Help give me a crash course on ball pythons

[MissterDog]

I don't believe in the concept of "starter" snakes. If a ball python is your dream snake, get a ball python. As long as you do plenty of research and are willing to spend the time and money for a proper setup, then you will have a thriving snake!

As others said, it will be ideal if you set up your enclosure with the correct temps and humidity before the snake arrives. That way things will be less stressful for both you and the snake

Definitely keeping that in mind! Hoping to get everything set up and ready weeks in advance before I actually get my bp. How long should I wait to see if my temps and humidity are stable for? I'm guessing if I've managed to keep everything consistent and stable for a week (or two?) then it would be snake ready?

[Kira]

Definitely keeping that in mind! Hoping to get everything set up and ready weeks in advance before I actually get my bp. How long should I wait to see if my temps and humidity are stable for? I'm guessing if I've managed to keep everything consistent and stable for a week (or two?) then it would be snake ready?

A week should be plenty of time but you could always do two weeks just to be sure. I recommend getting a temp gun because they are very accurate. Also I'm sure that you already know but just in case, always remember that thermostats are very important!! They control your UTH and make sure that it doesn't get too hot. It's good that you are asking these questions before getting the snake. Being prepared is never a bad thing

[redshepherd]

Definitely keeping that in mind! Hoping to get everything set up and ready weeks in advance before I actually get my bp. How long should I wait to see if my temps and humidity are stable for? I'm guessing if I've managed to keep everything consistent and stable for a week (or two?) then it would be snake ready?

A week is plenty! Honestly, seeing how much research you seem to be doing, if you get all the right equipment, you'll only need a couple days.

Imo almost any snake species (except giants and venomous and a few that are genuinely hard to keep alive in captivity) can be a "first snake" for the right owner who does ALL the necessary research and follows known, correct setups to a T.

The concept of "get a beginners snake first" or even "yes, you can get a 5 foot enclosure for your baby ball python, all you need to do is clutter it up" are both two extremes that I don't agree with. You can get your dream snake as a first snake, but keep things basic and follow known reliable setups, get a hang of controlling temps and humidity in your climate, until you understand the species well enough to change it up.

[Kira]

A week is plenty! Honestly, seeing how much research you seem to be doing, if you get all the right equipment, you'll only need a couple days.

Imo almost any snake species (except giants and venomous and a few that are genuinely hard to keep alive in captivity) can be a "first snake" for the right owner who does ALL the necessary research and follows known, correct setups to a T.

The concept of "get a beginners snake first" or even "yes, you can get a 5 foot enclosure for your baby ball python, all you need to do is clutter it up" are both two extremes that I don't agree with. You can get your dream snake as a first snake, but keep things basic and follow known reliable setups, get a hang of controlling temps and humidity in your climate, until you understand the species well enough to change it up.

I completely agree. I hate when sometimes people are steered away from their dream snake and told that they have to have a corn snake first. What happens to the "starter" snake once the person eventually gets the snake that they wanted in the first place?

A ball python was my dream snake and I did a bunch of research before getting one. I have never owned a snake before so I wanted to make sure to have my husbandry spot on. Now I have a healthy ball python who hasn't missed a meal in the 3 weeks that I've had her.

[redshepherd]

A ball python was my dream snake and I did a bunch of research before getting one. I have never owned a snake before so I wanted to make sure to have my husbandry spot on. Now I have a healthy ball python who hasn't missed a meal in the 3 weeks that I've had her.

Same- I wanted a ball python, never even touched a snake in my life before, got my first baby ball shipped to me 2 years ago. I now have 5 ball pythons, a dumeril's boa, and a green tree python. All have always been healthy with me. Being an avid researcher PRIOR to getting a snake is key, and that's pretty much it.

Some people over-complicated snake keeping so much, like owning a low-intermediate level species like a ball python is something only meant for "gods". Oddly enough, most people who say this are the ones who have had issues with their snakes.

[Kira]

Same- I wanted a ball python, never even touched a snake in my life before, got my first baby ball shipped to me 2 years ago. I now have 5 ball pythons, a dumeril's boa, and a green tree python. All have always been healthy with me. Being an avid researcher PRIOR to getting a snake is key, and that's pretty much it.

Some people over-complicated snake keeping so much, like owning a low-intermediate level species like a ball python is something only meant for "gods". Oddly enough, most people who say this are the ones who have had issues with their snakes.

I guess some people like to act high and mighty about how you have to "work up to" ball pythons. Like you said, research is key. I absolutely adore my ball python and I'm glad that I didn't listen to people who made it seem like I HAD to have a corn or king snake before "moving up" to ball pythons.

I follow your blog! It's cool to see your beautiful collection of snakes

@OP:

Feel free to ask anything else! Keep doing your research and I am confident that you will raise a healthy snake.

[cletus]

I guess some people like to act high and mighty about how you have to "work up to" ball pythons. Like you said, research is key. I absolutely adore my ball python and I'm glad that I didn't listen to people who made it seem like I HAD to have a corn or king snake before "moving up" to ball pythons.

I follow your blog! It's cool to see your beautiful collection of snakes
Idon
@OP:

Feel free to ask anything else! Keep doing your research and I am confident that you will raise a healthy snake.

I don't think anyone needs to work their way up to a ball python. I think they are very appropriate as a first snake if you are responsible and attentive to their husbandry needs. BPs aren't as tolerant to bad husbandry as some other species. I think that's the reason people recommend they get something else. Like you guys are saying, research is key.

[Kira]

I don't think anyone needs to work their way up to a ball python. I think they are very appropriate as a first snake if you are responsible and attentive to their husbandry needs. BPs aren't as tolerant to bad husbandry as some other species. I think that's the reason people recommend they get something else. Like you guys are saying, research is key.

I don't think you have to work up to them either. I just think it's funny when people get an attitude and say that first time snake owners shouldn't get a ball python. If someone isn't going to even try to have good husbandry then they should have ANY snake period.

[redshepherd]

I don't think you have to work up to them either. I just think it's funny when people get an attitude and say that first time snake owners shouldn't get a ball python. If someone isn't going to even try to have good husbandry then they should have ANY snake period.

exactly! That belief is mostly under the assumption that new owners all won't do research. Makes no sense.

[cletus]

I don't think you have to work up to them either. I just think it's funny when people get an attitude and say that first time snake owners shouldn't get a ball python. If someone isn't going to even try to have good husbandry then they should have ANY snake period.

I agree. I'm in agreement with pretty much everything you and redshepherd posted. lol I'm just telling you why some people recommend getting something other than a BP. I think more people should strait up be told they just don't need a snake.

OP -- This went sideways. Def not talking about you or anyone else in particular. I think it's great you are going about it this way. I'm anxious to see your New Snake Day post!!