Curious Writer looking for some insight!

[Sonkissed]

Felt like I was writing a really shady personal ad with that title. Wow.

I am a writer doing some research for NaNoWriMo and I just had some quick questions.

My main character has a Ball Python, and I have the general basics down but I could use some help since I grew up with lizards, not snakes. We did have a garter snake so I have basic caveman knowledge. Anyways. The Python will be an important character in the foreseeable future, so I'd like to establish a little personality now. So I have a couple questions, and any general advice would be great.

I've noticed breeders and hobbyist keep their BPs in plastic bins. Would an owner of a single snake do the same, or is glass more probable?

Do they take to one person or, once they are used to being around different people, do they really act the same around everyone?

If you let your BP roam about the house... what does it do? Will it roam, stay near you, search for a specific area to hang out (dark/warm/ect)? Is it even advisable to let them roam?

I've seen videos of them in bath tubs, and heard a lot of people saying some like water? If you give them a tub of water, will they stay and swim for awhile or do you have to sit there and keep a very close eye on them? (Root of this question: I have her sitting in direct view of the tub, but in another room. Would that just make you think "She obviously doesn't know what she's writing about"?)

Are there any common portrayals/misconceptions that you see that are just not within temperament parameters and would just not happen?

What different kinds of personalities do you see in your BPs and how does that translate in their behavior?


I realize these could be very arbitrary questions depending on individual experience. Thank you, for answers to all or any questions, and really any help whatsoever.

[adamsky27]

In my personal experience I'd say if a person only has one snake it most likely would not be in a tub. It would be in an aquarium or some type of enclosure.

I don't think they take to one person, they act the same to everybody.

I can't answer about letting them roam, I've never tried that before.

I would say that they should not be kept in water unattended. When people soak them they only put enough water to cover about 1/4 of the body. So they technically aren't even swimming.

Thats my personal opinion, I hope it helps.

[BHReptiles]

I've noticed breeders and hobbyist keep their BPs in plastic bins. Would an owner of a single snake do the same, or is glass more probable? An owner of a single snake might keep their snake in a tub, however, most single-snake owners choose a glass tank or terrarium. I know I did when I got my first snake, a corn snake.

Do they take to one person or, once they are used to being around different people, do they really act the same around everyone? They really act about the same towards most people. I can't see them acting aggressive towards one person and then be puppy-dog tame to the next.

If you let your BP roam about the house... what does it do? Will it roam, stay near you, search for a specific area to hang out (dark/warm/ect)? Is it even advisable to let them roam? I wouldn't let the BP roam around the house. They will go towards a quiet, dark corner and just hide. If you let it roam, you may never find it again.

I've seen videos of them in bath tubs, and heard a lot of people saying some like water? If you give them a tub of water, will they stay and swim for awhile or do you have to sit there and keep a very close eye on them? (Root of this question: I have her sitting in direct view of the tub, but in another room. Would that just make you think "She obviously doesn't know what she's writing about"?) Water is actually not advised for ball pythons because it can cause their scales to get mushy and rot. The only time you would soak them in a tub is if they had a bad shed and you need to get the excess skin off, or if they have soiled themselves and need a quick rinse.

Are there any common portrayals/misconceptions that you see that are just not within temperament parameters and would just not happen? A lot of people think ball pythons grow to 20ft long and eat people and pets (my mother used to think this until I got my ball python). In reality, they get around 3.5-4ft long and the largest thing they eat are adult rats. Also, a lot of people think that ball pythons are aggressive and can bite at will. They are actually really docile snakes. Babies can be a bit nippy, but it doesn't hurt and they usually grow out of it. Adults who bite are generally in "feeding mode" and it's usually a mistake on the keeper's part for trying to mess with them with their hands scented like a rodent.

What different kinds of personalities do you see in your BPs and how does that translate in their behavior? I have three ball pythons and they all have individual personalities. My spider is my hider. She's very skittish and is always in her hides. I don't handle her much because she stresses easy and will go off feed. She's my most picky eater, so I do everything in my power to keep her feeding each week. My lesser male is very curious! When he's out of his tub, he's always exploring and he absolutely loves to poop on me, my family, and my carpet. I think he just saves it up until I handle him and then he lets it rip! My normal female is my most chill snake. I'll take her out and set her in my lap or on my desk and she'll just sit there and watch me do whatever it is that I'm doing

My answers are in red. I hope this helps! I know a lot of people who are writing this month. Good luck to you!

[Sonkissed]

This helps me a lot guys... I feel much better about this now.

I would say that they should not be kept in water unattended. When people soak them they only put enough water to cover about 1/4 of the body. So they technically aren't even swimming.

Water is actually not advised for ball pythons because it can cause their scales to get mushy and rot. The only time you would soak them in a tub is if they had a bad shed and you need to get the excess skin off, or if they have soiled themselves and need a quick rinse.

So the people on Youtube are stupid... not a surprise...
No water.

I'll take her out and set her in my lap or on my desk and she'll just sit there and watch me do whatever it is that I'm doing

So her hanging out while my MC is working on a term paper is totally cool? phew! I was a little worried about that part.

A lot of people think ball pythons grow to 20ft long and eat people and pets (my mother used to think this until I got my ball python).

One of the reasons my landlords won't let me keep one in their house. That and the whole "the puppies we breed are the size of small rodents"....

Good luck to you!

Thanks!

[Mike41793]

1. I've noticed breeders and hobbyist keep their BPs in plastic bins. Would an owner of a single snake do the same, or is glass more probable?

2. Do they take to one person or, once they are used to being around different people, do they really act the same around everyone?

3. If you let your BP roam about the house... what does it do? Will it roam, stay near you, search for a specific area to hang out (dark/warm/ect)? Is it even advisable to let them roam?

4. I've seen videos of them in bath tubs, and heard a lot of people saying some like water? If you give them a tub of water, will they stay and swim for awhile or do you have to sit there and keep a very close eye on them? (Root of this question: I have her sitting in direct view of the tub, but in another room. Would that just make you think "She obviously doesn't know what she's writing about"?)

5. Are there any common portrayals/misconceptions that you see that are just not within temperament parameters and would just not happen?

6. What different kinds of personalities do you see in your BPs and how does that translate in their behavior?

1. Some people with single snakes just keep them in a tub; however, i think a glass aquarium or PVC enclosure would be more probable. Most new people to the hobby start out with their first snake in a glass tank, i know i did.

2. All of mine react the same way to everyone. Bps arent the smartest snakes so they dont have the brain capacity to think "oh thats the one that feeds me, i dont wanna hiss when he picks me up" or anything like that.

3. No it isnt advisable at all to let them roam. Id never let any pet snake roam my house. If a bp escapes outta its enclosure it seeks out a place to hide. A good hiding spot for a bp is a dark and tight place. I you read some of the escape threads on here some people have found their snakes in some really crazy places.

4. Bps arent really the best swimmers. The only reasons that there are to soak them are to get poop off them if they made a mess or to get off stuck shed if they had a ba shed. They dont need baths and dont really enjoy them that much.

5. Bps arent killer snakes that will get out and strangle and eat your child in the middle of the nite. Most weeks i cant get all of mine to eat their rodents, i cant imagine they'd go for a human child instead of a juicy rat lol. Also a bite from a bp isnt bad at all. The scary part is the strike bc it happens so fast.

6. Some are friendly than others. Its pretty rare to find an aggressive bp. Some of mine are friendly and curious and others are more nervous and headshy. If i want to introduce someone to my snakes and let them hold one i would pick one of the friendly ones. Not bc im afraid a nervous bp would bite or anything, but bc id be afraid that the visitor would get afraid of any nervous behavior that they exhibit. When my cinni girl hisses and flicks her body at me i dont bat an eye at her bc i know shes bluffing. But to someone who has very little experience with snakes that could be seen as a sign of extreme aggression or something. I think its cute though lol.

I added numbers to make it easier to answer. I hope this helps!

[DooLittle]

I for the most part agree with Mike. The exceptions being, that my husband swears my pastel likes me better. He will try to get back to me when my hubby holds him. And the next being, that for the most part they aren't really "nasty or mean" except for a female pastel I had. She was an absolute witch, and would strike for no good reason. Maybe she was part vampire and liked blood.

But yes, more likely for a single snake to be in a glass tank. Soaking in a tub is not good, no, they don't like to "swim". And they do seem to respond a bit different to different people. Maybe not because they "know you", rather than different people handle/hold them different, and they are more comfortable with one over the other.

Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2

[Sonkissed]

Thanks everyone! This is immensely helpful... now I need to immediately forget all roads to this site because I started at "Yeah, pythons are awesome, but then I couldn't get the iguana" and now I'm one adorable snake picture away from having to find a new place to live.

[Valentine Pirate]

Get an iguana, and a python! We did

As far as personalities go you have some creative room I think. My mojave male is an absolute puppy dog, could be out with anybody and simply cruise along (he's not so good at sitting still). Ember, on the other hand, will tolerate handling fine, and sit while I'm reading/watching something/writing, but I'd call her aloof, never really relaxes. I could go on about the others but the more I think about it the more I feel like the crazy snake lady.

My boyfriend talks about his first BP Avalon and how she'd go freely from her tank and cruise around his room, then return when she was done. She would seek out his body heat sometimes. It's not something I practice, and some might object to it story or otherwise, but for creative writing purposes I thought it was worth mentioning

[Sonkissed]

Get an iguana, and a python! We did

You're going to get me kicked out!!!! Still ogling every pinstripe and morph thereof I see... not getting any writing done... I think I should be able to to count the words I'm wasting here.

you have both an iguana and Pythons? how does that work. Do you keep them unaware of each other? Our iguana hung out with us pretty much all the time unless he was in his outside habitat, which meant any other pets had to stay in their homes 24/7. I can't even imagine having both. Though I guess it'd be easier than, say, a dog and a python.

[Valentine Pirate]

You're going to get me kicked out!!!! Still ogling every pinstripe and morph thereof I see... not getting any writing done... I think I should be able to to count the words I'm wasting here.

you have both an iguana and Pythons? how does that work. Do you keep them unaware of each other? Our iguana hung out with us pretty much all the time unless he was in his outside habitat, which meant any other pets had to stay in their homes 24/7. I can't even imagine having both. Though I guess it'd be easier than, say, a dog and a python.

Our iguana is still pretty tiny (though when I look at pictures of when we first got him and observe him now I'm convinced he's a sneaky growth ninja). We've let him out a couple of times, but due to his greased lightning abilities it's always by himself. Not sure how it's going to work when s/he gets older, I was reading that they aren't the most fond of snakes. At the moment he watches the snakes when they're out and just seems mildly curious, if not indifferent.

Once Bruce is older, we'll see how he reacts to them. The snakes don't care a bit about other animals around (other than rodents) unless they're being touched/bothered. Don't see them caring about the iguana as much as he might care about them, we'll see!