puppies that crave human attention and thrive on it.

Some basic differences you can pretty much count on:

--Kingsnakes don't require a lot of extra heating and can live fine at room temperatures.
--Ball pythons prefer a warmer enviornment than most people's rooms.

--Kingsnakes don't have specific humidity requirements.
--Ball pythons need a minimum ambient humidity to be maintained in order to stay healthy and have proper sheds.

--Kingsnakes tend to be very flighty animals and will always be on the move when being held. (There are exceptions to this...but as a general rule, you're likely to get a flighty snake) They can and will musk if stressed....some more readily than others.
--Ball pythons tend to be much slower and easy going when handled. And more likely to ball up if stressed.

It really just depends on what you're looking for in an animal...and what levels of care you're willing and able to offer. Personally, I think either is a fine "starter" snake...but Ball pythons require a little extra attention to their environment...and a willingness to observe their behavior and tweak their environment as necessary to help them feel secure and "happy."

Read through our caresheet:
http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules....warticle&id=52

And decide for yourself if you think they are "too hard" to care for.

I will say this, too....a ball python from a pet store comes already "messed up" and may be harder to get acclimitized to a new home than a snake from a reputable breeder who knows how to take care of them properly to begin with.

[Sparky1]

I have to agree with everyone! If you cant take care of your end of that deal with any pet and you dont know what it really needs you can have alot of problems! So do alot of research on your own and make sure you can do your part and then find a reputable breeder that way you can bring home a happy well established animal, ie. feeding properly, disease free. Just be ready 20-30 years is a long time!!

[NightLad]

Whichever species you choose, you're going to run the risk of getting an animal that doesn't care to be handled. That's just part of having a snake. They're not like puppies that crave human attention and thrive on it.

In fairness, dogs are pack animals and snakes are not. When you get a dog, it understands that it is now a part of your 'pack.' It will recognize the hierarchy, and usually attempt to fill the role it believes itself to be in – protector, hunter (bringing home dead animals it finds and expecting a reward), nurturer (like watching over your kids), etc. A dog’s natural inclination is to do things as a pack, just as it would with a pack of dogs. This includes eating together, sleeping together, and going out together. They don’t understand the distinction most humans feel for them as ‘pets.’ When a dog whines at you during supper it isn’t trying to be annoying, it is confused about why it is being excluded from meal time – in the wild, exclusion during a meal is like a punishment. The same goes for leaving them alone when the family goes out, or kicking them out of bed when it’s time to sleep.

And thus ends my spiel about dog psychology! (I typed this as general information, not as a direct response to JLCs wonderful post.)

As I mentioned, snakes are not pack animals. They don’t crave the social interaction we are used to among humans, or that we see in other species that hold to a pack-mentality.

Personally, I like BPs because they are calm, docile snakes that don’t move too quickly and seem very agreeable to humans. (I’m speaking generally, of course, because they all have their own personalities.) Oh, and they are freekin' awesome! Actually, I met up with a friend who I’ve known online for a year but had yet to meet in person. He has a BP (to my pleasant surprise!) and I was able to handle him. A fantastic, charming animal all around. I’m even more sure of my desire to have one!

While I’d not advocate getting a reptile from a pet-store (there may be a few good stores out there, but I’d personally feel better going with a breeder), I might suggest visiting a pet store and asking to handle both snakes. Get a feel for the individual animals, meet them in person, and then let the experience help you decide. When you’ve made a decision, hunt down a good private breeder to work with. You can find lots of great information on this site.

[eternalfrost]

i knew nothing about snakes till about a 2 months ago. had my BP about a month now and couldnt be happier with him.

the tank etc is really simple to set up, the guide make it sound sort of complicated but i got it dialed in in one afternoon and about $60 including all the heaters and tank and thermostat etc.

my BP has shed perfectaly in one piece, eaten every time hes been offerd food, never strikes at you, and just sort of chills and slithers lazily over you when handled, never agressive or trying to escape, and even a normal is just simply beautifuly colored.

perfect first reptile

[dorado29]

thanks for the info guys... whats a good site to order from to get a decent normal ball python? theres nothing nearby other than Petco. I'm in maine by the way (wouldn't want a snake to be shipped from say, California if it makes a difference/stresses him out)

[Sparky1]

You can find many breeders if you just google search ball python breeders and there are a good majority that are on or close to the east coast. I am not sure what the price is from your petco but from what i have found you can get normals from good breeders for great prices. Well that is compared to my market were pet store prices are around a 100. I have found normals for 40 to 100 plus shipping but it is money well spent since you will recieve a better quality animal that is well established! Since i am new here im not sure about all the rules so i wont spout out any names of breeders that i have found, just try the google!