Patience, please :)

[LadyCrow]

Greetings all. I hope that you'll have some patience, as I am a newbie to this website & I have a ton of questions (just a warning...). :wink:

I also hope that my questions won't seem too odd or stupid, but I am in the beginning stages of purchasing a ball python. (Still getting things set up first, of course, and doing tons of research beforehand.) So here goes:

1. I know that pet birds can be effected by Teflon fumes (from cooking). Do ball pythons get effected as well? (And along those lines, how about candles & insense?)

2. Where can I find a reputable local breeder? I'd rather not purchase my soon-to-be new snake @ a pet store, and I would feel odd about having my snake shipped to me w/out me seeing it in person first. (Call me paranoid, but that's just me.)

3. I've seen pics of snakes w/plastic boxes as a hiding spot. I know this is cheap, but is it worth it in the long run?

4. My brother advised using white vinegar as a cleaning agent for the cage (which his snake's vet advised him to use; apparently, it's non-toxic to snakes). I've also heard of using Roccal-D and/or Nolvasan. What works best?

5. Does the temperment of the snake depend on its sex?

My older brother used to have a ball python (who was really cool; the snake passed away about 2-3 years ago). This started my love for snakes, and I am really excited with the prospect of getting my own snake.

Quick funny story: my boss has a pet snake (king; rat; I forget which type). Anyways, his older daughter wanted to bring it to school one night for show & tell. Unfortunately, he was out of town, & his wife doesn't like snakes that much. He asked me to come & transfer the snake from it's home tank to a little portable tank, & do the reverse when they came back home. So I helped him out, & they gave me a Beanie baby snake as a thank-you gift.

:lol:

Anyways, thanks for your patience and for reading my 234838098 questions.

Pax,
LC

[led4urhead]

First of all .... Welcome to the site! Glad to have ya around.

Some answers:

1. I would be worried about constant fumes ( even if non-toxic). Candles wouldnt seem to be a problem ( in my opinion ) neither would insense.
2. Try your local herp society, search the internet for breeders in your area or within a reasonable driving distance. Posting here is good too, some of our members may be able to offer first hand experiences with breeders in your area.
3. Its all a matter of personal preference. Just remember, whatever you put in there will soon need cleaned, so sometimes ease of clean is a deciding factor on hides and other cage furniture.
4. I know some people here use and recommend Nolvasan. Personally i've never used it. I usually use a bleach solution making sure to rinse and dry completely.

If i've wandered a bit, someone will be by to correct me .

[Alkaurkharim]

I think I can help answer some of these questions ^_^

1. As far as I know, if you can avoid it, then it is probably best to do without these things. Clean air is better then polluted air right? I do however think Incense and scented candles, I assume thats what you mean ^_^;;, shouldnt be a problem if your room is well ventilated ^_^

2. Seeing as I live right outside Albany, NY myself, I can answer this question the best ^_^ I suggest you visit The Zoo out in Schenectady!

The Zoo
Mike Klonowski
Owner/Breeder
1444 State Street
Schenectady, NY 12304
(518) 370-0042

This is where I happen to get my F/T mice as he breeds all his own too. Also, if you decide to go there, don't be alarmed if the big alligator in the tank wants to bite your head off! He tried to eat me T_T His shop is huge and apparently very well known. The only snake vet in the area knew who I was talking about the other day when I mentioned The Zoo.

EDIT: Oh, there is nothing wrong with buying snakes from online breeders ^_^ Usually the very reputable ones have very reasonable shipping prices, and the extra cash you pay with shipping is usually worth the quality of herp you are getting. Alex Hue has individual pics of his BP's though he is all sold out at the moment.


3. As far as Plastic Boxes go, I dunno about using square things as hides myself. Snakes like to coil up in a circular or oval shape, so I prefer circular hides. Clay flower pot bases seem to be extremely popular as hides, I use them myself. I also use a piece of natures cork for my hot hide as it is pretty circular and nice and tight and snug, just how snakes like it ^_^

4. First, White Vinegar alone is not as effective as White Vinegar + Hydrogen Peroxide. And its used to disinfect not clean ^_^ Get 2 spray bottles, fill one with Vinegar, and 1 with Peroxide. Spray 1, then spray the other, then wipe off. I like too rinse the stuff off too to get rid of the vinegar smell o_O But if you want to use the best, get some Virosan. Its 100% safe and vets even use it as mouthwash for dogs ^_^ As far as I know it can be used for cleaning and disinfecting. Do a search for the word Virosan and you should come up with a post that has a link to where you can buy some.

5. I don't think the temperment differs depending on sex with BP's, though I could be wrong. I know that some female snakes tend to be more aggressive, but I don't think it applies to BP's. I plan on getting a female BP myself ^_^

If you have anymore questions feel free to ask here or even PM me with your questions ^_^ Welcome to the boards!

[Marla]

Welcome, LC! I'll give it a stab at answering your questions, though I can't be as thorough as I'd like.

1. Ball pythons can definitely be affected by chemical fumes, but I have never heard of one being affected by teflong, incense, or candles. I think birds are more sensitive, and that was why canaries were carried by miners. Still, I'd use caution and try to keep the area well-ventilated and not subject the snake to unnecessary fumes.

2. NERD might be within what you'd consider a reasonable drive http://www.newenglandreptile.com/, and we have a few members in NY who may be able to point you to other reputable breeders in your area.

3. I prefer (because I can see my snakes prefer) ceramic, stone, glass, or similar sturdy, heavy substances for hides. PVC pieces are an inexpensive alternative, but make sure you get a minimum of 3" pipe so it's not likely to wedge into it so tight you can't get it out if you need to. Polymer clay can be used to build custom hides easily, though you should give pieces a week or two to air out before use.

4. Good cage cleaning post here: http://www.ball-pythons.net/PNphpBB2...ic-t-3202.html including info on vinegar and Nolvasan.

5. Not really. It has more to do with age and how it's been treated previously, and just an inborn inclination to be calm or nippy or what have you.

Welcome to the site, and I hope my $0.02 was useful!

[Alkaurkharim]

Hurray! Marla saves the day by finding the post I was talking about that mentions the Vinegar + Peroxide and the Virosan links!

EDIT: Oh btw Marla, I miss your Super Squirrel avatar T_T Your monkey isn't as appealing as SS was T_T

[Marla]

LOL, I'll have to change my avatar again soon, I guess. I really liked Super Squirrel, too.

[Alkaurkharim]

That reminded me to change mine ^_^ Instead of Elysia's first meal, its now my Pokemon picture where Elysia was hiding in my pocket today ^_^