First-Time Snake Owner, Considering A Ball Python

[Dagger311]

Hey everyone, just joined, so if this is in the wrong place I apologize.

After convincing all the members of my family that it is physically impossible for a ball python to directly kill someone (Barring a nasty infection from a bite, I guess), They've agreed to let me get a Ball Python (Or other similarly-sized snake). There's a local pet shop near me that's been around for years and has great reviews (Although they don't have a lot of different morphs), so that's probably where I'll be buying from. The only problem is, I've been told so many different things about how to care for them, that I don't know which is right.

I've been told they need a heat lamp, because they don't feel belly heat and it won't be able to thermoregulate properly or will burn themselves with an UTH.

I've been told not to get heat lamps, they're nocturnal and hate bright lights, and to get an UTH.

I've been told to get both, because they like both, and it's impossible to make the hot end too hot, because my house AC will kick in and cool it down.

I've been told not to really worry about humidity unless they're shedding. I've been told to make sure it stays at 50-55%, etc.

I've been told 20 Gallon long tanks are the perfect size for adult BPs, and I've been told that 40s are perfect, 20's are too small, etc.

I've been told to get a glass tank because it's more natural for the snake, but then get told to get something called a vision case because the glass ones lose humidity.

I've gotten so many different temperature ranges, from 80 ambient with a 90 basking spot, to 78-82 on the cool side and 90-94 on the hot end, to 85 all around.

I really want a Ball Python (Or a Mexican black kingsnake, but no one sells them around here), but I don't want to get one until I know the best way to set up a tank for them and care for them. Can anyone help clear any of these things up for me?

[PitOnTheProwl]

Check out our care sheet.
A MBK will be a lot easier to keep.
Where are you located...... A reptile expo would be a better selection and pricing as well.
78 ambient is fine
90ish hot spot
A thermostat is a must for belly heat!!
One or both depends on your house, a properly regulated UTH does nothing for ambient temperatures so if your house is too cold you will also need a CHE.

[spellbound04]

Hey everyone, just joined, so if this is in the wrong place I apologize.

After convincing all the members of my family that it is physically impossible for a ball python to directly kill someone (Barring a nasty infection from a bite, I guess), They've agreed to let me get a Ball Python (Or other similarly-sized snake). There's a local pet shop near me that's been around for years and has great reviews (Although they don't have a lot of different morphs), so that's probably where I'll be buying from. The only problem is, I've been told so many different things about how to care for them, that I don't know which is right.

I've been told they need a heat lamp, because they don't feel belly heat and it won't be able to thermoregulate properly or will burn themselves with an UTH.

I've been told not to get heat lamps, they're nocturnal and hate bright lights, and to get an UTH.

I've been told to get both, because they like both, and it's impossible to make the hot end too hot, because my house AC will kick in and cool it down.

I've been told not to really worry about humidity unless they're shedding. I've been told to make sure it stays at 50-55%, etc.

I've been told 20 Gallon long tanks are the perfect size for adult BPs, and I've been told that 40s are perfect, 20's are too small, etc.

I've been told to get a glass tank because it's more natural for the snake, but then get told to get something called a vision case because the glass ones lose humidity.

I've gotten so many different temperature ranges, from 80 ambient with a 90 basking spot, to 78-82 on the cool side and 90-94 on the hot end, to 85 all around.

I really want a Ball Python (Or a Mexican black kingsnake, but no one sells them around here), but I don't want to get one until I know the best way to set up a tank for them and care for them. Can anyone help clear any of these things up for me?

First of all, welcome! This is an extrmely helpful forum for me and hope it is for you too! Ok, for a lot of those things it can actually be the prefrence of your snake. The humidity and temps should all be well managed and consistent (and yes, it is important to keep humidity up around those levels regardless of weather or not your snake is shedding, and temps should be 70-85ish (although you will hear lots of variations of this, but you should have a heat gradient with a warm and cool side)) for the lamp situation just dont get a heat rock. Those can cause major burns. A UTH can as well if not properly monitored, but it could also be put on the side of the tank where it's less liekly to do that, esoecially if regulated properly. A lot of breeders will use uths/heat strips because they take up less space. But again, they need to be monitored. It can be helpful to purchase a thermo regulator with probes that can sense temperatures and adjust accordingly. I have one heat emitter and one lamp (and a UTH I dont use that often). I used to have a blacklight-type lamp but it died on me. Heat emitters are good because BPs dont really need light, but again, prefrence. I will turn on his light during the day and use the heat emitter at night to mimic days and nights passing but if you're already putting your tank in a naturally lit area thats not really necessary (its not really necessary at all, but its yet another option). As for tanks, I have a glass tank with a wire top and its a struggle to keep the humidity up (however, my humidifier is broken sooo that doesn't help). It's definitely possie to make the hot side too hot (or at least too dry), I've never had my ac kick in to regulate that so I wouldn't rely on it. If you get a glass tank you could pick up some fake moss at the pet store specifically for spraying with water to hold humidity. You could also tinfoil your tank and should mist it frequently with clean water. I also have a mist with vitamins and aloe specifically to hydrate my snake that I'll use especially when he's going to shed soon. But your snake may not like that, or you may not prefer a glass tank. Its up to you. Kudos to you for getting a snake from a real breeder and not a regular pet shop (often those reptiles are sick). Dont worry if you dont get a morph, i have a normal and hes beautiful. See which snake you connect with the best and get that one. Hope all this info helped!!!

[Dagger311]

Check out our care sheet.
A MBK will be a lot easier to keep.
Where are you located...... A reptile expo would be a better selection and pricing as well.
78 ambient is fine
90ish hot spot
A thermostat is a must for belly heat!!
One or both depends on your house, a properly regulated UTH does nothing for ambient temperatures so if your house is too cold you will also need a CHE.

King snakes are easier to keep? I do like them quite a bit, especially the solid black ones, or the tiger stripe ones.
I'm close to Atlanta, Repticon is the biggest show around here, it's coming up this summer.
It'd be in the basement (Where my room is), it's fairly cold down here, especially in the winter. I'd probably need both then eventually. Especially if they're going to need a big tank.

[Dagger311]

First of all, welcome! This is an extrmely helpful forum for me and hope it is for you too! Ok, for a lot of those things it can actually be the prefrence of your snake. The humidity and temps should all be well managed and consistent (and yes, it is important to keep humidity up around those levels regardless of weather or not your snake is shedding, and temps should be 70-85ish (although you will hear lots of variations of this, but you should have a heat gradient with a warm and cool side)) for the lamp situation just dont get a heat rock. Those can cause major burns. A UTH can as well if not properly monitored, but it could also be put on the side of the tank where it's less liekly to do that, esoecially if regulated properly. A lot of breeders will use uths/heat strips because they take up less space. But again, they need to be monitored. It can be helpful to purchase a thermo regulator with probes that can sense temperatures and adjust accordingly. I have one heat emitter and one lamp (and a UTH I dont use that often). I used to have a blacklight-type lamp but it died on me. Heat emitters are good because BPs dont really need light, but again, prefrence. I will turn on his light during the day and use the heat emitter at night to mimic days and nights passing but if you're already putting your tank in a naturally lit area thats not really necessary (its not really necessary at all, but its yet another option). As for tanks, I have a glass tank with a wire top and its a struggle to keep the humidity up (however, my humidifier is broken sooo that doesn't help). It's definitely possie to make the hot side too hot (or at least too dry), I've never had my ac kick in to regulate that so I wouldn't rely on it. If you get a glass tank you could pick up some fake moss at the pet store specifically for spraying with water to hold humidity. You could also tinfoil your tank and should mist it frequently with clean water. I also have a mist with vitamins and aloe specifically to hydrate my snake that I'll use especially when he's going to shed soon. But your snake may not like that, or you may not prefer a glass tank. Its up to you. Kudos to you for getting a snake from a real breeder and not a regular pet shop (often those reptiles are sick). Dont worry if you dont get a morph, i have a normal and hes beautiful. See which snake you connect with the best and get that one. Hope all this info helped!!!

Thanks for the welcome! I've already got one of those really nice thermometers with the probe and humidity guage (I've been buying all my snake stuff slowly as the budget comes in, saving the big stuff for until I've actually decided between a BP and a King snake), so monitoring the things won't be an issue, just figuring out what I need it to be. I'll also have to get a thermostat to actually control the UTH I get (They can supposedly reach temperatures significantly higher than what's required to crack glass).

I've also been warned about heat rocks. Apparently snakes don't have a very complex nervous system like us, and don't feel heat as a burn like we do when we touch hot things, only warmth.

The tinfoil thing would be a nice addition anyway, because I also have a cat. It would probably deter him from sitting on top/around the cage, and potentially crashing through and breaking the cage/killing the snake/getting killed by the snake.

[spellbound04]

Thanks for the welcome! I've already got one of those really nice thermometers with the probe and humidity guage (I've been buying all my snake stuff slowly as the budget comes in, saving the big stuff for until I've actually decided between a BP and a King snake), so monitoring the things won't be an issue, just figuring out what I need it to be. I'll also have to get a thermostat to actually control the UTH I get (They can supposedly reach temperatures significantly higher than what's required to crack glass).

I've also been warned about heat rocks. Apparently snakes don't have a very complex nervous system like us, and don't feel heat as a burn like we do when we touch hot things, only warmth.

The tinfoil thing would be a nice addition anyway, because I also have a cat. It would probably deter him from sitting on top/around the cage, and potentially crashing through and breaking the cage/killing the snake/getting killed by the snake.

That's a really good way to do it, buy a bit at a time so its all prepped beforehand. I have two cats and they rarely even go near the tank, but yeah the tinfoil can be a helpful addition 👍

[redshepherd]

Read over this ball python caresheet thoroughly and follow it, and you won't go wrong! https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...s%29-Caresheet

All heat sources can burn or kill snakes, not just UTH. Which is why you need a thermostat to plug your heat source into, and regulate the temps. Thermostats are REQUIRED equipment.

Here's a tub setup guide, if you're willing to use a tub. I pretty much followed these two things when I started out, and it cleared up a lot. Also tubs are much better at maintaining heat and humidity than a glass tank. https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...e-Basics-*DUW*

[Dagger311]

Read over this ball python caresheet thoroughly and follow it, and you won't go wrong! https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...s%29-Caresheet

All heat sources can burn or kill snakes, not just UTH. Which is why you need a thermostat to plug your heat source into, and regulate the temps. Thermostats are REQUIRED equipment.

Here's a tub setup guide, if you're willing to use a tub. I pretty much followed these two things when I started out, and it cleared up a lot. Also tubs are much better at maintaining heat and humidity than a glass tank. https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...e-Basics-*DUW*

Okay, so thermostat for any heat source. Got it.

I would do a tub if I can't get a glass one to work for the BP/MBK, but I'd rather not, just because I don't think they look as nice, and it's harder to view the snake in one.

[Bmocken]

Okay, so thermostat for any heat source. Got it.

I would do a tub if I can't get a glass one to work for the BP/MBK, but I'd rather not, just because I don't think they look as nice, and it's harder to view the snake in one.

I have my BP in a tub currently and it's really easy to see inside just as it would be in a glass tank. Just have to find the clear tubs. The other option is a cage from Animal Plastics. They combine the best of both worlds of a display and tub. You can get a glass tank to work it just takes a bit more tweaking but as others have said read up on the care sheets and the stickies of the forums. I've followed them and have had no issues with mine.

[Dagger311]

I have my BP in a tub currently and it's really easy to see inside just as it would be in a glass tank. Just have to find the clear tubs. The other option is a cage from Animal Plastics. They combine the best of both worlds of a display and tub. You can get a glass tank to work it just takes a bit more tweaking but as others have said read up on the care sheets and the stickies of the forums. I've followed them and have had no issues with mine.

I've looked at AP cages. Really nice, but very expensive. I can pick up a used 36x18x12 (That's a 30 gallon, if I remember my geometry well enough) glass terrarium from the pet store I mentioned for $30.

A clear tub would work pretty well though. Fairly escape-proof, too, right? Is there any issue with the plastic melting from the UTH? Or is 90 not hot enough to do that?