a little help please

[JaBoa]

ok i know this has probably been answered a bunch of times, but i cant seem to find the info. Im thinking about getting a ball python and i was wondering if anyone could tell me what this snake is really like.....attitude/temperment, size, lifespan, (i know they eat mice) and enclosure requirements...the info will be plenty helpful, im pretty excited about getting one, i have a vague idea about them, i just some more solid information. I already have a dwarf boa and if the B python is anything like darlin boa, id go buy her tomorrow :)

Thanks everyone

[Big_V]

As far as attitude and temperment balls really dont bite and are very mellow snakes. They are very head shy though and will always have the capability to bite, this you must remember. Size isnt huge....my male for instance is 42 inches long and I would consider him around average. Females from what Ive seen and im sure someone will correct me if im wrong, average around 4-5 foot range, lifespan is a hard call but with good care over 15 years.
As far as food get them off mice ASAP and onto rats...they are much more nutritional. Getting them on rats quickly is a great tip to keeping this species. As far as enclosure its simple. 2 hides, one cool side, one warm side. Water dish obviously and a few simple decorations if you like them to be a little more natural.
Get the Ball Python Manual as well, I bought this when I got mine and it was an invaluable tool in keeping this species. Actually buying the book first and reading it 2 times is the best advice I can give.

[JaBoa]

thanks V, yea i figured they were pretty docile, which is exactly what im looking for...im in jamaica so i think the cage will be warm enuf, just have to keep him/her cool which wouldnt be hard with proper air flow and water. ill look for that book online, see if i can order it. oh yeah i forgot to ask one more thing..what should i look out for when choosing one?

[malaysianbloods]

sorry but my sister owns 7 bp's and only two of them are head shy (because they got sick and had to be force feed medicine). I'm over at her house alot and handle them all the time, so from my experience with handling bp's they are not very head.

[daver676]

Originally posted by JaBoa
in jamaica so i think the cage will be warm enuf, just have to keep him/her cool which wouldnt be hard with proper air flow and water.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but Ball Pythons need to be able to thermoregulate. A warm spot of 90-95, and a cool spot of 78-80 should be provided AT ALL TIMES. The snake can't cool off in the water. The water would be room temperature right? If the room is 90, then the water would be 90. You need to put some more thought into your set up before getting this snake.

[nita]

As far as attitude and temperment go I've seen a slight spectrum but it depends on how they have been cared for. I have 5 that are head shy actually, not 2 like Sid said but the two girls he was talking about were fine until they went through 2 weeks of baytril given orally and Demetae is already coming back around. 2 of my adoptees as well are a bit head shy and then the one my DH bought at a pet store is also a bit head shy. They were adults though when I got them and were all not cared for well in the past.

BP is a good choice, buy the book, read it at least twice. Buy from a reputable local breeder not the pet store unless you are willing to take on a rescue that is usually what you would be in for. Make sure it is captive bred and you should be fine.

Hang out here and learn more. There are lots of great people here with a lot of wonderful information. Good luck.

[sapphire_moon]

ok everyone has answered with attitude and temperment.

They have a mouth and teeth, they can bite, and if irritated enough, will bite. :)


Hot side, 90-95 (usually with a under tank heater, and lamp dimmer to controll it)
Cool side 80-85 degrees.

2 hides, one on warm side one on cool side.

water bowl big enough to soak in.

digital thermometer, put the probe part over the UTH (uth on outside, probe on the inside)

set up the cage for ATLEAST 1wk in advance so you can keep an eye on temps and such.

When and if you get the snake, put it in it's new cage (which should have newspaper or paper towel as substrate so you can watch for mites) and leave it ABSOLUTELY ALONE for 2 wks. Don't touch it, don't look at it, don't rip it's hide off of it.
Just give it fresh water every other day and spot clean if nesecary.

hides should be tight.

Mice suck, they should be on rats ASAP. NEVER feed live. f/t or f/k is the way to go, it's safer for your snake.

[JaBoa]

well thanks a lot for all the info everyone...im still doin research and ive done quite a bit already. i checked out the temp in the cage is avg around 80, i guess thats on the high side of cool and the low side of warm. i could just get one side up to 90 or so and it would be fine right?? i tested the temp lastnight and it came to about 78, this is at night though its indoors so it shouldnt get to more than 82 today if that high... im gonna check later. Well thanks again for the input, and PLEASE feel free to help me more ;)

[Syco]

Originally posted by sapphire_moon
Don't touch it, don't look at it, don't rip it's hide off of it.


Well I would hope not! I read this wrong this first time through. I thought " Wow, Sapphire is covering all possibilities!" :D

[JaBoa]

OK addressing the "and leave it ABSOLUTELY ALONE for 2 wks. Don't touch it, don't look at it, don't rip it's hide off of it. " thing, should i not feed her either...i mean, taking your advice (which im not doubting, just askin) you indirectly saying not to feed her for the 2 week either huh?

[sapphire_moon]

lol:) :)......I just caught that Syco. That is so NOT what I meant!

Nope, don't even attempt to feed until after the 2wks are up.

Keep it's cage in a low traffic area to. make sure temps are good for atleast a week before getting the snake.

And personally, never pull the hide off of any snake, there is a chance you can/will startle them and they may strike/bite.