Advice

[Elise.m]

IMO, it's be better to get the female and leave the male behind. I could see where the breeder would be hesitant to sell the female alone since male hets are a little harder to sell.

As far as handling goes, you'll want to quarantine the new addition for ~3 months and not handle them back to back without at least using hand sanitizer (Some people go as far as changing clothes too). Just in case one has mites or a different health condition, it would prevent the other snake from getting it.

[DarrinLowe]

What signs should I look for in terms of mites and such?

At the moment, I was requesting to purchase the male. The question was wether to get both.
I am not sure yet, but I am going to go in to talk to him in about an hour and half or so.. hopefully.

[TomC]

For mights you would see small black bugs about the size of a poppy seed either on the snake, in the water bowl, or on the substrate. For this reason I highly suggest you use something like light news paper or paper towels to start out for substrate because it makes it a lot easier to spot possible mights.

[DarrinLowe]

Okay,

Well just an update. I have decided to get both of them.

He only had one tank set up for me, so I went out and got a second one for the Male.
I have a small hide, and a small humid hide, astroturf, dish and a light. I went and looked at these ones today, for about an hour and they look like they're in great shape. I got to meet the male's father snake aswell, which is an albino.

The Male, is born Nov 6th, 2010. Female is June 10th, 2010. Seperate blood lines. As for the pictures, I dont have a picture of the male yet, but the second picture I posted before is the female.

The other tank is a similar setup, which I will be housing the female. It is a medium hide, w/ humid hide, dish, and aspen. The main difference is the tank for the male is a 10G and the female has a 20G.

I'll try to get some pictures up tomorrow before I put them in and leave em alone for a week.

[mpkeelee]

is the light the only way ur providing heat for them?

[loonunit]

So I started with a het pied male. And I paid a good $150 with shipping for him--partly because I knew I wanted to work with pieds, but I was scared to invest in a het pied female (they were running ~$400 then) before I knew for sure I could keep these guys alive.

I think $150 is fine for your first snake. The set-up will cost at least that much anyway--and then the mice, and then sooner or later you'll go to the vet. It's comforting to me, way over here across the continent, to know that you've got the money, and are willing to spend it when you need to. And that you're taking your first ball python seriously.

And if the little guy is still doing well in 6 months, you can buy a het female. Maybe you can find one that's a year old and has some size.

Good luck! Hopefully he won't be a nippy baby like Mr. Nibbles.

[B-fish]

I voted, both and together. If you notice them not doing the greatest together, i suggest you seperate them then.

[wax32]

I voted, both and together. If you notice them not doing the greatest together, i suggest you seperate them then.

To the original poster: don't forget you need under tank heaters for both of the tanks and a thermostat to control them. Good luck with your new additions.

[DarrinLowe]

I have them both setup in individual tanks right now, if you guys suggest UTH's I will get some asap.. It's just that the breeder was saying he prefers lights. I dont know what else to use. With our other ball, I find that a UTH doesnt get the tank warm enough, anywhere that it isnt touching.

But both lights are on individual thermostats. I'm curious though, is it hotter in the basking spot cave, or outside of it? Cause right now I have the probe for the thermostat in the hide, that is in the basking spot.

[Zayra]

bumpalump