Why Are Ball Pythons Beginner Species?

[mainbutter]

edit: nevermind.

[FlowRock]

Reading a lot of forums, I would guess bps are not a very easy snake to keep, but reading the right forums, I know they are.
I am a bit pissed off by german herp forums, because most of the people here (germany) tend to keep bps (even hatchlings) in far too large vivs (sometimes even higher than wide, because "my snake loves to climb and is active all day".....) and then start to wonder why their ball wont eat.
I got into balls because of this forum and set my boys tub up, following the hints on this site, he is doing well, eating good and i am very pleased owning him.
But... I do not know how the situation would be, if i would not know your page.
To tell you the truth, my boa and my corn are by far easier homemates, who never refused a meal and stuff... If I would not have researched on this page, sometimes I would have had sleepless nights because of the ball.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

They are considered beginner because whether you believe it or not Ball Pythons are not hard to keep IF you do some research prior to making a purchase and know what you are doing. (just like everything else you can keep)

They are considered beginner snake due to their size, temperament, and ease to handle.

Yes colubrids are good beginner snake too however they have a different temperament and the handling experience is not the same and not as appealing to some, I don’t even talk about their tendency to musk when and the nipping of young individual.

I have no issue with people owning a BP as their first snake and would recommend them to someone who is looking to purchase their first snake of course it would depend on their age, expectations, ability to meet the animal’s needs and how much work they want to put in it.

Whether or not a snake is a beginner level snake, is a combination of commitment, husbandry, disposition and size of the individual, it’s not all about one thing.

[DutchHerp]

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.

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"

[_Venom_]

Hi,

I

Why do we recommend snakes that need a cool spot no lower than 75*? Honestly, how many households in the United States have temperatures like that?
Thanks,

Chicago winters, silly southerner

[Stewart_Reptiles]

There's the key word

To me

If YOU do not think BP are not a good beginner snake it's ok I, don't own one, don't recommend one to someone looking for a first snake that is as easy as that, however it will not change the fact that their disposition, size, ease to handle make them a good beginner snake.

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"

Right, so less just recommend a retic as a beginner snakes since for YOU they have the same charactheristics.

[blackcrystal22]

Chicago winters, silly southerner

I'm pretty sure he meant households with temps of 75+ degrees.

[_Venom_]

I'm pretty sure he meant households with temps of 75+ degrees.

chicagOwned

[Mike Cavanaugh]

I guess we have different definitions of what a good first snake is. Mine is one that is easy, safe, and rewarding for the kid with minimal effort. Yours apparently is what snake can be abused and not taken care of and still survive.

Generally speaking, people have an amazing ability to over complicate things unnecessarily. Care of a ball python is probably one of the best examples of that in existence.

Anyways, I am done with this subject, you are entitled to your opinion like I am mine.

[juddb]

I think it depends on who you are asking. Honestly some people dont care about handling the animal, as long as it eats and sheds and poops, without any complicated setup and no late night internet research, then thats a beginner animal. Other keepers who generally care about thier investment, want to know everything about the animal and its requirements and after a few months of successful bp keeping beleive its a beginner snake, get more bp's, and move on to keeping other "tougher" species. So this question is hard to answer, some people do think bp's are tough to keep and some dont.
I read this whole thread and i dont think you will get the answer your looking for. I hope this makes sense.