A couple of questions.

[royalballpython]

Helloo!
I'm new to this site, so I'll tell you a little bit about me first before I ask my questions.
My name is Charlee but I would appreciate it if you called me cree [its a nickname my friends gave me]
I'm a girl.
I love animals and I like to do a lot of research before I decide to get one and I figured a ball python would be perfect for me.
I just turned 19 saturday and I've always wanted to have a snake so I convinced my grandparents [who I live with] that it would be an awesome birthday present if they let me get a ball python.
They agreed.

But I do have a few questions.
I want to get my python from a breeder instead of a petstore because I've heard that a lot of the time they have problems eating.
I don't want that.
But I'm having a hard time finding a breeder in my area.
I was wondering if any of you know a good place to get them in Iowa?

Also, what is the best to keep them in when they are young.
I'm getting mixed opinions.
Some people will say that you should get a 10 gal. for young snakes and move them up to a bigger tank when they are older.
Others will tell me to just buy a bigger tank right away because it doesn't matter.
But I don't want to stress it out.

I want to buy all of the stuff that I'll need before the snake arrives.
But I'm also getting different opinions on what is better for the snake heat wise.
An undertank heater or heat lamps?
I'm worried the under take heater will be a fire hazard.
But I've also heard that you can use both.

What is the best substrate to use?
I don't want to use newspaper or paper towels because I want it's environment to look like it would in the wild.
But I've heard different things.
I don't want it to get scale rott or anything like that so what should I use?

Which side should be the humid side?
The cold side or the warm side?
I know the humidity is supposed to be between 50-60% I am getting a humidity gauge so that I'll be able to tell.

If you could answer these questions that would be great and if I have anymore I'll be sure to ask.

[RichsBallPythons]

Helloo!
I'm new to this site, so I'll tell you a little bit about me first before I ask my questions.
My name is Charlee but I would appreciate it if you called me cree [its a nickname my friends gave me]
I'm a girl.
I love animals and I like to do a lot of research before I decide to get one and I figured a ball python would be perfect for me.
I just turned 19 saturday and I've always wanted to have a snake so I convinced my grandparents [who I live with] that it would be an awesome birthday present if they let me get a ball python.
They agreed.

But I do have a few questions.
I want to get my python from a breeder instead of a petstore because I've heard that a lot of the time they have problems eating.
I don't want that.
But I'm having a hard time finding a breeder in my area.
I was wondering if any of you know a good place to get them in Iowa?

Also, what is the best to keep them in when they are young.
I'm getting mixed opinions.
Some people will say that you should get a 10 gal. for young snakes and move them up to a bigger tank when they are older.
Others will tell me to just buy a bigger tank right away because it doesn't matter.
But I don't want to stress it out.

I want to buy all of the stuff that I'll need before the snake arrives.
But I'm also getting different opinions on what is better for the snake heat wise.
An undertank heater or heat lamps?
I'm worried the under take heater will be a fire hazard.
But I've also heard that you can use both.

What is the best substrate to use?
I don't want to use newspaper or paper towels because I want it's environment to look like it would in the wild.
But I've heard different things.
I don't want it to get scale rott or anything like that so what should I use?

Which side should be the humid side?
The cold side or the warm side?
I know the humidity is supposed to be between 50-60% I am getting a humidity gauge so that I'll be able to tell.

If you could answer these questions that would be great and if I have anymore I'll be sure to ask.

First off Welcome to the forum

there and MANY breeders on this site that would glady assist you on buying and shipping a snake to you. Just ask.

Babies as young do best in 6qt or 15 qt tubs with heat tape/pad. Smaller is always better with ball pythons as they get over whelmed VERY fast in large cages.


what you need for the snake is heat pad, water bowl, 2 identical hides. You only use heat lamps tanks when trying to keep temps up. Plastic tubs hold heat better where a heating pad is plenty of heat source. And they are not fire hazards as long as you use a thermostat to control the heating elements to the desired temps set.

Best substrte is what ever you like the look of. Cheap is paper towel and newspaper. More expensive will be aspen whether its sani chip or not, or cyprus mulch.


They need these at all times

warm side 89-93
cool side 78-82
humidity of 55-60% throughout the enclosure.

Be sure to NOT buy the dial gauges to measure the above. Buy digital as it will save you in the long run. They sell them at walmarts for $12

[royalballpython]

I'm planning on using a glass aquarium.
Thats why I was wondering about the heat lamps.

I prefer to use a glass aquarium because I like how they look compared to the tubs.

[RichsBallPythons]

I'm planning on using a glass aquarium.
Thats why I was wondering about the heat lamps.

I prefer to use a glass aquarium because I like how they look compared to the tubs.

Going with the tank then you will want a 10gallon tank for good part of the babies first year.

You can use a heat lamp to achieve the cool side temps if room is cold. Be sure to control all heating elements to stop overheating and burning the snake

[royalballpython]

Okay that sounds good.
My room is actually pretty hot all year round.
I don't like to be cold so I use a space heater.
It usually stays a steady 70-75 degrees throughout the year.

[RichsBallPythons]

Okay that sounds good.
My room is actually pretty hot all year round.
I don't like to be cold so I use a space heater.
It usually stays a steady 70-75 degrees throughout the year.

You want a room temp not to fall below 75 anything lower youll need to use either a heat lamp or another heating pad for cool side.

[royalballpython]

Okay. Well if that's the case then thats what I'll have to do.

[tizzle89]

go with rubbermaid cheap and easy to clean when the snake gets bigger buy a bigger cage

[Kaorte]

!!!

Ball pythons are actually very easy to take care of, but new keepers sometimes seem to complicate things. If you are set on a glass aquarium then a 10g is good for a hatchling up to 1 year old. I will advise you now to stay away from the heat lamps. If your room stays above 70* then you probably won't need one An under tank heater will work just fine. You must use a reptile thermostat or temporary rheostat with the under tank heater or it could burn your snake. Don't worry, a UTH will never get hot enough to cause a fire.

The main things your snake needs in the enclosure are two identical hides that are small and tight fitting. If you want to go for the natural look, the exo-terra rock caves are a good pick. You will also need a water bowl. You might hear that you need one big enough for the snake to soak in but that isn't really true. Ball pythons rarely soak and if they do it is usually an indication of a larger problem. You will also need a reliable thermometer and hygrometer. There are some at main pet stores that are acceptable but they are also expensive. The home depot, lowes, and walmart all carry a type of indoor outdoor thermometer called the accurite weather station with wired probe. It is about $12 and is the only thermometer/hygrometer you will need for the enclosure.

Covering the screen top with aluminum foil tape will help hold in humidity. Insulating the back and sides of the tank with dark foam core board or dark paper will also help keep temps and humidity more constant.


The best loose substrate in my opinion is aspen bedding. I really dislike dirt beddings because it is just that, dirt. For the once a month cage cleaning, it is going to be a nightmare. Spot cleaning will also be hard because you won't be able to see the waste easily.

You don't need a humid side. Just a warm and cool side. The humidity should be 50-60% normally and 70% during a shed cycle.

[royalballpython]

Thank you Kaorte that was really helpful.