First time owner asking for clarification on a couple of topics

[JoeH2]

Hello everyone!

I'm a first time ball python owner (currently have a Mystic Crystal) and I've been doing a lot of research talking to breeders, forums and observing what people are talking about in Facebook groups, Reddit and such. I'm getting a lot of 50/50 advice from breeders and people who claim to be experts about a few topics and wanted to see if anyone can clear them up for me because in the long run, I want my snake to have the best life. Do ball pythons like climbing? I bought a couple of cork logs and my little guy would climb them at night nothing crazy just exploring here and there. I recently threw them away because after 3 weeks I saw some mold forming on the bottom. Is there anything I can purchase that preferably doesn't mold (if it's cleared up they don't mind climbing objects). Also, I want to clear up what size rat I should feed my BP. I fed him fuzzy rats when he was 200g, he's currently 215g and I think I might start him on rat pups. Should I follow the golden rule size of widest part of the body to size of rat? Or just 10-15% of his body weight..Lastly, how often do you guys handle your snakes? I've been handling him 3-4 times a week from anywhere to 5-20 minutes just hanging out on my bed. I just love the little guy but don't want to over handle him or stress him out or anything.

Thank you!

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Ball Pythons are ground dwellers, they can climb however since they are not arboreal they also fall a lot easier too.

As for feeding here you go

[ShawarmaPoutine]

[Bogertophis]

Ball pythons can & will climb a little but they aren't that good at it...their heavier shape doesn't lend itself to climbing the way rat snakes do, for example.
You don't want to keep BPs in a tall cage & encourage them to climb anything high up, as they can get hurt falling, but low driftwood is fine, for example.
Snakes naturally try to hang onto whatever they can for traction, so it may appear that they want to climb, but they are more comfortable near the ground.

[WhompingWillow]

Ball pythons may climb a bit and cruise more frequently when young and relatively light, but as they grow they tend to turn into pet rocks. They are very much terrestrial animals.

[redshepherd]

@ ShawarmaPoutine: I have to say that a ball python clutching onto something not even 1 foot tall doesn't make them semi-arboreal lol.

If one has kept actual semi-arboreal species like carpet pythons or scrub pythons, you'll know there is a VAST difference in their daily behavior. Ball pythons will slither over things and "climb" a bit when hunting, sure. But that doesn't make them arboreal more than saying a seal who climbs on shore sometimes makes them a land species.

To the OP: it doesn't hurt to provide ball pythons with branches though it's not required. Some ball pythons will come out at night and slither over them.

[ShawarmaPoutine]

@ ShawarmaPoutine: I have to say that a ball python clutching onto something not even 1 foot tall doesn't make them semi-arboreal lol.

If one has kept actual semi-arboreal species like carpet pythons or scrub pythons, you'll know there is a VAST difference in their daily behavior. Ball pythons will slither over things and "climb" a bit when hunting, sure. But that doesn't make them arboreal more than saying a dog who swims makes dogs an aquatic species lol.

To the OP: it doesn't hurt to provide ball pythons with branches though it's not required. Some ball pythons will come out at night and slither over them.

1) nobody said anything about them needing to climb things over half a feet tall.
2) nobody called them arboreal even semi-arboreal.
3) nobody compared them to any kind of other snake that may it may not like to climb.
4) even better, my response contained 0 words. It simply contained to pictures of exactly what was happening in time and space as this question was posed.

My comment is to be taken in unison to everything that had been said regarding to them occasionally climbing, etc. Which is literally what you directed towards OP, but I just did in 2000 words... I mean 2 pictures.

Good day sir.

[redshepherd]

1) nobody said anything about them needing to climb things over half a feet tall.
2) nobody called them arboreal even semi-arboreal.
3) nobody compared them to any kind of other snake that may it may not like to climb.
4) even better, my response contained 0 words. It simply contained to pictures of exactly what was happening in time and space as this question was posed.

My comment is to be taken in unison to everything that had been said regarding to them occasionally climbing, etc. Which is literally what you direct towards OP, just in pictures.

Good day sir.

Actually Deborah said arboreal and I had assumed your photos response was to her, since it was the next post. I didn't mean anything by it to take personally, just that discussion about whether they're arboreal or not is surprisingly a common topic.

Also, I'm not a sir! Haha

[ShawarmaPoutine]

Actually Deborah said arboreal and I had assumed your photos response was to her, since it was the next post. I didn't mean anything by it, since it's actually a common topic.

Also, I'm not a sir! Haha

I tease... I’m just procrastinating going to the gym at 2 am.

Also, I know not to disagree with Deborah.

[Danger noodles]

I tease... I’m just procrastinating going to the gym at 2 am.

Also, I know not to disagree with Deborah.

How dare u post pics of your amazing and cute noodles!! Lol

and btw u can act like ur going to the gym and just go to Taco Bell...