Any advice for a newcomer to the hobby?

[Snake Judy]

Judy, that is exactly what I was hoping to hear. I am also an aquarium (fish) enthusiast and I just love making visually appealing habitats for my animals. The items I have in my shopping carts are lots of artificial plants, vines, branches, stumps, stones, and a lot of really neat looking, natural decor that I was really looking forward to having enough space to use it all. I was hoping to be able to have a large habitat that gives my snake room to explore, and options on where to be, but ultimately the snake's best interest is what I am most concerned about. I don't want to do something just for me and have it be bad for my snake. I will get a hygrometer for sure if it is important.

Sounds like you've got the right idea. Nothing wrong with creating an aesthetically pleasing habitat as long as it's suitable for the snake! I've seen a lot of nice set-ups in PVC cages so definitely check that out. You can also go the DIY route with a wooden vivarium if you're handy. Just avoid that screen! I'd also recommend doing some searches on environmental enrichment for snakes and reptiles, it's a hot topic lately so you should be able to find a lot of good species-specific ideas.

[Calianea]

As long as you fill your tank with plenty of fake plants, hides, cork, and branches your snake should be happy. I have my 2 month old pied in a 20 Long that has a hot hide and a cool hide, two large fake plants in each corner, a branch that sits the the middle of the tank over her water bowl and a large cork flat up against the back of her tank covering the middle, with on of those hanging suction cup plants i put over the cork flat so the leaves drape over the top. She absolutely loves her tank she uses both hides, loves climbing and siting on top of the branch, hides behind her cork flat, and sits on her cork at from time to time. She was a little nervous when I first brought her home at a month old and hissed at me once or twice but she has mellowed out so much since and is just as much as a sweet heart now as my 8 month old lemon blast who has a very similar setup in a 40 breeder and loves exploring and has never even hissed at any one, even when a local reptile store was a little rough with him helping us with a bad shed of his . For picking out a snake I recommend going to a show or breeder and look at all the ball pythons there, if a certain ball python peaks your interest ask to hold him and you'll know if he is the right snake for you

[ScaredSnakeless]

I've emailed 3 large-scale breeders (maybe not the best way to go) asking about it and all three of them said something similar; can't guarantee the temperament of any of their animals, especially being handled by a novice, and they all 3 recommended going with a young snake that I can easily accustom to how I handle them / get them used to my home, one breeder recommended doing like a puppy dog thing and putting my worn clothing in with the snake (lol?) I was really hoping to get a bigger snake though, all three of the breeders I talked to recommended small snakes, and they said it doesn't matter the gender or morph.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I've emailed 3 large-scale breeders (maybe not the best way to go) asking about it and all three of them said something similar; can't guarantee the temperament of any of their animals, especially being handled by a novice, and they all 3 recommended going with a young snake that I can easily accustom to how I handle them / get them used to my home, one breeder recommended doing like a puppy dog thing and putting my worn clothing in with the snake (lol?) I was really hoping to get a bigger snake though, all three of the breeders I talked to recommended small snakes, and they said it doesn't matter the gender or morph.

In your situation I do not believe an hatchling will be a fit, they are defensive and not very forgiven when it comes to husbandry and you already have been down that road before.

A juvy or young adult will be a better match.

[redshepherd]

I've emailed 3 large-scale breeders (maybe not the best way to go) asking about it and all three of them said something similar; can't guarantee the temperament of any of their animals, especially being handled by a novice, and they all 3 recommended going with a young snake that I can easily accustom to how I handle them / get them used to my home, one breeder recommended doing like a puppy dog thing and putting my worn clothing in with the snake (lol?) I was really hoping to get a bigger snake though, all three of the breeders I talked to recommended small snakes, and they said it doesn't matter the gender or morph.

I think a snake who is at least 400g or more would be a better fit, actually. Who were the large scale breeders (just out of curiosity)?

And about the size of enclosure- yes, as long as you really fill it up with many places to hide, branches, fake leaves, hides, and really don't leave much open space... The snake will be fine. It's wide open spaces that novice BP owners seem to have trouble with, so it's easier for a snake to feel "secure" with new BP owners if the enclosure is simply smaller to begin with. That said, it's not as convenient to find a little BP in a 75 gallon filled with stuff and places to hide... but that depends on you.

[ScaredSnakeless]

I am afraid of getting a hatchling because I dont want to ruin its health or its temperament. I would think a baby animal of any kind would require more precise care than an older animal... I don't think I should get a baby either, everything about it just sounds wrong to me... Can anyone recommend a breeder with docile older animals? I really don't HAVE to have a special morph, I'm more concerned on the temperament. I did order 2 hygrometers today and another thermometer.

[redshepherd]

I am afraid of getting a hatchling because I dont want to ruin its health or its temperament. I would think a baby animal of any kind would require more precise care than an older animal... I don't think I should get a baby either, everything about it just sounds wrong to me... Can anyone recommend a breeder with docile older animals? I really don't HAVE to have a special morph, I'm more concerned on the temperament. I did order 2 hygrometers today and another thermometer.

99% of ball pythons really will be docile animals and are about the same. Very few are actually defensive and snappy in terms of usual temperament. You can check out faunaclassified to find snakes/big to hobby breeders, and ask them about their animals to see which one they think is the most docile for you.

For personal recommendations, recommend Nick and Victoria at MCMB... http://www.mcmbballs.com/ You can find them on faunaclassified once in awhile too, which is where I found them.

They're just a hobby breeder, but my experience with Nick was very good. He's very detailed, honest, and articulate in our emails back and forth about his animals and their temperaments, and you'll find that when you talk with him too. I trust them a lot. They also have good prices.