male or female

[hightower]

i called into the local reptile shop here to buy my usual weekly supply of mice, and was handling a few ball pythons (which i've wanted since starting into snake keeping). now i have read up loads in the past about them and have printed of many care sheets but now i want to put a few questions to YOU, the guys who actually deal with them day in and day out.

what are their temperament like? i currently have a corn and a kingsnake, would they be similar? both the corn and king are pretty docile as far as handling goes.

difference between male and female? in terms of colouring/pattern, feeding, temperament and size?


i understand that every snake is different, but i just wanted to know your answers based on your experience of keeping BP's.:)

[treegirl]

good questions---I'd like to know too. :)

[smeagel]

ball pythons are very docile, sometimes they can be picky eaters. But as far as temperment goes, they are the best snake as far as i am concerned. Females reach a larger size than males, but are no different as far as temperment and colour goes as far as i am concerned.

[Kevin McRae]

Originally posted by hightower
i called into the local reptile shop here to buy my usual weekly supply of mice, and was handling a few ball pythons (which i've wanted since starting into snake keeping). now i have read up loads in the past about them and have printed of many care sheets but now i want to put a few questions to YOU, the guys who actually deal with them day in and day out.


Well first don't ever buy them from a pet store, buy from a breeder becasue the animal will be much healthier and eating better. Most pet sotre ball pythons are WC and you know breeder's balls are CBB

Originally posted by hightower

what are their temperament like? i currently have a corn and a kingsnake, would they be similar? both the corn and king are pretty docile as far as handling goes.




Most Ball pythons will alllow brief handling, I think they are a better snake to handle then corns or kings because these guys just sit still on your lap.

Originally posted by hightower

difference between male and female? in terms of colouring/pattern, feeding, temperament and size?



Adult females will be larger(4.5+) and amles are usally 4 feet max. The males will have larger spurs then the females too. Otherwise they must be probed or popped




Originally posted by hightower

i understand that every snake is different, but i just wanted to know your answers based on your experience of keeping BP's.:)

Not a problem

Also pick up the Ball Python Manual, I think every ball pwner should:)

[robitza]

Yeah get the manual it is a great source. There are also some other books out there on snakes that are great. I have come across a few on Ball Pythons as well. Will check and post the titles later.

[Vengeance]

I have both, I have a Cali King and Ball pythons.

Temperment wise, can't even compare the two. My ball is very docile, I never have a problem introducing him to someone who has never held a snake before because the chances of him darting about or biting are pretty much nil.

My Cali King on the other hand is psycho! I'm the only person I let handle him, he trys to tag me all the time, very skitish, he just recently stopped musking me everytime I took him out of his cage to feed him. He is mabye a year old, most likely less, I'm hoping he calms down as he gets bigger.

[treegirl]

great info! Thank you all......

So the females are larger than the males. Very interesting. What would be good to start a baby on? Full grown mice? Baby rats? I know it depends on the size of the snake. But I'm curious as to what everyone feeds their bp's.

[Vengeance]

Hatchlings fresh from the egg are usually started on a live Fuzzy mouse. But after their first feeding, I think most people would start them on Rat Pups.

[treegirl]

Does anyone have a preference to having a male or female? Or does it really make a difference?

[daver676]

Ball pythons stress easily, so minimal handling is advised because stress leads to eating problems, among others. Keep the enclosure in a low traffic area, and don't walk around with the snake too much. Just sit with it. That is all I do with Sophia. Get her out, walk to the family room, flip on the tube, and let her wander around my lap and the chair for 10-15 minutes.

I would also recommend starting your baby off on rats right off the bat. Rats come in all the same sizes as mice and larger. When I got Sophia onto rats, her growth was mind-boggling.

[Invictus]

I disagree that ball pythons are docile. This is a huge myth about this species. They are TIMID. This is why handling of BPs, as nice as they are, should be kept to a bare minimum. 90% of the time, the reason they go on hunger strikes is because of stress from overhandling. That's just my opinion.

[justinO]

I like females but only cuz they get bigger!

If you are just getting a pet and do not intend to breed, I think a male is a much better choice. They are just as nice, but are almost always cheaper!

[hightower]

well i have just bought a female. she was going to shed yesterday so i am picking her up today. same price as the two males but nearly twice the size considering she's the same age!

[Kevin McRae]

Cool, pick up the male when your there too....:D

[hightower]

yes thats one more question, he will be going into a standard 20 gallon long but i am building another one bigger so that there can more than one in there.

do balls live together ok?

i had heard (but it may be a myth) that they don't generally mate when there is just one male and one female, is this true?

[VI Reptiles]

wrong, all snakes shouldnt be housed together as it stresses them out and yes when they are 2 yrs even if theres 1.1 ( 1 male, 1 female) they will mate. If anyone thinks im wrong notify me!
If I were you id build 2 small cages on top of eachother for it to be more organized. You need as much space as you can get when keeping reptiles because you cant jus buy 1!

[robitza]

Sorry it took so long to post this list. I forgot....:confused:

Reptile Keeper's Guides: Ball Pythons Facts & Advice on Care & Breeding by R.D. Bartlett and Partricia Bartlett

The Guide to Owning a Ball Python by John Coburn

I have tons of other books on Pythons, Boas, and snakes in general.

But I suggest getting the two Ball Python specific books listed above.

[arkuden]

yeah having the too BP's together my bring out new feeding problems as well.
Ive heard of females being housed with males and getting protective over them. so if you were to reach in to hold the male she would strike at you.