advice for ball python newbie

[xxcrystalxx]

hi everyone.

im considering buying a royal python as a family pet.i will not be breeding it.
i have never owned a snake before but do own a chameleon so understand the importance of temp and humidity.

why do so many people put them down?
many people are calling them slugs and are saying that there boring and not a snake that should be handled alot or for first time snake owners,yet i hear some people handle theres daily and say there great first time snakes.

i know theres always going to be conflicting advice but what do you think?

by me wanting a snake that has a good temperament and i can handle about 3/4 times a week.is a royal a good choice for me?

do you think its rude to ask the breeder for a one with a good temperament?

personality in a animal is a big plus for me and whats most important to me.i dont want to come across piccy or asking for too much to you all tho.i just dont want a royal thats aggressive and stressed being in my presence.it wouldnt be good experience for the snake or me.
i know its a snake and im not expecting it to be puppy like.i just want one of the calmer ones so fingerscrossed.

before i purchase the snake do you think the breeder/shop would mind me handling a few before i buy it??

sorry for all the questions.i just feel its best to ask questions first and not after i have brought the animal like many people do.

[MrLang]

They are great first time pets. Some people would call them boring because they are active at night and usually just hide during the day. They handle well and nobody will have a problem matching you with a snake with a good temperament. I think they are great for first time snake owners, especially if you have a website like this to come to with any questions!

[Pythonfriend]

young BPs can be nippy and a bit agressive, but thats mainly because they are scared, they typically grow out of it.

i think that when you get one that has a good temperament and that is relaxed, you can actually expect a puppy-dog tame snake ^^ its the norm, not the exception. and its perfectly fine to ask a breeder about temperament.

yes, some people call them things like "slugs" or "valium snakes", and criticize them for behaving more like a decorative object than a snake. (as in: doing pretty much nothing). but if you want a really tame snake, a BP is the right choice. even a tame corn snake or boa constrictor that wont bite you will move around much more when you handle them.

you can handle them a lot, its just that when you first get them, you shout take things slow and give the BP a week or two to relax and get used to the new home. but then, daily handling should be no problem. (except that they need a day or two of rest after they had a meal, and might not like being handled when in shed).

about handling the BPs before purchase, some small breeders do not like to reveal their collection to others, others have less reservations, and then there also are reptile shows, so im sure it can be arranged.

[jclaiborne]

The previous two posts pretty much covered it. The breeder shouldn't have an issue being asked for a tame snake. They are a great first snake, they get referenced to a pet rock because they don't move around that much, which is why people put them down a bit. They are easy to take care of and come in sooo many beautiful morphs, that being said I like my reptiles to be a little more active.

[h20hunter]

im considering buying a royal python as a family pet.i will not be breeding it.
i have never owned a snake before but do own a chameleon so understand the importance of temp and humidity.

why do so many people put them down? Mainly because its a snake and people have a fear of them. Usually, the fear is unfounded on any actual experience.
many people are calling them slugs and are saying that there boring and not a snake that should be handled alot or for first time snake owners,yet i hear some people handle theres daily and say there great first time snakes. They sure don't do much. We handle ours a couple of times a week.

i know theres always going to be conflicting advice but what do you think? Lots of agreement on the basics, then it is personal preference and what does and doesn't work for you and your bp.

by me wanting a snake that has a good temperament and i can handle about 3/4 times a week.is a royal a good choice for me?

do you think its rude to ask the breeder for a one with a good temperament? I would think that most are pretty docile. Granted there is an exception to everything.

personality in a animal is a big plus for me and whats most important to me.i dont want to come across piccy or asking for too much to you all tho.i just dont want a royal thats aggressive and stressed being in my presence.it wouldnt be good experience for the snake or me.
i know its a snake and im not expecting it to be puppy like.i just want one of the calmer ones so fingerscrossed. For those more experienced...do they come more calm than a bp?

before i purchase the snake do you think the breeder/shop would mind me handling a few before i buy it?? By all means get some hands on experience.

sorry for all the questions.i just feel its best to ask questions first and not after i have brought the animal like many people do.

If you would like to read about our introduction to the world of royals you can read it here:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...o-the-bp-world

We are a ways into ownership and very happy. Our girl has put on some size, has a great attitude, horks down the rats everytime we offer, and is one of the easiests pets I've owned.

[Morris Reese]

im considering buying a royal python as a family pet.i will not be breeding it.
Be careful!!! These things are
ADDICTIVE!!!!!!!!!

[satomi325]

why do so many people put them down?

It *IS* because they are considered rocks or slugs of the snake world. Compared to other snakes, they're considered boring, not interesting, or as interactive. They are known to be picky eaters and environmentally sensitive. Many other herp keepers in the community really dislike ball pythons.

many people are calling them slugs and are saying that there boring and not a snake that should be handled alot or for first time snake owners,yet i hear some people handle theres daily and say there great first time snakes.

Yup. They are quite boring and slow compared to other species, imo.
I think they are great for first time owners because of their docile temperament and slow behavior. They can stress out easily, which is why people say they shouldn't be handled a lot. However, short handling sessions shouldn't be an issue.

by me wanting a snake that has a good temperament and i can handle about 3/4 times a week.is a royal a good choice for me?

Yup. Should be fine.

do you think its rude to ask the breeder for a one with a good temperament?
personality in a animal is a big plus for me and whats most important to me.i dont want to come across piccy or asking for too much to you all tho.i just dont want a royal thats aggressive and stressed being in my presence.

No. Not rude at all.
Although I do admit that the more nasty ball pythons are some of the best eaters.

before i purchase the snake do you think the breeder/shop would mind me handling a few before i buy it??

Most don't mind.

[BrandyL1193]

They are very addictive. Got our first one in feb. I already want another!

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[Morris Reese]

They are very addictive. Got our first one in feb. I already want another!

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And another, and another, and another.......
Repticon is here this weekend. It's gonna be tough! There goes the savings account!!!

[Mr. Misha]

I personally love Ball Pythons for their docile, slow nature and their small size. I'm not interested in having a 10 foot snake. If I'll ever want something big that moves fast, I'll get my Main Coon. Lol.