Is there really a right way?

[Skittles1101]

Personally I only come here for an info that I ever need regarding my snakes. People here have been researching, working with, and keeping snakes of all kinds for longer than I've been born. Although not a whole lot of scientific research has been done regarding ball pythons and other snakes...like stratus mentioned there is a general "right" way to keep them.

Belly heat has been proven to be more beneficial to snakes because they stick close to the ground and it helps aide in digestion. Those are the facts. People recommend UTHs with a thermostat because it is safer and more accurate than a heat mat with an on/off or heat lamps. People spend a lot of time and money to keep their snakes healthy, and an on/off heat mat with no temp settings are harder to read, and given some some of malfunction can seriously injure your snake. Is it impossible to keep them with it? No, like you said you've done it for a while "without issue", but in most people
s experience and research, it's not ideal.

Ball pythons are very hardy. They are generally considered a "beginners" snake because of this fact. They can go a year off feed without starving to death. They can tolerate improper husbandry better than most snakes. They are generally docile and relaxed. These are all facts. Just because they are a hardy snake doesn't mean they should be kept in improper husbandry. You mention that they are wild animals, but they aren't. We are keeping them in a very different environment than their natural habitat. The US, Europe, Canada....wherever anyone is, is not in Africa. Africa has a very specific humidity range and heat range. These animals are best kept in controlled environments in captivity to best mimic the heat and humidity of Africa. That's why we provide hides, because they burrow in rodent holes during the day in Africa. That's why we provide belly heat, that's why we provide proper humidity. We do all these things because it has been shown that live live healthier lives in these conditions.

I come to this site because the info in consistent. People will say that snakes can be kept together, and have....but it's not ideal. It can be very stressful for the snake. I know I wouldn't want to be forced to live with someone stealing all the good hiding spots and heat source. They are very secluded creatures, and in people's experience, the cons outweigh the pros in many ways. I know in my eyes, I'd rather spend the money for two correct enclosures for two snakes than spend $500 at the vet when both get sick because the husbandry isn't as correct as I thought and one got sick and gave it to the other. IMO you get what you pay for. I've tried going the cheap and easy way and it didn't work. I've literally spent hundreds of dollars on my snakes and their habitats, returned so many products that I've tested and have found what works best for me. Everyone will swear by different things, and this site seems to be pretty consistent.

To answer your question, yes there is a correct way to keep snakes. You can successfully keep them in mediocre conditions successfully. You can go the cheap and easy way if it works for you. But people on this site will give you info to the best of their ability. Ball pythons may not have been researched scientifically as much as we think they should, but with trial and error and hands on experience, a lot of people on here know things that just don't work, or won't work in the long run.