Going to Get One

[Nate]

Well I've made up my mind. I want a Ball Python.

That's the first step...admitting you have a problem. In our case, it's an addiction to reptiles.

So, I need to know a few things before I actually start getting the supplies. I want everything set up before I bring the snake home. I'm moving into a townhome with some friends in the next month or so, so I have some time to get money together and everything.

I've been told I can keep a full grown ball in a 40+ quart rubbermaid tub. Is this true?

you sure can

If so, how would I set this up to make it a nice habitat for a ball python?(Please include all supplies and how to set them up.)

It doesn't really need to "look nice". snakes don't care about decoration. If you want it to look nice, then have at it...logs, leaves, all that decor is cool stuff, but not really necessary

What supplies should I have before getting the snake? I was thinking of getting a weight scale, enclosure, heating pads/lights, ect.

Ball pythons are weighted in grams, so a nice gram scale would be nice, but not really necessary unless you intend on keeping a good track record of your little one

Once I get the snake....

How long should I wait before feeding or handling the snake?

one week.

What should I feed the snake? (I know it depends on size, so if you could, list sizes with appropriate foods. I'm not sure how small the snake will be when I get one.)


Frozen or live food? Mice or rats? (I will eventually breed my own)

I normally start them on mice, and then covert to rats later on. you will never need anything bigger than a small rat.

There's an ever lasting debate on f/t vs live...you have to read and figure out what works for you...For what ever it's worth, i feed live and f/t

What are some things to watch out for during its first few weeks at home?

i'll let someone with more experience answer that one

What should the humidity and temperature be at all times? (I've heard 80-85 degrees at 60% humidity)

~93 warm side, ~83 cool side; 50-60% humidity during the norm and 60-70% during shed.

Should the enclosure be lit during the day? (If so, how many hours should the light be on?)

Some light their enclosure for 12 hours on, 12 hours off. Personally, I do not light the cage. I have a rack, so there's really no place for "lighting"

How long do balls live and how long can they get? (I've heard 20-40 years and anywhere from 3-5 feet in length)

You heard right

Sorry for all the questions and yes I've done some research. I'm just trying to get information from as many sources as possible. Information from one person may be totally different from another, so its good to get as much info as possible.

Don't be scared to ask