Considering Buying a Ball Python.

[mainbutter]

I just wanted to touch on a few points.

The "ideal" girth-to-length may not be what is most attractive to your eyes, but it is healthiest for your pet! I'm sure that you'll be happier with a healthy pet with average girth than a sickly underfed one.

Also, you asked about males vs females.. Females definitely get a bit larger than males. It's not as drastic as with hognose snakes for example, but you'll see many more 3,000 gram females than you'll see 3,000 gram males.

Also as for handling time, one member responded spending 20 minutes twice a week handling a ball python, and you expressed dismay. He merely stated how much HE handles, not how much one CAN handle a ball python. For the most part, if you wanted to take a ball python out every day (with exceptions for 1-2 days after feeding to let him digest), most snakes would be just fine with it. If your snake stops eating or exhibits other signs of stress, you may be handling too much, but a number of my snakes have no issues with being handled for up to an hour at a time, and I could handle them every day or every other day and they would be just fine.

It's much harder for me to over-handle my animals as I have so many that it actually becomes hard to give every single one individual time regularly, I CAN see someone over-handling their lone pet snake, but I think if you're smart about it you won't hurt your snake. Avoid anything that signals stress, they often let you know if they're not comfortable being handled.

When I had a lone ball python as my only pet, I would handle close to every day or every other day for an entire TV show, whether it was an episode of the simpsons or House or whatever.

Keep in mind that just because you aren't handling a pet doesn't mean you can't enjoy it. I just enjoy having a snake cage in my living room (where I spend most of my time) and can watch them, particularly as they become more active in the evening and on towards the night.

I hope that helps.