Quote Originally Posted by Nate View Post
Based on what you've owned and through your own personal knowledge - create a list that you would suggest to new owners... Where are ball pythons on this list?

Ball Pythons are not hard to care for, IMO... granted - they are the only Snake i've ever owned, so my experience is limited.

I did own some crested geckos. They were a lot harder to care for than ball pythons.

My bp's set up is minimal and I've got monster feeders that still make me jump every time I feed them.

People want a snake that will get big, but not too big. Ball pythons are perfect for that. Their full grown size is an appeal to a lot of people.

I'm sure they are a little more challenging than corn snakes - but I don't see that as a reason to say they're NOT good beginner snakes. I don't think it's essential that you START with something like a corn snake. I started with BP's, like a lot of people did, and don't regret it.

The best way to learn is through first hand experience. Yes - at one time I was one of these kids that had a tank with a heat pad and didn't know what I was doing. That's why I found a forum like BP.net and started asking questions. There is NOTHING wrong with that.
Quote Originally Posted by Nate View Post
disagree with what? That I came here to ask questions?
When I read your post it seemed like "There is NOTHING wrong with that" referred to this:

Yes - at one time I was one of these kids that had a tank with a heat pad and didn't know what I was doing.

And some of you say BPs are not difficult to take care of when you've done your homework... isn't this true for nearly every single species of snake in captivity?

I've never heard anyone talk about Emerald Boas as being "beginner snakes", yet they're easy to take care of once set up properly. I'm not seeing that as a valid reason for BPs being beginner snakes at all whatsoever.

To me there have been no reasons for BPs being good beginner snakes in this thread that I didn't already know about...I just don't think they're good enough for these snakes to qualify as beginner snakes because many advanced snakes have the same characteristics of what you all call the "beginner snakes"