I own 30 ball pythons, and can tell you that they are easy to take care of. They do not smell. You just have to clean their cage when necessary, and feed once a week. They are great pets. You just have to make sure that you are ready of the responsibility. They depend on you for everything. You have to make sure that you can meet their requirements; for example, heat, humidity, fresh water, and food. If you are ready for that, then they will be happy. Hope this helps.