baby ball python behavior?

[Johar]

hi there, im going to thailand tomorrow, there's a big chance im going to buy a baby ball python if i find one.

so my question is. how can i know that its a BALL python?
when i googled for some information/images. it seems that the blood python kinda looks like the ball python.

do baby ball pythons curl like ball ? or they tend to do that when they grow up?.

whats the different between a blood paython and the ball python.


thanx.

[denisthemenace]

well to the trained eye .. they are as different as night and day. Royals aka Ball pythons have distinct features that allow us to distinguish them from the other sps. The number one way is their defense mechanisim to curl into a ball, you will notice it right away. The pattern and body structure also helps telling spcs apart. Study up on some pictures and you'll be fine

[Johar]

yep. thats what im doing.
googling for images on ball pythons.

the head seems smaller.

[denisthemenace]

balls have a very innocent look to them a very cute puppy dog look lol

[Johar]

i guess i can find out the defense mechanisim by tapping on its head? or trying to pet its head? ...
yeah, i noticed that balls are cuter than blood. i think my wife will get used to it if she sees it around couple of times in the living room. my wife hates snakes

[denisthemenace]

yeah deff balls tend to work magic with the ladies .. I just got my girl not too long ago as hatchlings they tend to be very shy and jumpy but they grow out of it. I wouldnt recommend trying to pet a ball on its head, as little and as shy as they are, some might have a tendency to strike. The neck and the head are the most sensetive parts, they should curl up as soon as you reach in to pick one up. Its important to follow your instincts, if the ball hisses its best to try to pick another one up. Once you do that try to listen to any sign of a respiratory infection, the breathing should be clear with no weezing. If everything checks out and you like the way it looks .. go right ahead and claim it. Are you planning on bringing it back to the states? When i think of Thailand i think of bush babies.. Wild caught Balls. Try to see if you can get a Captive breed instead

[elevatethis]

If you can't tell by the pattern alone, one way to find out is temperment. If you were to try and "pet" a blood python's head....chances are you'll get a nasty bite! Ball pythons would probably just twitch their head back under their body or something like that.

But seriously, theres a huge difference and even a noob should be able to tell. Ball pythons will have big round black eyes and a more elongated head, in comparison to blood pythons, their head will be much more triangular and the eyes are not a pronounced. One thing blood pythons also lack are the "alien-head" type markings that most normal ball pythons have.

[Johar]

this is certainly nice information. thank you guys very much.
well, no i dont plan on bringing it to the us because i dont live there.

i live somewhere in the middle east i got everything prepared. i mean the cage and everything i'd probably need to buy thermometer from there.

[Smooth23]

suprised someone else didn't ask, but what does going to thailand and getting a BP have to do with each other?
Ball pythons are a west african species, not asian. Anhow, if thats how you gotta get a bp, then go for it.. and enjoy.

[Johar]

hehe, well, im going for a vacation to thailand. so i thought i might find one over there. since its a really cheap country. but i may not be lucky. although i heard rumours that u can find almost anything over there.