few questions

[phillip2]

I have allways been intrested in balls, i think there great but in the past a few things have put me off,i wondered if you could take some time to answer a few of these

1.how big do they grow on average
2.i have a dog and my mum and dad are saying if it escapes it could attack or strangle the dog :S i would never forgive myself if something happend.
3.how much for absoplutly everything would they cost on average?
4.what size tank do they need for a full adult?
5.is there any other balls that are cheap enough that have nicer colours lol not that they dont but any other colours?

thanks

[anendeloflorien]

I have allways been intrested in balls, i think there great but in the past a few things have put me off,i wondered if you could take some time to answer a few of these

1.how big do they grow on average

Typically females grow larger than males. A normal size full grown BP can be between 4 and 5 feet (As they get bigger they typically get more girth rather than length)

2.i have a dog and my mum and dad are saying if it escapes it could attack or strangle the dog :S i would never forgive myself if something happend.

NOT A CHANCE! Not sure where people get ideas like this but that is absolutely ridiculous. Ball pythons are extremely docile animals and I would be much more worried for the safety of the snake if it came in contact with your dog.

3.how much for absoplutly everything would they cost on average?

It depends on what you mean by absolutely everything and what you want to keep them in. There are a few things you must have to practice proper husbandry:
#1 a reliable thermostat - You can get a Ranco on/off type thermostat for $80 from Reptile Basics which would work just fine.
#2 a heat source - The best thing to use typically is an Under Tank Heater (UTH) or heat tape such as flexwatt. Again you can get either one from reptile basics. A good UTH will likely run you around $20-$30 depending on the size of the tank you are trying to heat.
#3 2 good hides - you have to have identical hides on both the hot and the cool side of the tank in order for your snake to properly thermoregulate. It depends on the size of your snake how much these will cost but you can make your own from plastic bowls for $1-$2 each if you wanted.

These are just the absolute basics but overall for the tank, heat, thermostat, substrate and hides it would probably run you around $200-$250.

4.what size tank do they need for a full adult?

A full grown adult can live very comfortably in a 2X3 or 2X4 cage like Reptile Basics sells (can you tell I like Reptile Basics lol)

5.is there any other balls that are cheap enough that have nicer colours lol not that they dont but any other colours?
thanks

Not sure what you mean by the last questions but if you're looking for a really nice looking, lower cost morph you can't beat a pastel.
Check out New England Reptiles ball python photo gallery for a look at the multiple morphs out there (just remember some of the ones pictured can run into the multi-thousand dollar price range )

http://www.newenglandreptile.com/ner...ollection.html

Good luck and be sure to read the caresheets on this site and fully educate yourself first!

[anendeloflorien]

Oh sorry here's the link to Reptile Basics:

www.reptilebasics.com the owner Rich is always more than happy to answer questions you might have and they have some of the best quality cages and racks available.

Also to BP.net!

[phillip2]

Thankyou very much indeed,for once its nice to go a site where when you ask questions i get answers straight away as oppose to READ FAQS ALL CAN BE FOUND THERE
so thanks
well yes i do know a bit coz i looked into getting one a while ago but as i say size put me off and feeding mice euw lol.and i have had a gecko so i know all about heating blah lol
by the way im in england so some sites are unfimialir to me lol.
As for handling is it easy to handle a 4 5 foot python lol,and thats another thing, i didnt get a corn snake becuase there so wrigly and i want a pet i can just sit with in a way instead of chasing it round if you get me,do balls gererally just sit in your hand or lap lol.
2.When you say 2x3 you mean feet?
3.whats there average lifespan?thanks

[ohyeahnow]

Can live for 20-30 years on average. I have read many places that 48 years is the record, but couldn't say what the source of this data is. One site says that Philadelphia zoo had one live 47 years, while others claims it lived 48.

[phillip2]

ooo god dont know if id want one that long lol.

[WingedWolfPsion]

A lot of people underestimate the potential lifespan of a pet reptile. Leopard geckos can also live for up to 20 years--and so can corn snakes.
Always keep lifespan in mind when selecting a pet. Although I may get razzed for suggesting it, if you intend to keep your pet for a long time, but think you may need to eventually sell it, select a female. It's difficult to find a home for an adult male ball python, but it's fairly easy to re-home a female. I would never suggest such a thing for snakes that get larger, but there is no lack of people willing to purchase or adopt an adult female ball python.

[phillip2]

thats fine no i agree.
I would like one,can you answer some more questions from middle of the page i know im a nuisance.

[phillip2]

anyone?

[WizzySRT10]

Phillip I'm pretty new in the Hobby myself I recently bought a very nice Pastel Male from 8ball pythons. For the question of cost I paid $315 for the snake shipped to my door, $30for a UTH, $100 for a Thermostat, I used 2 bowls for hides that both costed me under $5, and $150 for a 40 gallon breeder tank. For cost all together I would have to say this is the cheapest pet I've ever had. When I was a kid we bred labs and that was expensive and time consuming they also only live to be about 10 years old on average. I rather an animal I can keep for 20+ years then get attached to and a few years down the road they die. I work on the road and not home as much as I'd like. The great thing about my snake is I can feed him once a week, check his water every time I'm home, refill, adjust temps and etc.